• Clerk of District Court: 1000 Central Avenue, Northwood, IA 50459; 641-324-6539; countyclerk.worth@iowacourts.gov.
• Worth County Attorney: 736 Central Avenue, Northwood, IA 50459; 641-324-1291, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office prosecutes state charges and also runs the county's bad check program.
• Worth County Jail: 1000 Central Avenue, Northwood, IA 50459; 641-324-2481, open 24 hours.

After an arrest, the person is taken promptly before a magistrate. The magistrate tells the person the charge, sets or reviews bail, and asks whether the person wants counsel appointed. For an arrest made without a warrant, probable cause has to be found too.

• Magistrates take simple misdemeanors, city ordinance cases and most traffic tickets.
• A district associate judge takes the serious and aggravated misdemeanor docket.
• District judges hear felonies. Second District judges cover several counties, so felony hearings are set on scheduled court days in Northwood.

1. Initial appearance and release terms.
2. A trial information is filed within 45 days of arrest, unless the deadline is waived.
3. Arraignment, often done in writing.
4. Discovery, depositions and pretrial motions.
5. Trial within 90 days of the trial information, unless speedy trial is waived.
6. If there is a conviction, a presentence investigation and sentencing.

Open Iowa Courts Online, select Worth County, then type a name or case number. The docket lists charges, bond, the lawyer of record and hearing dates. The Judicial Branch also accepts fine payments by card on its website.

At the first appearance, say that you need an appointed lawyer and fill out the sworn financial statement. If the judge finds you eligible, the case goes to the State Public Defender system, which may assign a staff lawyer or a private lawyer under contract. The clerk at 641-324-6539 can explain the form, and a defendant later found able to pay can be ordered to repay some of the expense.

Delinquency petitions are tried in Northwood before a district judge acting as the juvenile court. Juvenile Court Services for the area works from 220 North Washington Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401; the Judicial Branch does not list a separate phone, so ask the clerk at 641-324-6539 which officer is assigned. Most juvenile records are closed to the public. Youths who must be held are placed at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, 2317 Rick Collins Way, Eldora, IA 50627, 641-858-3852.

Federal crimes from Worth County are prosecuted in the U.S. District Court for northern Iowa; its Central Division meets in Mason City and Fort Dodge. Filings go through the clerk at 320 6th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, 712-233-3900. These cases are not on Iowa Courts Online; after sentencing, use the BOP locator.

Our Worth County bail page covers the bond schedule, ways to pay, the July 2026 law change and refunds.

Ask the Worth County Sheriff at 641-324-2481; deputies serve the court's warrants. Northwood deputies post no names, and Iowa never built a statewide warrant search. Iowa Courts Online shows the case. The Clerk of District Court in the same building at 1000 Central Avenue (641-324-6539) can explain rescheduling in Northwood. Reporting with an attorney to the jail on Central Avenue in Northwood, at an agreed hour, is the usual way to clear it.