Polk County, Iowa Inmate Search
When law enforcement takes a person into custody for suspected criminal activity, they are typically transferred from a local holding cell to a long-term detention center after formal charges are filed. Once booked, they become residents, or inmates, of the jail system. Locating someone within this system is done through an inmate search.
Inmate searches in Polk County yield booking, charge, and other pertinent information for individuals housed at the Polk County Jail (PCJ). Spanning 325,000 square feet and situated on 40 acres just north of Des Moines, the jail is the largest of its kind in Iowa. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office operates this detention facility and serves as the main touchpoint for inmate searches.
All local law enforcement agencies within Polk County-including the Des Moines and Ankeny PDs that oversee public safety in the county’s largest cities-utilize the county jail system for booking and detaining offenders. Nevertheless, the specific arresting agency may still be contacted regarding an arrestee’s initial custody status or police report.
Although the Polk County Jail is the primary detention hub, it does not serve juveniles, state-sentenced inmates, or federal inmates. Juvenile detention in Polk County is managed by the Department of Community, Family & Youth Services (CFYS), state-sentenced inmates are managed by the Iowa Department of Corrections, and federal inmates are the responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In other words, inmate searches at the Sheriff’s Office do not return information on these offender categories.
How to Find an Inmate in Polk County Jail
To determine if a particular individual is currently housed in the Polk County Jail, one can
- Access the online inmate search tools provided on the local Sheriff’s Jail & Arrest Information page, or
- Contact the jail facility at (515) 323-5400 for inquiries.
The Polk County Jail is located at 1985 Northeast 51st Place, Des Moines, Iowa. In contrast, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is at 5995 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa.
How to Use the Polk County Jail Roster
Polk County has not one, but multiple jail/inmate rosters for retrieving inmate information. These include the
- Current Inmate Listing: Lists all inmates presently in the Polk County Sheriff’s custody.
- Bookings - Previous 24 hours: Shows all inmates booked into the Polk County Jail within the last 24 hours.
- Bookings - Prior Date: Details all inmates booked into the Polk County Jail on the prior date.
- Releases - Previous 24 hours: Lists all inmates released from the Polk County Jail within the last 24 hours.
- Releases - Prior Date: Details all inmates released from the Polk County Jail on the prior date.
- Released Inmate Search: Shows inmates released from the Polk County Jail in the last 365 days.
(Note: Inmates with federal charges are not listed on these rosters.)
To access any of the above search tools, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office website and select "See Who Is in Jail" from the homepage (directly under the topmost search box). This action opens the Sheriff’s Jail & Arrest Information page, which features the tools.
- Input a search keyword into the search box. Except for the Released Inmate Search tool, any Polk County jail/inmate roster can be searched by name or booking date. Nevertheless, a list of all inmates is featured upon accessing any jail roster.
The Released Inmate Search tool is accessible by first and last name or inmate number.
- Select "View" next to the relevant entry to view a full jail profile.
The Sheriff directs researchers who wish to verify the accuracy of search results to contact the arresting agency or search the Iowa Courts Online portal. The Iowa Courts Online portal can be used to verify the final outcome of a case.
What Information is Included in the Polk County Inmate Roster
Polk County’s inmate rosters dispense the following details about residents in the Polk County Jail:
- Inmate Information
- Photograph
- Full Name
- Inmate Number
- Age
- Race
- Sex
- Physical Identifiers, such as hair & eye color, height, weight
- Holding Location: The facility where the inmate is being housed, typically the PCJ (Polk County Jail)
- Booking Number
- Booking Date and Time
- Court Case Number
- Court/Case Date
- Arrest Agency: The law enforcement department that made the arrest (e.g., PCSO for the Sheriff’s Office, DMPD for the Des Moines Police)
- Bail Amount
- Bail Type (e.g., Cash, Surety, No Bail), and whether bail has been cleared
- Charge Number
- Charge County
- Charge Details: Includes
- Grade: Felony (F), Misdemeanor (M), Other (O)
- Grade Prefix: For example:
- AGMS - Aggravated Misdemeanor
- SMMS - Simple Misdemeanor
- FELD - Class D Felony
- OTHR - Other (i.e., charges that do not fit into the felony or misdemeanor tiered system)
- CNTM - Contempt of Court
Iowa’s Open Records Law (Iowa Code, Chapter 22) guarantees anyone can access inmate information using Polk County’s jail rosters, except for information excluded from disclosure by law or judicial order. For instance, an inmate’s medical information is not considered public.
Contact Details for Polk County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
Members of the public can reach the Polk County Jail or Sheriff’s Office for inquiries using these details:
Agency/Facility | Physical Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Polk County Jail | 1985 Northeast 51st Place Des Moines, IA 50313 | (515) 323-5400 |
Polk County Sheriff’s Office | 5995 Northeast 14th Street Des Moines, IA 50313 | Administration: (515) 286-3814 Administration Fax: (515) 323-5473 Civil Process: (515) 286-3800 Communications (the non-emergency 24/7 line): (515) 286-3333 Law Enforcement: (515) 286-3306 |
Jail Facility Overview in Polk County
The Polk County Jail is a direct-supervision institution located north of Des Moines, Iowa. This facility serves as the central detention center in Polk County, housing the county’s jailed population. This population consists of persons detained prior to their court dates or hearings (i.e., pre-trial detainees) and individuals sentenced to serve out a jail term in Polk County. The Polk County Jail has a rated capacity of 1,500 beds, with the built-in capability to expand by an additional 1,000 beds. Real-time statistics from the jail are available on the Sheriff’s Jail Dashboard page.
Note that juveniles (youth aged 11 through 17) are not typically detained at the Polk County Jail (unless waived to adult court for serious offenses). Juvenile detention in Polk County is overseen by the Department of Community, Family & Youth Services at a separate facility-the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center (seeFAQs). The Center can house 33 youth.
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Polk County Jail | 1985 Northeast 51st Place Des Moines, IA 50313 | (515) 323-5400 | Public Lobby Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays Facility: 24/7 | No direct public email address, but the Sheriff’s Office can be emailed at polkcounty.sheriff@polkcountyiowa.gov for inmate inquiries. |
Polk County Juvenile Detention Center/Centralized Intake | 1548 Hull Avenue Des Moines, IA 50316 | Juvenile Detention: (515) 286-3344 Centralized Intake: (515) 286-3350 | 24 hours a day, full week | N/A |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Polk County Jail
Family members and friends can deposit money into a Polk County jail inmate’s account online. To fund these accounts, visit the official vendor’s website, select "Secure Deposits" to be redirected to the funding portal, select "Send Money," and then fill in the required details. A user account on the vendor’s website is required to complete the funding process. Online deposits can be made via debit or credit card.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
Searches for inmates at the Polk County Jail can be conducted using the facility’s several jail rosters, as explained earlier in the "How to Use the Polk County Jail Roster" header. Parties can also contact the jail center at (515) 323-5400 regarding inmates in custody.
For juveniles, these inquiries are directed to the Department of Community, Family & Youth Services, specifically the agency’s Centralized Intake Center at (515) 286-3350. Iowa Code § 232.147 restricts juvenile delinquency records from public access unless the act would be a forcible felony if perpetrated by an adult, subject to confidentiality provisions in §232.149A or sealing under §232.150. Even so, public delinquency records are not available to the general public or any governmental agency online unless the juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent in the matter.
Certain individuals and agencies, however, can access otherwise confidential juvenile records, such as the child and the child’s counsel, the child’s parent or legal guardian, a law enforcement agency, the judge and professional court staff, the county attorney, the alleged victim of the delinquent act, and the superintendent of the school district where the child is enrolled. Such persons can contact the CFYS or juvenile court regarding delinquency records.
Facility | Public Access? | How to Search | Exceptions/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Polk County Jail | Yes | Search the Sheriff’s Office online jail rosters | Displays public inmate records only |
Polk County Juvenile Detention Center/Centralized Intake | No (Generally) | Contact Centralized Intake at (515) 286-3350 | Records are closed per Iowa Code § 232.147, except for forcible felony offenses. ID or proof of relationship is typically required for access. |
Polk County Visitation Rules and Schedules
The Polk County Jail in Iowa offers on-site and remote (off-site) visits between inmates and citizens. Visits are scheduled through the jail’s official vendor, who provides a subscription visitation service. On-site visits often have limited availability.
Visitation Registration and Scheduling
Personal visits to a Polk County inmate must be scheduled on the vendor’s website 24 hours in advance, up to 3 weeks prior. (Only qualified professionals can schedule a remote visit with 1 hour’s notice.)
The visitor, who must be 18 years or older, will need to set up an account in their legal name and is responsible for paying for the visit and for the behavior of everyone who joins them during the session (including children).
A valid picture identification (e.g., driver’s license, State ID, Military ID, or Passport) is required to set up an account. After registration, follow the prompts to schedule the visit and download & test the visitation application on a computer, Android/iOS smartphone, or tablet.
Account registration and scheduling can also be done using the kiosk located in the Polk County Jail Facility’s front lobby.
Visitation Hours - Personal (Public) Visits
- On-Site Visitation Hours (Sunday through Thursday):
- Sunday: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
(No on-site public visitation on Friday and Saturday.)
- Remote Visitation Hours (Daily):
- Sunday through Saturday: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
(No remote visits are permitted during the following times: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Note that hours may be adjusted due to holidays or other events. (SeeQualified Professional Visitation Hours.)
Visitation Cost & Duration
- Cost (On-site): Free.
- Cost (Remote): 25 cents per minute.
- Duration (All): Up to 25 minutes.
Note: To schedule remote visits, visitors must have at least $6.25 in their account. This fee will be returned if the visit is canceled by the visitor or facility before the start time. Unused minutes are refunded to the visitor’s account upon the visit’s end. Internet connectivity issues, however, are not refunded.
Visitation Frequency & Limitations
- Inmates can receive up to 5 remote visits daily.
- One free on-site visit and one remote visit are allowed each week.
- Only 1 Adult and 1 Minor can visit per session. However, parents and grandparents can visit together.
Children Visitors
- Visitors aged 17 or younger may attend, but they must be accompanied or supervised by an adult (typically the account holder).
Visitation Conduct and Dressing
- Personal visits are always recorded and monitored. Visitors and inmates are expected to conduct themselves appropriately, as violations of conduct or dress regulations can result in immediate termination of a session, a permanent ban, or criminal charges. Some violations include
- Using or displaying drugs or drug paraphernalia
- Streaming, recording, or taking pictures of the visit.
- Dressing inappropriately, for example, wearing swimsuits, see-through clothing, or clothing with offensive images.
- Engaging in illegal/illicit behavior, such as disrobing.
(See other rules and regulations.)
For visitation at the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center, review the Department of Community, Family & Youth Services’ Visits & Phone Calls page.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Following official policies for the Polk County Jail, inmates and citizens can communicate via mail. These correspondences (letters, drawings, or photographs 4" x 6" or smaller) must be sent to the jail via the United States Postal Service.
Senders must include their full name and address on the return address portion of the envelope. Otherwise, the mail will be sent back to the US Post Office. All correspondence must be addressed as follows:
[Inmate’s Full Name]
Polk County Jail
1985 Northeast 51st Place
Des Moines, IA 50313-2517
Quick Tip: Include the Inmate’s Booking Number alongside their full name to ensure timely delivery. You can find a Polk County inmate’s booking number by searching the Current Inmate Listing.
Note: An inmate may possess only five photographs in total.
Further, money orders or checks cannot be sent via mail to fund an inmate’s commissary account. The jail only accepts account deposit requests online through its approved vendor, as previously detailed.
Lastly, all incoming mail is subject to inspection for contraband. Contraband (perfumes, stamps, stickers, polaroids, or any foreign substances) is strictly prohibited. A list of prohibited items can be retrieved from the jail at (515) 323-5400.