Find a Polk County Jail Inmate and Check Current Booking Records
If you are trying to locate someone held in Polk County Jail, start with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Current Inmate Listing. The county also publishes separate lists for recent bookings, recent releases and inmates released during the previous 365 days.
Records Search
Court, Criminal, Marriage, Divorce, Property
People searching for Polk County inmates, mugshots, jail rosters or booking records often need more than a name. This guide explains which official search to use, what to do when a person is missing from the roster, how to check the related court case, and the current jail rules for visits, mail, money, phones and records.
Official county information reviewed October 25, 2026. Live custody, bond, release, visitation and vendor information can change.
1985 NE 51st Place
Des Moines, IA 50313
Use for current jail-related questions.
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Hours may change on holidays.
Which Polk County Inmate Record Should You Use?
Polk County separates jail information by custody stage. Choosing the correct list is faster than repeatedly searching one roster.
| If you need… | Use this official resource | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Someone in jail now | Current Inmate Listing | People currently in the custody of the Polk County Sheriff. |
| Someone booked very recently | Bookings Previous 24 Hours | People booked into Polk County Jail during the previous 24 hours. |
| A booking from an earlier day | Bookings Prior Date | Bookings recorded for a prior date. |
| Someone just released | Releases Previous 24 Hours | People released during the previous 24 hours. |
| A prior release | Releases Prior Date | Release activity for an earlier date. |
| A release within the last year | Released Inmate Search | Polk County Jail records for inmates released during the previous 365 days. |
| Charges, hearings or case outcome | Iowa Courts Online | Public trial-court case information; separate from jail custody records. |
| Iowa state-prison custody | Iowa DOC Offender Search | People in Iowa Department of Corrections custody rather than the county jail. |
How to Search the Polk County Jail Roster
- Open the official Current Inmate Listing.
Use the Polk County government inmate portal rather than a copied third-party roster. - Look for the person’s legal booking name.
Use the spelling the person is likely to have used during arrest or booking. A nickname can produce a missed match. - Confirm more than the name.
If the record displays identifying information, booking date, charges, holding agency or another identifier, compare multiple fields before assuming the result is the correct person. - Choose a booking or release list when needed.
A person may appear in a recent booking list but no longer be in current custody. If they have already left jail, use the release tools instead. - Use the court system for the next legal step.
The jail roster tells you about custody and booking activity. It does not tell you the final disposition of the criminal case.
Polk County Inmate Mugshots and Booking Photos
Polk County does not advertise a separate public page specifically titled a “mugshot search.” The Sheriff’s Jail and Arrest Information system is the correct starting point for public inmate and booking information.
If the current inmate or booking interface displays a photograph, treat it only as a booking image connected to that jail record. A photo does not prove that the person committed the listed offense, and the charge shown at booking may later be amended, dismissed or resolved differently.
Do not assume that every current, released or historical jail entry will have a publicly available photo. If you need a Sheriff’s Office photo or another record that is not available through the public inmate system, use the Sheriff’s official records-request process described below.
No Polk County Inmate Found? Check These Possibilities
- The booking is still being processed. Search again after additional intake time.
- The person was already released. Check the previous-24-hour release list and the released-inmate search covering the prior 365 days.
- The name is different. Try the legal name, alternate spelling, hyphenated surname or other known booking name.
- The arrest occurred outside Polk County. Search the jail for the county where the person was actually booked.
- The person transferred to Iowa state custody. Use the Iowa Department of Corrections offender search.
- The matter involves federal charges. Polk County says inmates with federal charges are excluded from the listed public jail views.
- You are really looking for a court case. Search Iowa Courts Online instead of relying on the jail roster.
How to Check a Polk County Court Date, Charge or Case Status
A jail record and a court record answer different questions. The Sheriff’s roster can help establish booking or custody information, while the Iowa Judicial Branch is the better source for filed cases, hearings and case status.
- Identify the person carefully from the jail record. Save any useful booking or case information shown.
- Open Iowa Courts Online. Under the Trial Court area, select the case-search option.
- Search by the defendant’s name or available case information. Confirm that the case belongs to the correct person and county.
- Review the docket and current case status. Use the court record rather than a jail booking to understand what happened after arrest.
- Call the Polk County Clerk of Court when needed. The Sheriff’s jail guidance lists the Clerk of Court number as 515-286-3765 for court date, time or room information.
Polk County Jail Location and Contact Details
| Facility | Polk County Jail |
|---|---|
| Jail address | 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313 |
| Jail telephone | 515-323-5400 |
| Public lobby hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. |
| Sheriff administration | 5995 NE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313 · 515-286-3814 |
| Law enforcement line | 515-286-3306 |
| Communications | 515-286-3333 |
The jail and the Sheriff’s administrative office use different addresses. Use 1985 NE 51st Place for the detention facility unless the county specifically directs you to the Sheriff’s administration building.
Polk County Jail Visitation
Polk County currently uses ICSolutions for inmate video visitation. Visitors must create an account and the county says visits should be registered or scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
| Visit type | Published hours | Important details |
|---|---|---|
| On-site Sunday | 8:30-10:30 a.m. 12:30-2:30 p.m. | Pre-registration required. |
| On-site Monday-Thursday | 8:30-10:30 a.m. 1:00-2:30 p.m. | No regular public on-site visits Friday or Saturday. |
| Remote Sunday-Saturday | 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. | No visits 11 a.m.-12 p.m., 3-4 p.m. or 5-6 p.m. |
The county’s current visitation page lists remote visits at $0.25 per minute with sessions of up to 25 minutes. A full 25-minute paid session requires $6.25 in the prepaid account. Vendor pricing, weekly allowances and schedules can change, so confirm the amount shown by ICSolutions before paying.
- Adults must register using their legal name and carry valid picture identification.
- Visitors under 18 must be accompanied or supervised by an adult.
- Personal visits are monitored and recorded.
- Visits may be unavailable while an inmate is in court, a program, work assignment, class or attorney meeting.
- Holiday schedules or facility events can change normal visitation hours.
ICSolutions customer care: 888-506-8407.
Send Mail, Photos or Approved Property to an Inmate
Personal mail
Polk County states that inmate mail must arrive through the U.S. Postal Service and must include the sender’s complete name and return address. Mail without a complete return address can be returned to the Post Office.
Inmate’s Complete Name
Polk County Jail
1985 NE 51st Place
Des Moines, IA 50313-2517
Photographs
The Sheriff’s published jail instructions allow an inmate to possess up to five photographs. Photos must be 4 × 6 inches or smaller. Polaroid-type photographs are not accepted, and approved photos must be mailed rather than dropped off in person.
Packages and personal property
The jail states that it does not accept packages or other personal property for inmates. For an inmate who is currently in custody, authorized property release is handled Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m..
Court clothing
Clothing for a jury-trial appearance may be accepted with prior jail approval. Polk County allows up to two outfits and lists the delivery point as Court Staging, 110 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309, Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Inmate Money, Commissary and Phone Accounts
The Polk County Sheriff’s current jail guidance directs friends and family to its approved commissary/CarePack service for inmate purchases and deposits. Always confirm the inmate’s identity before sending funds because a transfer to another facility or release can change the correct deposit method.
- Confirm that the person is still in Polk County Jail using the current inmate list.
- Write down the inmate’s exact booked name and any identifier shown by the official system.
- Open the deposit or commissary option linked from the Sheriff’s current Jail How Do I page.
- Select Polk County, Iowa, and verify the inmate before submitting money or purchasing a package.
- Keep the receipt or transaction confirmation.
For inmate phone or video-account support, the Sheriff’s Office directs users to ICSolutions at 888-506-8407.
How to Request a Polk County Sheriff Record or Photo
If the online jail roster does not provide the record you need, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office accepts public-record requests online, by mail, by phone and in person. Not every record is public; investigative, victim, health, identifying and other protected information may be withheld under Iowa law.
| Published record type | Current listed fee |
|---|---|
| Police incident report | $5 |
| Vehicle accident report | $5 |
| Dispatch log | $5 |
| Animal control report | $5 |
| In-car or security-camera video | $35 |
| Photos | $35 |
| 911 call / communication audio | $35 |
The Sheriff states that records longer than 10 pages may incur an additional $0.25 per page and requests requiring more than one hour of processing may incur an additional $35 per hour. Ask for the calculated total before assuming a fee applies to your particular request.
Records contact: 515-286-3313, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The Sheriff’s records address is 5995 NE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313.
If the Person Was Transferred Out of Polk County Jail
County jail custody is only one stage of the correctional system. If the person no longer appears in Polk County’s current roster, first check the county’s released-inmate search. If they were transferred into Iowa state correctional custody, use the Iowa Department of Corrections Offender Search.
A person with a federal matter may require a federal custody search instead. This is especially important because Polk County specifically excludes inmates with federal charges from the public inmate lists described on its Jail and Arrest Information page.
Related Jail Search Guides
Polk County Inmates and Mugshots FAQs
1. How do I find a current inmate in Polk County, Iowa?
Use the Polk County Sheriff’s official Current Inmate Listing. It is the county’s public list for people currently in Sheriff’s custody. For a very recent arrest, also check the previous-24-hour booking list.
2. Does Polk County have a separate mugshot search?
The Sheriff’s Office publishes inmate, booking and release resources rather than a separate page specifically labeled as a mugshot search. Start with the official inmate or booking record. Photo availability can vary by record.
3. How can I see Polk County bookings from the last 24 hours?
Open the Sheriff’s Jail and Arrest Information page and select Bookings Previous 24 Hours. This list is different from the Current Inmate Listing because a recently booked person may later be released.
4. How far back does the Polk County released-inmate search go?
Polk County describes its Released Inmate Search as covering inmates released from the Polk County Jail during the previous 365 days.
5. Why can’t I find someone who was arrested in Polk County?
The person may still be going through booking, may already have been released, may be listed under another legal spelling, may have been transferred, or may be held by another agency. Polk County also states that inmates with federal charges are not included in the public lists described on its jail information page.
6. How do I find a Polk County inmate’s court date?
Use Iowa Courts Online for the court case. Polk County’s jail guidance also lists the Clerk of Court at 515-286-3765 for information about a court date, time or room number.
7. Where is the Polk County Jail in Des Moines?
The detention facility is at 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, Iowa 50313. The jail telephone number is 515-323-5400. This is different from the Sheriff’s administrative address at 5995 NE 14th Street.
8. How do I visit a Polk County Jail inmate?
Polk County uses ICSolutions for video visitation. Visitors must register and generally schedule at least 24 hours in advance. On-site visits are available Sunday through Thursday during published time blocks, while remote visitation is available daily subject to blackout periods and inmate availability.
9. How do I send mail or photos to a Polk County inmate?
Mail must be sent through the U.S. Postal Service to the inmate’s complete name at Polk County Jail, 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, IA 50313-2517. The sender must provide a complete return address. The jail allows up to five photographs in an inmate’s possession; they must be 4 × 6 inches or smaller and cannot be Polaroid-type photos.
10. Does a Polk County booking or mugshot mean the person was convicted?
No. An arrest, jail booking or booking photo is not proof of guilt or conviction. Polk County says its jail information does not provide case disposition. Check the related case through Iowa Courts Online for the formal court status.