You can call the 14-bed Shelby County Jail 24 hours a day for inmate information at 712-755-2501.
This jail processes individuals arrested for misdemeanors and felonies. After booking and processing, inmates may be held until they are either bonded out, released on their own recognizance, or remain in custody until their trial is concluded.
The inmate search tool allows you to check the jail's roster and find out who is currently in custody.
Offenders serving less than one year will do their time here, while those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the Iowa State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides essential information, including the visitation schedule, how to fund an inmate's account, send mail, receive phone calls, voicemail, email and texting, tablet rentals, bail bonds, and commissary purchases.
Remember to save the inmate's jail ID or booking number for any communication needs. If you cannot locate it online, call Shelby County Jail at 712-755-2501 for assistance.
Phone: 712-755-2501
Physical Address:
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Shelby County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 712-755-2501 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's criminal court case and docket schedule online for Shelby County and any other county in Iowa.
Shelby County Jail Inmate Search
The Shelby County Jail maintains an average of 14 offenders in custody on any given day. The Shelby County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Shelby County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 760 offenders.
Iowa is one of the few states in the country where individual counties can charge an inmate a Room and Board Fee for county inmates who have been sentenced and are serving their time. Counties in this state could charge anywhere from $25-80 per day. Some of the counties who currently charge are Carroll, Black Hawk, Lyon, Worth and Des Moines Counties. Ask your inmate's lawyer if this is something you should be concerned with. Keep in mind that it has a lot to do with the charges the accused could be found guilty of as well. Ultimately, the judge will decide whether to demand this fee or not.
The following charts of Shelby County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.
The information is compiled from the Shelby County Corrections Department, the state of Iowa Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Shelby County.
For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Shelby County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.
We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.
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The 14-bed Shelby County Jail is responsible for the housing and care of those who are accused or convicted of committing a misdemeanor or felony in Shelby County as they wait for their trial or as they serve their sentence, usually less than one year.
It serves many law enforcement organizations including the Sheriff’s Department, local police, Immigration, and other surrounding counties as needed.
If you have questions regarding an inmate or the programs and services provided, the staff can be reached at 712-755-2501, and an online listing of all the detainees is published for your own investigation.
Upon intake, the booking process is completed, which includes a medical screening, fingerprinting and mugshots, DNA sample, along with an assessment to determine security needs, medical needs, mental health requirements, and housing assignment.
Staff is available to transport all inmates to court dates and any medical appointments or emergency needs, as well as inspecting all mail for contraband, receiving commissary funds and other money for inmates, maintaining the safety of the community and the security of the facility, and other tasks.
The Shelby County Jail also provides several other services to inmates including basic needs in meals, laundry, and hygiene items, and programs including AA, counseling, religious programs, education, recreation, and opportunities to grow social and life skills.
Along with the efforts made by the staff, reduced recidivism is seen when inmates are able to stay in contact and supported by their family or friends who are not incarcerated so mail, phones, and visits are provided.
Visits are in person, and are via video and an account is created online to book and complete visits, allowing both visitors and inmates to schedule a visit.
Phone accounts are also registered online, and allow for inmates to make outgoing calls during the daytime and evening hours when they are not participating in a task or program.
Information for money for an inmate’s commissary can be found on our Inmate Money page.
All personal mail is sent to:
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Staff will open each piece and look for contraband, which is removed before it is given to the inmate.
Legal mail, money orders, books and newspaper and magazine subscriptions are mailed to:
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
When someone is arrested, they are taken to Shelby County Jail for booking. This process includes identifying them, deciding on charges, and determining if they will be eligible for bail or held until court.
It's important to stay silent during this process, as any statements made may be used in court. Legal advice should be sought before speaking about the case.
The following steps make up the booking process at Shelby County Jail:
For more information on paying an arrestee’s bond, contact Shelby County Jail at 712-755-2501.
After being arrested and booked into Shelby County Jail in Harlan, the arrestee's situation will proceed in one of three ways:
1. They may be released without bail and required to attend a court hearing.
2. They may be held in custody until their court date.
3. Bail can be posted for their release; call 712-755-2501 for the exact bail amount.
There are multiple ways to pay bail.
To get more information on the bail process in Shelby County, Iowa, visit the Shelby County Jail Bail FAQ.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail? What is the Schedule?
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
712-755-2501
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 712-755-2501 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!
| DAY | TIMES |
| SUNDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM |
| MONDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| TUESDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| THURSDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| FRIDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM |
Shelby County Jail uses the services of Reliance Telephone for video (visit) phone calls and for emailing/texting to inmates.
Note: This option may not be available for your inmate. When registering, check to see if devices are available.
Known as the 'Reliance Inmate Wallet', it makes funding jail communication easy. Payments made into an 'Inmate Wallet' account are linked to a dedicated telephone number for inmates who rent one of their Reliance Tablet Phones. Inmate Wallet funds can be used for personal inmate text messaging, voice calls and video calls.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail?
Video session rates for Shelby County Jail are listed when you schedule through Reliance, so check the total before confirming. For a disputed video charge, contact Reliance first, then the jail if needed.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail?
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
NOTE: Shelby County Jail may only allow online deposits for local commissary purchasing.
1. Register or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen.
2. Select the facility where the inmate is located and the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
3. Select the "Purchase Items" option.
4. Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Shelby County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Shelby County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail?
Per-minute call rates for Shelby County Jail are shown in the Reliance account before any call is paid for, and Reliance customer service at 1-800-896-3201 answers billing questions about a charge.
To set up your Shelby County inmate to make phone calls to you and others, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need in order to receive phone calls from your Shelby County inmate, or to assist them in making calls to others, including instructions, fees, cost of calls, payment methods and times that your inmate can use the phone, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when discussing sensitive information about their pending case.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail, and what can I send them?
Postcards
Ask the Shelby County Jail whether it accepts postcards, and what size and type, before mailing one. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Shelby County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
Ask the Shelby County Jail whether books can be mailed in, and whether they must come straight from a publisher or retailer such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Shelby County Jail standards will be disposed of.
Ask the Shelby County Jail whether hardcover books are accepted.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
For inmates receiving mail in the Shelby County Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.
All mail is to be shipped to the Shelby County Jail:
Shelby County Jail
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail, and what can I purchase?
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
1. Register or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen.
2. Select Iowa, then Shelby County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
3. Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
4. Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
5. Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
Inmate Canteen has a selection of hundreds of items available to purchase for inmates in Shelby County.
The items range from candy, snacks, coffee and other drinks, undergarments, stationary supplies and more.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Shelby County Jail follow these steps:
For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Shelby County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Shelby County.
Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
Known as the 'Reliance Inmate Wallet', it makes funding jail communication easy.
To set up your Shelby County inmate to make to send and receive texts and emails to you and others, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need in order to send and receive texts and emails from your Shelby County inmate, or to assist them in sending and receiving secure messages to and from others, including instructions, fees, cost of each message, tablet rentals, payment methods and times that your inmate can send messages, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when communicating sensitive information about their pending case.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Shelby County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
Note: This option may not be available for your inmate. When registering, check to see if tablets are available.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-755-2501 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in Shelby County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Shelby County?
