Shelby County Jail Inmate Bail & Bonds
Shelby County Bail and Bond, Harlan, Iowa
Bonding out of the Shelby County Jail in Harlan is explained here, from bail amount to release. Phone 712-755-2501 to start.
Shelby County is rolling farm country in western Iowa, with Harlan as the county seat and Elk Horn, Kirkman, Irwin, Defiance, Earling, Panama, Portsmouth, Shelby, Tennant and Westphalia nearby. The sheriff's office provides contract policing for those towns, so most local arrests are by deputies. People are held at the 14-bed Shelby County Jail, 1104 9th Street, Harlan, IA 51537, attached to the sheriff's office. Dial 712-755-5026 and choose option 2 for jail staff at any hour.
How can I check whether someone was jailed in Harlan?
Call 712-755-5026, option 2, or look the person up on VINELink. See our inmate search page for other ways to search.
↑ Back to the question listHow is bond figured in Shelby County?
The jail normally starts from Iowa's uniform bond schedule, which lists $300 for a simple misdemeanor, $1,000 for serious, $2,000 for aggravated, and $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 for class D, C or B felonies. Shelby County sits in the Fourth Judicial District, where a magistrate can set a different amount.
↑ Back to the question listWhich arrests need a magistrate first?
Some cases skip the schedule entirely: a forcible felony, domestic abuse, stalking and violation of a no-contact or protective order. The same is true for first-, second- or third-degree sexual abuse, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a felon possessing a gun, and making, selling or having meth to sell. Those defendants wait in Harlan until a magistrate sets terms.
↑ Back to the question listHow can bond be posted?
Family can post bond online through the payment site linked on the sheriff's jail page, which adds a fee. For cash or other forms, call 712-755-5026, option 2. Iowa permits cash, a licensed agent's surety bond or a court-approved property bond.
↑ Back to the question listWhat did Senate File 2399 change?
Since July 1, 2026, written-promise release covers only nonviolent, non-drug simple or serious misdemeanors and defendants with medical needs. Going lower than the schedule, or ordering some other form of release, now obliges the Harlan judge to write out why. A Judicial Council study of inflation-adjusted bond amounts is due at the Iowa Supreme Court by July 1, 2027.
↑ Back to the question listWhere is the clerk's office?
In the Shelby County Courthouse, 612 Court Street, Harlan, IA 51537, 712-217-6737, CountyClerk.Shelby@iowacourts.gov.
↑ Back to the question listWhat if a court date in Harlan is missed?
A Harlan judge may sign a bench warrant and order the bond forfeited; Iowa Code 811.6 then allows the surety 30 days after notice to produce the defendant. Iowa Code 811.2(8) makes nonappearance a separate offense too. The charge is a class D felony for a pending felony case, or for someone free while awaiting sentence or appeal; in all remaining cases it is a serious misdemeanor.
↑ Back to the question listHow is cash bail returned?
After the last hearing, if no court date was missed, cash bail is sent back by the clerk to whoever put it up. Court debts such as fines, costs and restitution can be subtracted first, and premiums paid to bondsmen are theirs to keep. Our money guide covers inmate accounts.
↑ Back to the question listCould a federal hold or ICE detainer matter?
Federal charges from Shelby County go to Council Bluffs, where the Southern District of Iowa keeps a courthouse at 2146 27th Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51501. One clerk's office main line answers for all locations, 515-284-6248. Under Iowa Code chapter 27A, ICE detainers are honored, which can delay release even after state bond; check the ICE locator.
↑ Back to the question listAre teenagers bonded out in Harlan?
No. A detained youth is placed at the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 629 6th Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51501, 712-328-4893, and a juvenile judge decides on release within 1 working day.
↑ Back to the question listDepositing Money in an Inmate's Account so that they can Self Bail
Shelby County Bail Bond Deposit
Shelby County Jail uses a third-party, Inmate Canteen, to let you use a credit or debit card to deposit funds into an inmate's account so that they can pay their bail and get released after an arrest.
- To begin the process, first call the Shelby County Jail at 712-755-2501 to get the exact amount needed to pay the bail.
- Next, go to Inmate Canteen, register and select this facility by first choosing Iowa. Then you will select the inmate you want to deposit money for, then the amount.
- Inmate Canteen Customer Service can be reached at 715-690-2965, or by email at support@inmatecanteen.com.
There will be a delay between the time you deposit the money and when Inmate Canteen forwards it to the inmate's account, but the sooner you notify the inmate and the Shelby County Jail, the quicker they will be released.
Shelby County Jail
Address:
1104 9th Street
Harlan, IA 51537
Phone:
712-755-2501
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Shelby County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Shelby County?
Who can set bail in Shelby County?
When is bail set in Shelby County Iowa?
Does Shelby County have bail?
Yes, Shelby County recognizes most types of bonds. Bail is a Constitutional right. This means most defendants can qualify for pre-trial release on their own recognizance, cash bail, or a surety bond.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Shelby County?
Iowa recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Defendants can qualify for pre-trial release on their own recognizance, cash bail, or a surety bond.
Who can set bail in Shelby County?
Rates and limits vary by jail; call the jail or the provider. For more serious & violent crimes, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail must be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Shelby County Iowa?
For less serious, nonviolent crimes bail is set according to a predetermined bail schedule and this information will be available during processing. For crimes requiring a judge to set bail the defendant will usually be within 24 hours of arrest.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Shelby County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Shelby County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Shelby County Jail until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different. The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Shelby County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Shelby County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Shelby County have bail?
Yes, Shelby County recognizes most types of bonds. Bail is a Constitutional right. This means most defendants can qualify for pre-trial release on their own recognizance, cash bail, or a surety bond.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Shelby County?
Iowa recognizes most types of bonds. The court will consider what type of bonds will be accepted depending on the circumstances of the arrest. Defendants can qualify for pre-trial release on their own recognizance, cash bail, or a surety bond.
Who can set bail in Shelby County?
Bail for less serious, nonviolent crimes are set according to a predetermined bail schedule and can range from $300-$25,000. For more serious & violent crimes, or when the defendant does not qualify for immediate release, bail must be set by a judge.
When is bail set in Iowa?
For less serious, nonviolent crimes bail is set according to a predetermined bail schedule and this information will be available during processing. For crimes requiring a judge to set bail the defendant will usually be within 24 hours of arrest.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Shelby County Iowa?
Yes, your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Shelby County Iowa, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Iowa could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Shelby County Iowa?
Yes, Iowa does offer online bail payment. Please contact the county clerk or jail for specific information on how to pay bail. Go to the Shelby County Jail for more information about the jails in Shelby County.
What options are there to pay bail in Shelby County Iowa?
Cash, debit card, credit card or surety. Payments may be made in person, online, or via a registered bail bond agent. In person payments may be made at the clerk of court office in the county where the defendant is being held.
A more immediate answer can be obtained by contacting the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted. Go to the Shelby County Jail for more information about posting bail in Shelby County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Iowa?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Shelby County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You may also post collateral via a registered bail bond agent.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Iowa?
The Shelby County Jail or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.