Pottawattamie County Jail

To search for an inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail, 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 712-890-2260 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's criminal court case and docket schedule online for Pottawattamie County and any other county in Iowa.

Pottawattamie County Jail Inmate Search

The Pottawattamie County Jail maintains an average of 288 offenders in custody on any given day. The Pottawattamie County Jail 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 Pottawattamie County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 6,240 offenders.

The following charts of Pottawattamie 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 Pottawattamie 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 Pottawattamie 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 Pottawattamie 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.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail? What is the Schedule?

Pottawattamie County Jail ON-SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE

1400 Big Lake Road
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
712-890-2260

• Visits are 20 minutes.
• You must be on the inmate's visitor list.
• FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
• Each inmate can receive a maxmium of two (2), 20-minute visits per week.
• Inmates on certain types of disciplinary restriction may not be permitted visitors.
• Visitors may only visit one (1) inmate per day.
• Visitors must have a government issued photo ID.
• Dress professionally with non-revealing clothing.

ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 712-890-2260 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!

Pottawattamie County Jail Inmate Video Visitation Schedule

1400 Big Lake Road
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
712-890-2260

• First, you must register, puchase data, and then schedule with CIDNET.
  
• Visits are 20 minutes.
• The more data you purchase, the less expensive each MB of data is.

ON SITE VIDEO VISITATION

REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

Pottawattamie County Jail uses CIDNET for Remote Video Visitation between inmates and their friends and family.  
Register here.




Frequently Asked Questions
Instructions on How to Use CIDNET
CIDNET Instrucciones
Contact Customer Support

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail?

Pottawattamie County Jail Inmate Video Visitation Schedule

1400 Big Lake Road
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
712-890-2260

• First, you must register, puchase data, and then schedule with CIDNET.
  
• Visits are 20 minutes.
• The more data you purchase, the less expensive each MB of data is.

ON SITE VIDEO VISITATION

REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail?

Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:
NOTE: Pottawattamie County Jail may only allow online deposits for local commissary purchasing.
1. Register or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen.
2. Select the facility where the inmate is located and the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
3. Select the "Purchase Items" option.
4. Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Pottawattamie County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Pottawattamie County Jail follow these steps:

• Register to create an account, or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen if you already have one.
• 
• Select Iowa, then Pottawattamie County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
• Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
• Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
• Maximum spend is $125.00.
• NOTE: Pottawattamie County Jail may at times only allow online deposits for your inmate to purchase their own commissary locally. 

For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Pottawattamie County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Pottawattamie County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail, and what can I send them?

Pottawattamie County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Pottawattamie County Jail 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 Pottawattamie County Jail 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:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Pottawattamie County Jail
1400 Big Lake Rd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Pottawattamie County Jail
1400 Big Lake Rd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51501

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 Pottawattamie County Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & 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 Pottawattamie County Jail 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:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Pottawattamie County Jail
1400 Big Lake Rd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Pottawattamie County Jail Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?

For inmates receiving mail in the Pottawattamie County Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.

All mail is to be shipped to the Pottawattamie County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Pottawattamie County Jail
1400 Big Lake Rd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51501

For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail, and what can I purchase?

Pottawattamie County Jail uses the services of Inmate Canteen for Online Commissary Purchases for an Inmate.

NOTE: Pottawattamie County Jail may only allow online deposits for local commissary purchasing.

For best results use google chrome as your browser for accessing Inmate Canteen.
Instructions on purchasing commissary items for an inmate:

• Register or Log in to your account
• Select the facility where the inmate is located and the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
• Select the "Purchase Items" option
• Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Pottawattamie County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Pottawattamie County Jail follow these steps:

• Register to create an account, or Log in to your account at Inmate Canteen if you already have one.
• 
• Select Iowa, then Pottawattamie County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to purchase commissary items for.
• Select the "Purchase Commissary Items" option.
• Follow the prompts on screen to purchase items for an inmate.
• Maximum spend is $125.00.

For all information, tips and to see the hundreds of available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Pottawattamie County Jail, or to see how deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own commissary, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Pottawattamie County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Pottawattamie County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

Pottawattamie County Jail uses CIDNET for Digital Mail Messaging between inmates and their friends and family.  
Register here.

Friends & Family Portal Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Instructions on How to Use CIDNET
CIDNET Instrucciones
Contact Customer Support

How to send a text or email to an inmate in Pottawattamie County

To send and receive secure texts or emails from an inmate housed in Pottawattamie County follow these instructions:

• Register and create an account with CIDNET.
• 
• Choose a Security PIN and Password.
• After logging in, from the Menu, choose the state of Iowa, then the Pottawattamie County Jail, then your inmate's name.
• Once you have completed this, the Pottawattamie County Jail will have to give final approval for you to communicate by email with your chosen inmate.

For all the information you need to know, including instructions, policies, tips and solutions to possible issues with Texting and Emailing an inmate in Pottawattamie County, visit our full page guide. 

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

Do Inmates in the Pottawattamie County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

Pottawattamie County Jail may now offer CIDNET Tablet Rentals to their inmates.

CIDNET is the same company that handles inmate phone systems, video visitations, email and texting and digital letters.

The tablets can be rented on a monthly basis and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for the following activities:

• Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
• eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture. Fee based system.
• Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
• Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
• Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
• Law Library -  Legal research with up-to-date case information.
• eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
• Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
• Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
• Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.

Here's how it works:

• Register here. 
• Pay for the subscription.
• You get charged the 1st of each month. 
• You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
• No activation or early termination fees.
• Your inmate will recieve their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pottawattamie County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 712-890-2260 for further assistance.

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