How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Iowa Department of Corrections - IDOC (state prisons) / County Sheriff's Office (county jails)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - Iowa DOC Offender Search at doc.iowa.gov; county sheriff websites for local jails WHERE TO GO: Iowa DOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office (county jail)

Online Option

Yes - Iowa DOC Offender Search at doc.iowa.gov; county sheriff websites for local jails

Where to Go

Iowa DOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office (county jail)

County-specific variations apply

Each of Iowa's 99 county sheriffs operates a separate jail with its own roster. Online inmate search availability varies significantly - urban counties (Polk, Linn, Scott, Black Hawk, Johnson) have good online access; many rural Iowa counties have limited online capability requiring a direct phone call to the Sheriff's Office. Iowa Courts Online can help find charging information even when jail rosters aren't fully available online.

Iowa Notes

Important state-specific details

Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) manages all state prisons and work release facilities; Offender Search at doc.iowa.gov covers currently incarcerated state inmates and those on active supervision.
County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from IDOC; recent arrests will NOT appear in IDOC database.
Iowa Sex Offender Registry: sor.iowa.gov - searchable online by name, county, address, or ZIP code.
For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to an Iowa inmate: inmateaid.com has Iowa DOC and county jail facility details.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Iowa Department of Corrections - doc.iowa.gov | (515) 725-5701; Offender Search: doc.iowa.gov (look for "Find an Offender")