Iowa Federal Inmate Locator Departament of Corrections

Those who are serving their sentence in Iowa state prisons are overseen by the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC). The DOC website has a centralized inmate database that makes it easy to search for an inmate.

Keep in mind that county jails, police jails, and city jails have their own website, so if someone is serving their time in one of those facilities, you will not find them on the DOC website.

Below you will find information and details on how to search for an inmate. From there you will be able to talk to, send money, and visit an inmate by going through the proper channels.

Mission of Iowa DOC

Each mission of the state prisons around the country is a little different. Those working for the Iowa Department of Corrections believe people can change and have made it their mission to create opportunities for safer communities. They believe the following:

• People can change
• Everyone should be treated with respect and dignity
• Their efforts make people safer
• Everyone must work as a team to succeed

How to Search for an Inmate

In order to visit, send money, or talk to an inmate, you will need to do an inmate search. From the Iowa Department of Corrections home page, you will find buttons under offender information. Click on offender search to search for an inmate. You will need the following information to complete a search:

• First name
• Middle name
• Last name
• Birthdate
• Gender
• Offender number
• Location
• Their offense
• The county of commitment

If you do not know all the information, you can fill in as much information as possible to get a list of inmates. Write down the information you find about the inmate such as their ID number as you may need this for other things.

Keep in mind that some inmates may not be placed on this list due to safety concerns. If you are having trouble searching for an inmate, you can fill out the contact form or call 515-725-5701.

How to Communicate with an Inmate

If you want to communicate with an inmate, you can do so via phone of offender-email. For some, the email method is more cost effective. Here is how it works:

Offender email: To send and receive emails with an inmate, you will need to sign up for Corrlinks. Emails are called o’mails and the offender can add minutes to their o’mail account just as they do a phone account. The cost for each o’mail is 25 cents.

Offender Telephone Services: In order for offenders to make calls, they must have a prepaid balance on their phone account. You can put money on their phone account by filling out the prepaid phone form. Friends and family may call 319-372-5432 extensions 41821# Monday thru Friday from 1PM-4PM.

Sending an Inmate Money

If you wish to put money on an inmate's books, you will have to go through the offenders banking. All money is handled by the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility (FDCF) and must be sent there.

Money will only be taken in the form of a cashier’s check or money order to the following address: IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account; 1550 L Street, Suite B’ Fort Dodge, IA 50501.

Be sure cashier's checks and money orders have the following information: offender name, offender number, sender's name, and sender’s address.

It is important to follow the rules and procedures of the Iowa DOC as this will ensure you are able to speak to and visit an inmate in a timely fashion.

Correctional Facilities in Iowa

There are 158 jails and prisons in state Iowa

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