Polk County Juvenile Detention Center

Search for an Inmate in Polk County

Polk County Juvenile Detention Center Information

This regional juvenile detention center is located in Des Moines, Iowa and houses all of the juveniles who are assigned to detention, have been newly arrested and not yet released, or they are being held for their safety or the safety of those around them. The facility ensures the care of each youth is designed to meet their needs, and there are tr4eatmetns offered for both medical and mental health needs. Treatments are provided for substance abuse and anger management or other emotional regulation concerns. Rehabilitation is the focus, rather than punishment, so juveniles are provided with healthy meals, time for exercise and physical education both inside and out, their academic classes follow the local schools, and life skills will be improved. The schedule of the facility remains strict both weekdays and weekends, and following it encourages responsibility and discipline. It houses youth from several surrounding communities to keep the juveniles close to their homes, their families, and their support systems. There are several benefits to keeping detained youth near their own community including more regular connection to their family, which improves mental health, closer connections to the program and the community that will provide them support upon their release, and better mental health of the parents and families as they can check on their children. Mail: Polk County Juvenile Detention/Centralized Intake 1548 Hull Avenue Des Moines, IA 50316 Mail is permitted for all juveniles unless otherwise ordered by the court. Adult content is not permitted to be sent to any juvenile facility, and any contraband will be removed. Phones: Phones are available daily, and juveniles can both make and receive calls from their parents or guardians, with those who are in the higher levels will have access to longer phone calls than those who are newly admitted or have broken rules in the facility. Visitation: Visiting hours are Monday to Friday 6-6:30pm or 6:45-7:15pm and Saturday and Sunday 1-1:30pm or 1:45-2:15pm. Approved visitors include parents, guardians, and children of the juvenile.

Phone: 515-286-3344

Physical Address:
1548 Hull Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316-1397

Mailing Address (personal mail):
Juvenile's Name
Polk County Juvenile Detention
1548 Hull Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316-1397

Other Jails and Prisons

How Do You Find Someone in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center?

To search for an inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 515-286-3344 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's criminal court case and docket schedule online for Polk County and any other county in Iowa.

Polk County Juvenile Detention Center Inmate Search

The Polk County Juvenile Detention Center maintains an average of 33 offenders in custody on any given day. The Polk County Juvenile Detention Center has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Polk County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 30,660 offenders.

The following charts of Polk County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.

The information is compiled from the Polk County Corrections Department, the state of Iowa Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Polk County.

For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Polk County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.

We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.

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Recent Bookings & Arrests

What is the booking process for the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center?

After being arrested, the offender is brought to the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center for booking, which is the detailed process of identifying, classifying, deciding on charges, and whether the person will either be released on their own recognizance, allowed to be released on bail, or moved into the jail until their court date.

The first thing every newly arrested person must do is close their mouth. Everything an offender says may be used against them, so the best thing to do is remain silent when questioned about the arrest and what led to it.

These are the steps of booking someone into the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center:

  • Personal identification.
  • Mugshot(s).
  • Questions about medical history, mental health, drug and alcohol use, and gang affiliations.
  • Possible DNA.
  • Full body search.
  • Property forfeiture.
  • Free phone call.

Booking can take as little as an hour, or up to 48 hours on a busy weekend or holiday evening, or if the offender is violent, wasted or generally uncooperative. If you have any questions about when you can pay an offender's bond and what the cost will be, call the facility at 515-286-3344.

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Directions / Map to the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center
Inmate Bail and Bonding

How do you pay bail for someone who has been arrested in [county_extended}?

When an offender is arrested and brought to the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center in Des Moines for booking, there are several outcomes after being processed.

1. The offender will be released with no bail, promising to return on a specific date to appear before a judge in either Municipal or Polk County Court.
2. The offender is ordered to remain in jail until their court date.
3. The offender is allowed to be released after paying a specified bond or bail.  Call 515-286-3344 to get the exact amount.

The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.

  • If can be paid by cash, money order or credit card.
  • It can be paid using a bail company, licensed to do business in Polk County.
  • It can be paid by using a residential property in the county as collateral. 

For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Polk County Iowa, check out the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center Bail Page.

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Inmate Visitation

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center? What is the Schedule?

Polk County Juvenile Detention Center ON-SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE

1548 Hull Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316-1397
515-286-3344

  • Visits are 30 minutes.
  • You must be on the inmate's visitor list.
  • The actual visitation times may depend on the inmate and their housing location. Call 515-286-3344 and get your inmate's times and make an appointment to visit.
  • Inmates are allowed one visit per week.
  • A maximum of 2 guests are allowed per inmate.
  • Visitors must have a government issued photo ID.
  • Dress professionally with non-revealing clothing.

ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 515-286-3344 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!

DAY TIMES
SUNDAY 9:00AM - 11:00AM
2:00PM - 4:00PM
MONDAY 9:00AM - 11:00AM
2:00PM - 4:00PM
6:00PM - 8:00PM
TUESDAY 9:00AM - 11:00AM
2:00PM - 4:00PM
6:00PM - 8:00PM
WEDNESDAY 9:00AM - 11:00AM
2:00PM - 4:00PM
6:00PM - 8:00PM
THURSDAY 9:00AM - 11:00AM
2:00PM - 4:00PM
6:00PM - 8:00PM
FRIDAY 9:00AM - 11:00AM
2:00PM - 4:00PM
6:00PM - 8:00PM
SATURDAY 9:00AM - 11:00AM
2:00PM - 4:00PM

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Remote Video Visitation

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Inmate Money Accounts

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Inmate Phone Contact

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Mailing an Inmate

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center, and what can I send them?

Polk County Juvenile Detention Center Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Polk County Juvenile Detention Center allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Polk County Juvenile Detention Center also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
1548 Hull Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316-1397



Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
1548 Hull Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316-1397



Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Polk County Juvenile Detention Center allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center standards will be disposed of. 
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.


All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
1548 Hull Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316-1397

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Inmate Commissary

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center, and what can I purchase?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Texting and Emailing an Inmate

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center using an Online Messaging Service?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Inmate Tablets

Do Inmates in the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center have Access to Tablets or Computers?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Juvenile Detention Center’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 515-286-3344 for further assistance.

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Are there photos of the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center? What does it look like?
Other Jails in Polk County

What are the other City and County Jails in Polk County?

Polk County County Jails
Polk County Juvenile Facilities
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Other Jails Nearby

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Polk County?

Polk Madison Dallas Boone Story Warren Marion Jasper
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Search for an Inmate in Polk County

This facility, known as "Polk County Juvenile Detention Center" is also known as Polk County Juvenile Detention Ctr , Polk County Juvenile Detention Ctr , Iowa, Polk.