Iowa Prison & Jail Facilities
Iowa has 284 correctional facilities, including state prisons, county jails, federal facilities, and reentry centers. Browse the full list from the facility table below, or use the search box to find a specific prison by name.
Iowa has an imprisonment rate of 262 per 100,000 people. A total of 13,300 people are currently incarcerated in Iowa, with 24,839 on probation and 7,261 on parole. View recent arrests in Iowa or search the US inmate locator for individual records.
Iowa Prison & Jail System Overview
Iowa operates 121 correctional facilities under the state Department of Corrections. These facilities include state prisons, county jails, reentry centers, and probation offices.
The state has 92 regional and city jails, which serve as pre-trial detention centers for individuals awaiting arraignment, bail hearings, or transfer to a state institution.
Iowa operates 3 reentry and transitional facilities — also known as halfway houses or residential reentry centers — that provide supervised housing and services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community.
An additional 68 facilities in Iowa serve administrative, probation, or specialized supervision roles.
Searching for Inmates in Iowa
The Iowa Department of Justice maintains a public offender search tool at their official state inmate locator. You can search by the person's full name, inmate ID number, or register number. The tool typically returns results including the inmate's name, current facility, gender, race, offense, and projected release date.
For a comprehensive search that covers all facilities and includes inmates who may have transferred across state lines, use our nationwide inmate locator, which covers 2.65 million+ federal inmate records. You can also run a full background check that searches across court records, arrest records, and public data from all 50 states.
Iowa directory snapshot
Visual breakdown of facilities in this listing—how they roll up into broad categories (derived from security-level labels), plus the most common security classifications recorded in our database for Iowa.
Facility mix
284 facilities classified from security-level tags (same rules as the table below).
Segment width scales with the number of facilities in each category.
Top security classifications
Counts are distinct Security_Level values in Iowa.
Prison Population in Iowa by Incarceration Status
The chart and table below show the distribution of the Iowa correctional population by supervision status. 13,300 people are currently incarcerated, with 24,839 on probation and 7,261 on parole.
| Supervision Status | Population |
|---|---|
| Probation | 24,839 |
| Parole | 7,261 |
| Life Sentence | 1,521 |
| Total Incarcerated | 13,300 |
Prison Population by Gender in Iowa
The incarcerated population in Iowa is predominantly male. 7,591 male and 689 female individuals are currently incarcerated. Female incarceration has grown significantly over the past three decades, driven largely by drug-related offenses and mandatory minimum sentencing.
| Gender | Population |
|---|---|
| Male | 7,591 |
| Female | 689 |
How to Use the Iowa Prison Search Tool
Finding a prison facility in Iowa is easy with AllJailSearch.us. We have 284 facilities listed in Iowa. Use the search box at the top of the page to find any prison by name, or browse the complete facility table below.
Each facility page provides the following information:
- Visiting Hours — Scheduled days and times for in-person visits
- Visitation Rules — Dress code, ID requirements, and prohibited items
- Phone Number — Direct line to facility administration
- Email & Fax — For correspondence and document submission
- Physical Address — With a driving directions map
- Inmate Locator — Search inmates currently held at the facility
- Send Money Instructions — State-approved methods for commissary deposits
- Phone Call Setup — Carrier information and account setup instructions
How to Contact, Visit, and Send Money to an Inmate in Iowa
Visiting an inmate in Iowa requires advance approval. You must be added to the inmate's approved visitor list before arriving at any facility. Most facilities allow one or two visits per week during scheduled visiting hours.
- Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID on every visit. A driver's license, state ID, or passport is accepted at most facilities.
- Review the facility's dress code before arriving. No revealing clothing, no gang-affiliated colors, and no clothing resembling inmate uniforms are permitted.
- Arrive on time — late arrivals are often turned away. Some facilities require check-in up to 30 minutes before the visit begins.
- Book your visit in advance — walk-in visits are not permitted at most state prisons. Contact the facility directly to schedule.
- Respect facility staff and rules — any violation may result in immediate termination of the visit and possible loss of future visiting privileges.
- Complete the visitor application if you have not visited before. Download the Iowa visitor application.
Read our complete guide to visiting an inmate in prison before your first visit.
Sending Money to an Inmate in Iowa
The Iowa Department of Corrections allows family members and friends to deposit money into an inmate's commissary trust account. Inmates use these funds to purchase hygiene products, food, phone credits, and other approved items from the facility store. Use the following approved methods to send money to an inmate in Iowa:
Iowa inmates maintain a commissary trust account to purchase approved items inside the facility. The Iowa Department of Corrections accepts deposits through JPay, Access Corrections, and money orders by mail.
Method 1 — JPay (Online & Mobile, Recommended)
- Visit the JPay Iowa page or download the app: Android iOS
- Select the Iowa DOC facility and enter your inmate's ID to proceed.
- Pay by debit or credit card. Funds post within 24–48 hours on business days.
Method 2 — Access Corrections (Online)
- Visit accesscorrections.com and pay by debit or credit card.
- Service fees are displayed before you confirm the transaction.
Method 3 — MoneyGram
- Visit any MoneyGram location or go to moneygram.com.
- Iowa DOC MoneyGram Receive Code: 6185
- Provide the inmate's name, Iowa DOC number, and facility to the agent.
Method 4 — Money Order by Mail (USPS Only, No Fee)
- Make the money order payable to the inmate's full name with the Iowa DOC number on the memo line.
- No extra fee is charged for money orders. Mail via USPS directly to the facility's business office.
- Processing time: 5–10 business days after receipt.
Information Required
- Inmate's full committed name
- Iowa DOC inmate number
- Facility name
Read our full inmate money guide for Iowa-specific instructions.
Read our full guide to sending money to an inmate for step-by-step instructions on every method.
Calling an Inmate in Iowa
Phone calls from Iowa correctional facilities are managed through the facility's approved phone carrier. Inmates can only make outgoing collect calls — they cannot receive incoming calls. You must set up a prepaid account with the carrier before any calls can be placed. All calls are recorded and subject to monitoring. Read our inmate phone call setup guide for full instructions.
Types of Prisons & Jails in Iowa
The 284 facilities in Iowa span a wide range of security levels and facility types — from minimum-security federal camps to maximum-security state penitentiaries. The table below shows the breakdown by facility type and security classification.
Complete List of Iowa Prison & Jail Facilities
This is the complete list of Iowa correctional facilities. Results are paginated at 20 per page. Select any facility name to view its full profile, including visiting hours, inmate locator, phone number, address, and driving directions.
Browse Prisons by County in Iowa
Iowa has 103 counties with correctional facilities. Select a county below to view recent arrests and facility information for that area.
Helpful Guides for Inmates & Families
Whether you are looking for an inmate, planning a visit, or trying to support a loved one through incarceration, our guides cover every step of the process.
- How to Call an Inmate — Set up a prepaid account and make your first call.
- How to Send Money to an Inmate — Approved deposit methods for every state.
- Complete Visitation Guide — Rules, dress code, and what to expect.
- How to Get Bail — Understanding bail bonds and the pre-trial release process.
- How to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer — What to look for and how to find representation.
- Financial Help for Prisoner Families — Government benefits, nonprofits, and emergency aid.
- Life After Prison — Reentry Guide — Employment, housing, and reintegration resources.