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This page lists all 66 police station in Iowa. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.
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About Police Station in Iowa
Understanding police station in the Iowa
Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of police detention and holding facilities in Iowa. This page lists every active police-operated jail, holding facility, and lockup currently operating across Iowa, giving families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, and the general public fast and reliable access to accurate information about police-level detention. When a loved one is arrested by a local or municipal police department in Iowa, they are typically taken to a police-operated facility first — before being transferred to a county jail. This directory helps you find exactly where they are being held and what steps to take next.
What Are Police Detention Facilities?
Police detention facilities — commonly called police lockups, holding cells, or police jails — are short-term detention facilities operated by local or municipal police departments. They hold individuals for 24 to 72 hours immediately following arrest while booking is completed, charges are filed, and bail arrangements are made.
Unlike county jails or state prisons, police facilities are not designed for long-term incarceration. If searching for a recently arrested loved one, they may still be at the police facility rather than a county jail, especially in the first 24 to 48 hours after arrest.
How Police Facilities Differ From Other Facilities
- Police Detention Facilities: Operated by local police. Hold individuals for 24-72 hours during booking and initial processing only.
- City Jails: Operated by municipal authorities for slightly longer-term detention including pretrial holding and short sentences.
- County Jails: Operated by the county sheriff's office for pretrial detainees and sentences under one year.
- State Prisons: Operated by Iowa's DOC for felony offenses with sentences over one year.
- Federal Prisons: Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.
What Happens After Arrest in Iowa
- Arrest and Transport: Individual is arrested and transported to the nearest police detention facility.
- Booking and Intake: Photographing, fingerprinting, health screening, belongings search, warrant review (takes several hours).
- Initial Holding: Placed in holding cell while charges are filed and case is reviewed by prosecutors.
- Arraignment/Bail Hearing: Within 24-72 hours, brought before a judge who sets bail or releases them.
- Transfer or Release: Either released or transferred to county jail to await trial.
Finding Someone in Police Detention in Iowa
Browse the directory below to find the police facility in the area where the arrest took place and contact them directly. You can also use our free US inmate locator tool to search by name once booking is complete. Knowing the arrest location and the person's full legal name will help speed up your search.
Getting Bail
For minor charges, bail may be posted directly at the police facility using a standard bail schedule. For serious charges, bail is set at arraignment (within 24-72 hours). A bail bondsman can post bail for a 10-15% non-refundable fee.
Hiring a Lawyer
The period immediately following arrest is one of the most critical windows in the legal process. A criminal defense attorney can advise on rights during questioning, attend bail hearings, and begin building a defense strategy from day one.
Calling a Detainee
Phone access at police facilities is typically limited during initial booking. Once intake is complete, detainees can usually make a limited number of collect calls to notify family members or contact an attorney.
Visitation
Visitation at police detention facilities is typically very limited during the initial holding period. Most police lockups do not offer standard visitation. Regular visitation becomes available once transferred to a county jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Police Station by County in Iowa
View facilities organized by county
Filter Police Station by County
Iowa has Police Station spread across dozens of counties, and finding the right one quickly can be challenging without the right tools. Use the county list below to instantly narrow results and view only the Police Station in a specific county within Iowa. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate someone who was recently arrested in a specific area, or if you are planning a visit and need to find the closest facility to your location.
All Police Station in Iowa
Complete listing of police station
Browse the Complete List of Police Detention Facilities in Iowa
The full directory of police detention and holding facilities in Iowa is displayed below. Every active police-operated lockup, holding cell, and short-term detention facility is included. Each entry includes the facility name, operating police department, city, county, address, and contact information. Police detention facilities are the first point of contact in the criminal justice system — where booking, processing, and initial detention occur before any further transfer.
| Facility Name | County | Action |
|---|---|---|
|
Le Mars Police Lockup
22 2nd St Northeast
PO Box 236, Le Mars, IA 51031
|
Plymouth | View Details |
|
Pocahontas Police Detention
23 West Elm Ave, Pocahontas, IA 50574
|
Pocahontas | View Details |
|
Iowa State Patrol Jail
215 East Seventh St, Des Moines, IA 50319
|
Polk | View Details |
|
Mitchellville Police Holding
110 Second St NE, Mitchellville, IA 50169
|
Polk | View Details |
|
West Des Moines Police Jail
250 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265
|
Polk | View Details |
|
Windsor Heights IA Police Jail
1133 66th St, Windsor Heights, IA 50311
|
Polk | View Details |
|
Sac City Police Detention
311 Williams St, Sac City, IA 50583
|
Sac | View Details |
|
Walcott Police Jail
212 West Lincoln St
PO Box 247, Walcott, IA 52773
|
Scott | View Details |
|
Harlan IA Police Jail
709 Durant St, Harlan, IA 51537
|
Shelby | View Details |
|
City of Rock Valley Police Jail
1302 Main St, Rock Valley, IA 51247
|
Sioux | View Details |
|
Sioux Center IA Police Jail
335 1st Ave Northwest, Sioux Center, IA 51250
|
Sioux | View Details |
|
Tama Police Jail
305 Siegel St, Tama, IA 52339
|
Tama | View Details |
|
Ottumwa Police Detention
330 West Second St, Ottumwa, IA 52501
|
Wapello | View Details |
|
Decorah Police Jail
400 Claiborne Drive
PO Box 1, Decorah, IA 52101
|
Winneshiek | View Details |
|
Sioux City IA Police Jail
601 Douglas St, Sioux City, IA 51101
|
Woodbury | View Details |
|
Goldfield Police Jail
719 2nd St Southwest, Clarion, IA 50525
|
Wright | View Details |
Police Station in Other States
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Explore Police Station in Other States
Looking for police station beyond Iowa? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of police station in any other US state. Whether you need to look up facilities in a neighboring state or search across the country, our nationwide directory makes it simple to find the information you need in just a few clicks.