How to Conduct an Iowa Inmate Search

The Iowa Department of Corrections aims to rehabilitate the inmates held in the correctional facilities of the state, ultimately allowing them to reintegrate into society. In this way, the Department tries to not only reform criminals but also to lower the occurrence of crime in the state.

The Services of the Iowa Department of Corrections

Inmates in Iowa jails and prisons are subjected to various correctional programs and are kept under strict supervision. These programs include basic education, abuse treatment, work experiences, and victim empathy. Special programs are designed to treat and train the inmates.

In addition to the services it provides for inmates, the Iowa Department of Corrections offers help to the public by providing them with useful inmate information. The Department maintains a database containing inmate information; this information can be accessed by the public. The Department offers this Iowa inmate search at its website. You may conduct an online inmate search by visiting the search page of the Department of Corrections website, located at http://www.doc.state.ia.us/OffenderInfo.asp. At this page, enter the inmate's information, including:

* First name
* Middle name
* Last name
* Date of birth
* Location
* Offense
* County the crime was committed in

The search results will display the name of the offender, the location of the offense, the tentative discharge date, or the supervision discharge date. If the offender is under supervision, the website will state his or her current supervision status.

The inmate search records are formed by accumulating inmate information from all 99 counties of Iowa. Each of these counties has its own jail, and records of these inmates are available online as well. The procedures for obtaining these records for some of these counties are described below.

Dallas County

The Dallas County sheriff’s office has a Jail Division. It provides information on the preliminary reception of offenders into the county jail. To obtain information on the inmates in the Dallas County jail, contact the sheriff's office via telephone at 515-993-4771, by fax at 515-993-6966, or by e-mail at dcsheriff@co.dallas.ia.us. The mailing address of the office is as follows Dallas County Iowa Sheriff’s Office, 201 North Nile Kinnick Drive Box 187, Adel, Iowa 50003.

You may contact the Jail Division of the Dallas County sheriff’s office at 515-993-5815 or send a fax to the Division at 515-993-6974. The Dallas County website is located at http://www.co.dallas.ia.us/index.aspx?page=84.

Warren County

Warren County also provides information on its inmates. It is possible to request a copy of the criminal history of an inmate. You may contact James W. Lee, the sheriff of Warren County, by calling 515-961-1122. For more information, you can also visit the Warren County website at http://www.co.warren.ia.us/Sheriff/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/Sheriff.html. The Warren County Sheriff’s office is located at 301 N Buxton St., Indianola, IA 50125.

Polk County

Like all the other counties, Polk County provides inmate information to the general public. There are 660 inmates currently incarcerated in Polk County. If you wish to take a look at the Polk County inmate listing, visit http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/InmatesOnTheWeb/Main.aspx. Here you will find a list of all the inmates in Polk County Jail. When an inmate name is selected, his or her record will be displayed, containing information such as the offender identity number, name, age, physical description including height, weight, eye color, and hair color, sex, race, and the holding location of the inmate. You may also register to receive regular updates on the inmate from IowaVINE, a system that alerts citizens to changes in an inmate's status. You can choose to be notified by telephone, e-mail, or teletypewriter.

For more information, call the jail division of the sheriff’s office at 515-286-5400. You may also e-mail the sheriff’s office at PolkCounty.Sheriff@polkcountyiowa.gov. The Polk County Sheriff’s office is located at 2309 Euclid Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310.

Sioux County

A list of Sioux County inmates can be viewed by visiting http://www.siouxcountysheriff.com/county%20arrests.pdf. You may contact the sheriff's office for more information about the inmate search procedures in place in Sioux County. The sheriff's office is located at 210 Central Ave SW, P.O. Box 18, Orange City, IA 51041.

The procedures for conducting inmate searches may vary a little from county to county. By visiting the individual county websites or talking to authorized personnel, you can learn about how an inmate search is conducted in each county.

Other Information Provided by the Department of Corrections

The Iowa inmate search also shows the most-wanted criminals in the state. This information helps the public to take the necessary precautions so that they do not fall prey to criminal acts. The inmate records also include data on sex offenders, including information on where they reside after release. You may also request to receive notification when an inmate is released. The inmate records in Iowa contain the names of those who have escaped from prison.

The Iowa inmate search records are updated every week to provide the public with recent and accurate information. In addition to using the system for your own reference, you may also contribute to the database by providing the Department of Corrections with accurate information on any inmate. You may also report any information that you feel is incorrect. By informing the authorities about any escapee, or by correcting the existing information, you will help in maintaining the records of the state.