• Wapello County Jail, 330 West 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501; 641-684-4350.
• Mahaska County Jail, 214 High Avenue East, Oskaloosa, IA 52577; 641-673-2591.
• Jefferson County Correctional Facility, 1200 West Grimes Avenue, Fairfield, IA 52556; 641-472-3967.
• Monroe County Jail, 114 19th Avenue West, Albia, IA 52531; 641-932-7815.
• Keokuk County Jail, 204 South Stone, Sigourney, IA 52591; 641-622-2727.
• Appanoose County Jail, 22158 Dewey Road, Centerville, IA 52544; 641-437-7106.

Visiting runs Monday through Thursday, 6:30 to 9 p.m., over phones and video screens in the jail lobby. Only people on the inmate's visitor list may come, each with a state-issued photo ID. To be added, write the inmate a letter asking to be put on the list. Children under 3 need not be listed, but every child must be supervised. Each inmate gets 30 minutes of visiting a week in total.

An outside provider runs the inmate phones. Calls cost 30 cents a minute, and text messages are 15 cents each. Inmates can also start a remote video call to a cell phone or computer; the person called gets a link and has two minutes to join. Family can add money through that provider's website or at 866-797-5578 or 866-700-4545.

Cash and personal checks are refused, whether mailed or handed in. Mail a money order or cashier's check through USPS; it cannot be dropped off. Cash cannot be dropped off either. Funds pay for commissary and phone time; see our money guide.

Address letters to the inmate's full name at the Wapello County Jail, 330 West 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501, with your return address. The jail lists no other mail rules, so call 641-684-4350 if you are unsure what may be enclosed.

Register with VINE to hear about a release or move. State prisoners appear in the Iowa DOC search, federal prisoners in the BOP locator and immigration detainees in the ICE locator.

Detained youths stay at South Iowa Juvenile Detention, 2528 255th Street, Montrose, IA 52639, 319-463-7417. Call the center for contact details.

Yes. The sheriff's Ottumwa inmate portal lists the past week's bookings with a mugshot column, so most entries carry a booking photo. Journalists after anything beyond that may ask the sheriff's office. ICE controls pictures from immigration holds; ask through its online FOIA portal. Booking photos from the federal side are not made public, other than releases by the Marshals.

Call the sheriff on West 2nd Street in Ottumwa, 641-684-4350, and ask which agency holds it. An Ottumwa lawyer can then arrange a surrender at the Wapello County Jail in that building. Ottumwa posts no names; Iowa lacks any statewide lookup, though Iowa Courts Online shows the case. When it came from missing court, the clerk on West 4th Street (641-683-0060) can help.

In Ottumwa, most first bonds follow the statewide uniform bond schedule; for serious charges, Ottumwa's magistrate sets it. Call 641-684-4350 for amounts.

• How to pay at 641-684-4350: cash, surety or Iowa property.
• Guide: our bail guide.
• Hearings: our court guide, or the clerk at 641-683-0060.

Iowa Courts Online lists charges and dates by name; Ottumwa's clerk answers at 641-683-0060. Under Iowa Code 815.10 a judge can appoint the State Public Defender; Ottumwa's first appearance follows promptly (Iowa Code 804.22).

In Ottumwa, federal arrests go to the U.S. Marshals Service; its Des Moines office answers at 515-400-8140. Cases are heard by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa; its clerk is at 111 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, 515-284-6248. After a federal sentence, check the BOP inmate locator. Bond at 330 W. 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501 cannot lift a federal hold; only 515-284-6248 can.

1. The Wapello County Jail receives DHS Form I-247A from ICE.
2. Iowa Code chapter 27A makes the jail in Ottumwa honor it, holding someone 48 hours longer at most (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
3. After 48 hours without ICE at 330 W. 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501, the hold ends.
4. The ICE detainee locator tracks transfers by A-number or name.

In Ottumwa, once bond clears at 330 W. 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501, release usually takes a few hours; 641-684-4350 knows. Prison sentences move people to the Iowa DOC offender search. Another county's hold keeps them; ask 641-684-4350. Federal or ICE holds go via 515-400-8140.

In Ottumwa, new bookings can lag; call 641-684-4350. Anyone moved from Ottumwa, or released, may show in the Iowa DOC offender search, or the BOP inmate locator. Juveniles are never listed (Iowa Code 232.147). If unsure, ask 641-684-4350.

In Ottumwa, a magistrate reviews the arrest within 24 hours (Iowa Code 804.22). Bond can be changed later (Iowa Code 811.2). If money is short, the State Public Defender may be appointed. The clerk (641-683-0060) has the next date.

Yes. Ottumwa's judges may release on a promise (Iowa Code 811.2), or with conditions, sometimes supervised by the Department of Correctional Services. Skipping court means forfeiture (Iowa Code 811.6) and a warrant; Ottumwa's clerk (641-683-0060) has the terms.

In Ottumwa, the clerk (641-683-0060) refunds cash bail (101 West 4th Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501) at case end, to the payer. A 10% bondsman fee is never returned; call 641-684-4350.

In Ottumwa, misdemeanor terms are served at 330 W. 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501 (Iowa Code 903.1). Longer terms mean prison; see the Iowa DOC offender search. Work release or weekends in Ottumwa, Iowa, need a judge's OK; 641-684-4350 schedules it.

In Ottumwa, judges can bar contact at hearings (Iowa Code 664A.3). Breaking it is a new crime (Iowa Code 664A.7). Only judges can change it; Ottumwa's clerk (641-683-0060) keeps a copy at 101 West 4th Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501.

In Ottumwa, a free lawyer depends on income (Iowa Code 815.9). Ask in court on day 1, or call 641-683-0060. The State Public Defender covers most cases in Ottumwa; families may hire private counsel.

In Ottumwa, the Wapello County Jail never takes gift cards or crypto; call 641-684-4350 before paying anyone. Ottumwa's bond goes only to the clerk (641-683-0060) or the jail at 330 W. 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501. Report scam calls to the Iowa Attorney General.

• Wapello County Sheriff's Office, 330 West 2nd Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501: 641-684-4350; office hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
• Ottumwa Police Department, same Law Enforcement Center: non-emergency dispatch 641-683-0661 (24 hours), records 641-683-0635.
• Emergencies: 911.