• Clerk of District Court: 101 West 4th Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501; 641-683-0060; countyclerk.wapello@iowacourts.gov.
• Wapello County Attorney: 219 North Court Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501; 641-683-0030.
• Juvenile Court Office: 101 West 4th Street, Ottumwa; 641-683-0070.
• Wapello County Jail: 330 West 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501; 641-684-4350.

Usually within a day of booking. The magistrate tells the defendant what the charge is, sets release terms and handles requests for a lawyer at public expense. Warrantless arrests require a probable cause finding within 48 hours.

• Magistrates: traffic tickets, ordinance violations and simple misdemeanors.
• District associate judges: drunk-driving charges and mid-level (serious or aggravated) misdemeanors.
• District judges: felony prosecutions, plus juvenile matters.

1. Booking on West 2nd Street, followed by a first hearing.
2. A trial information filed by prosecutors, typically within 45 days.
3. Arraignment, often skipped by filing a written not-guilty plea.
4. Discovery, depositions and pretrial motion hearings.
5. A trial held within 90 days after arraignment, assuming no waiver.
6. Presentence report and sentencing for anyone convicted.

Iowa Courts Online lets anyone search public cases by name or number. Juvenile and confidential cases are not available.

Make the request when you first appear, and the court will have you sign a financial affidavit. Qualifying defendants are represented by the public defender's office or a lawyer on contract; you may be asked to repay some of the cost.

Juvenile Court Services, 641-683-0070, receives delinquency complaints, and the County Attorney's juvenile prosecutor files petitions. Staff can tell parents where a detained youth has been placed.

The federal courthouse in Des Moines for the Southern District of Iowa, 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, 515-284-6248. PACER has federal filings, and the BOP locator finds federal inmates.

Our Wapello County bail page explains amounts, posting and refunds.

At South Iowa Juvenile Detention, 2528 255th Street, Montrose, IA 52639, 319-463-7417. The juvenile court holds a detention hearing within 1 working day.

Both serve warrants here. Wapello County deputies handle most district court warrants, and Ottumwa police serve many city ones. The sheriff's number is 641-684-4350. No public list is kept, and Iowa runs no statewide search for families. Iowa Courts Online shows the case. The Clerk of District Court at 101 West 4th Street (641-683-0060) can explain rescheduling a missed Ottumwa hearing.