• Clerk of District Court: 1315 South B Avenue, Nevada, IA 50201; 515-337-8300; countyclerk.story@iowacourts.gov.
• Story County Attorney: 1315 South B Avenue, Nevada, IA 50201, 515-382-7255; Ames office at 126 South Kellogg Avenue, Suite 203, Ames, IA 50010, 515-232-4185. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, closed 12 to 12:30.
• Juvenile Court Office: 126 South Kellogg Avenue, Suite 202, Ames, IA 50010; 515-233-3346.
• Story County Jail: 1315 South B Avenue, Nevada, IA 50201; 515-382-7464.

Generally within a day of booking and often by video from the jail. A magistrate reads the complaint, sets bond or release terms and appoints counsel when asked and justified. Someone held after a warrantless arrest must get a probable cause determination within 48 hours.

• Magistrates: simple misdemeanors, city ordinance violations and traffic citations, including many from Ames.
• District associate judges: drunk driving cases and the serious or aggravated misdemeanor calendar.
• District judges: all felonies, plus juvenile court.

1. Booking at the Justice Center; the initial appearance follows.
2. A trial information from the County Attorney's office, normally on file within 45 days.
3. Arraignment, which a written not-guilty plea often replaces.
4. Evidence exchange, depositions and pretrial motions.
5. A trial date that must fall within 90 days of arraignment if speedy trial has not been waived.
6. On conviction, a presentence investigation report and then sentencing.

Public criminal files are on Iowa Courts Online, searchable by party name or case number. Juvenile and confidential records stay off the public site.

Yes, if you qualify. Bring it up at the initial appearance; the magistrate will have you complete a financial affidavit. Once eligibility is confirmed, a public defender or contract attorney is assigned, and the court may order you to repay part of the cost later.

The Juvenile Court Office in Ames, 515-233-3346, receives delinquency complaints; the County Attorney files petitions. Youths who need secure detention are often sent to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 2317 Rick Collins Way, Eldora, IA 50627, 641-858-3852.

Federal charges go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Central Division, 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309. Its clerk's main number is 515-284-6248. PACER carries the filings. Someone already serving federal time shows up in the BOP inmate locator.

See our Story County bail page for bond amounts, posting and refunds.

Either, depending on who filed the charge. Story County sheriff's deputies serve the district court's warrants, while Ames and Iowa State University police handle many themselves. Reach the sheriff at 515-382-7458. Story deputies post no names, and no Iowa statewide public search exists. Iowa Courts Online shows the case. For a warrant over a missed hearing, the Clerk of District Court at 1315 South B Avenue in Nevada (515-337-8300) can help.