The Polk County Jail is a 160 bed jail in the city of Balsam Lake, Polk County, Wisconsin. You can call them 24 hours a day for inmate information at 715-485-8370.
Offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing, and if their crime requires it, are incarcerated until they are either bonded out, are released from custody on their own recognizance, or are ordered to remain in custody until the disposition of their trial.
You can also use the inmate search tool to see this facility's roster of those who have been arrested and are still in custody.
Those who are found guilty and sentenced to a term of less than one year, will do their time in this county. Those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the Wisconsin State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 715-485-8370, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
It's always a good idea to find out and save the inmate's jail ID number or booking number as you may need this for sending mail or other communication needs. If you can't locate it online, you can call the Polk County Jail at 715-485-8370 to get it.
Phone: 715-485-8370
Physical Address:
1005 West Main Street
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Polk 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 715-485-8370 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up the Criminal Court case of an offender in this county, online.
Polk County Jail Inmate Search
The Polk County Jail maintains an average of 160 offenders in custody on any given day. The Polk 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 Polk County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 4,060 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 Wisconsin 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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Stretching out with brick and teal accents, the Polk County Jail houses up to 160 inmates from Polk County who are facing felony or misdemeanor charges, or who are serving a short sentence provided by the court. It offers all security levels from minimum to maximum to ensure that it can meet all the needs of the community.
Staff are onsite around the clock and accept calls about inmate presence, health or other concerns, and questions about their status and bail at 715-485-8370 and an online lookup is provided.
Work release allows qualified and approved inmates to maintain their employment outside of the building during work hours and return at the end of each shift to serve their sentence. Work release programs both provide direction for their incarceration but increase employment after incarceration, while allowing them to continue supporting their families.
Inmates may send and receive mail at the facility, it is addressed to them at the jail itself at:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
... and it will be inspected before final delivery.
Phone calls are supported and allow inmates to make calls to their friends and family each day of incarceration.
Onsite and offsite visits are both available and can be scheduled through an account online. Onsite visits are Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 1pm-8pm and they are free, with remote visits every day of the week from 8am-10pm.
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 715-485-8370.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Polk County Jail Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Polk County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Polk County and other Wisconsin and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Polk County Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
Yes, Polk County imposes bail and conditions however Wisconsin is one of a few states that does not allow posting bail for profit, meaning that a court or bondsman cannot charge a percentage of the bond as in other states. There are no licensed bond agencies in Wisconsin.
The Polk County courts recognize cash bail or10% cash percentage bonds. In some cases, a property bond will be considered.
Bail is set by a judge in Polk County however if the crime is a misdemeanor and a judge not available for an immediate bail hearing, a law enforcement officer can set bail using a bail schedule.
Bail is set at the first appearance, within 1-2 days following arrest; however, misdemeanor bail is generally processed and released immediately in most cases.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Polk County Jail? What is the Schedule?
1005 West Main Street
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
715-485-8370
Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | NO ON SITE VISITS |
| MONDAY | NO ON SITE VISITS |
| TUESDAY | NO ON SITE VISITS |
| WEDNESDAY | 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| THURSDAY | 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| FRIDAY | NO ON SITE VISITS |
| SATURDAY | 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
| MONDAY | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
| TUESDAY | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
| WEDNESDAY | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
| THURSDAY | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
| FRIDAY | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
| SATURDAY | 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
How it Works with GettingOut
1. Register an account.
2. Select Polk County Jail
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.
4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.
GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.
Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
Frequently Asked Questions
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.
To visit an inmate in Polk County, whether by video or in person 'at the jail', follow these steps:
Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate, which is explained and outlined in detail on our Visit Inmate Page, Polk County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of GettingOut.
There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate in Polk County Jail:
1. Using the GettingOut Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut apps.
To remotely visit an inmate in Polk County follow these steps:
1. Start by confirming that Polk County Jail's Video Visitation is working correctly by looking up Polk County here.
2. The next step is to create an account here for GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account.
4. Last, select Polk County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.
Other Polk County Services provided by GettingOut:
- Phone Calls & Voicemail
- Email, Photo & Video Sharing
- Inmate Tablet Rental
- Deposits
Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Polk County Jail Visitation Services you can call them at 866-516-0115.
Frequently Asked Questions
* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in Polk County, can be found on our Visit Inmate Page.
Polk County Jail Phone: 715-485-8370
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Polk County Jail?
How it Works with GettingOut
1. Register an account.
2. Select Polk County Jail
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.
4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.
GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.
Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
Frequently Asked Questions
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Polk County Jail?
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Bring money to the jail in person.
Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use a Jail ATM self-serve kiosk in the lobbies that accepts cash, debit or credit cards.
Option 2 - Deposit Inmate Money Online
Polk County Jail uses Jail ATM to process all online deposits to an inmate's account. The company charges you a small fee for doing so, but the fee probably isn't as much as gas and parking would cost to take it to the jail in person.
Option 3 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person and you don't have a debit/credit card for online deposits. Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union. Call the Polk County Jail first as they may want you to do this online or at the jail kiosk instead.
Make the Money Order out to the inmate's name and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
Option 4 - Make an Inmate Deposit with Jail ATM over the Phone by calling 877-810-0914
To do this you will need the inmate's offender # (inmate ID #) and full legal name.
To deposit money online for an inmate in Polk County Jail follow these steps:
For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Polk County Jail, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Polk County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Polk County Jail?
To receive phone calls from inmates in Polk County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:
Note: All your calls with an inmate are recorded, stored and shared with law enforcement if the conversation deals with your case or any criminal activity. Anything communicated can be used against you or your inmate in court.
For all the information regarding phone calls with Polk County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the Polk County Jail, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Polk 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 Polk 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#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
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 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 Polk 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#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
For inmates receiving mail in the Polk 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 Polk County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Polk County Jail
1005 West Main Street, Suite 900
Balsam Lake, WI. 54810
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 Polk County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Polk County Jail, 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 Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Polk County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
Polk County Jail contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select Polk County Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
How Messaging Works
Watch this video on how to send a message.
1. Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message. Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
How Uploading Photos Works
Watch this video on how to upload a photo.
1. Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
To mail or email an inmate in Polk County follow these steps:
When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:
Emailing Messages & Photos
Facility_name_1} contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select Polk County Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.
All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Polk County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the Polk County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at Polk County Jail, such as:
- Free services are already available for use on the device at Polk County Jail.
- Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
- Polk County Jail Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.
What Does a Tablet Cost?
To estimate costs for tablets and other services such as phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page), but the following gives you a general idea.
Game Center:
30-Day Subscription: $4.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($5.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($3.74)
Seven-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($2.49)
Unlimited eBooks:
Thirty-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($2.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($1.74)
Seven-Day Subscription: $0.49, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)
Streaming Music:
Thirty-Day Subscription: $8.99, with an additional $16.00 service infrastructure charge ($24.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $5.99, with an additional $9.00 service infrastructure charge ($14.99)
Seven-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($7.99)
Newsfeed
Thirty-Day Subscription: $3.99, with an additional $6.00 service infrastructure charge ($9.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($6.99)
Seven-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $3.00 service infrastructure charge ($3.99)
Same Day Subscription Services
Game Center: $0.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($1.49)
Unlimited eBooks: $0.25, (Total = 0.25)
Newsfeed: $0.24, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)
FM Radio: $0.24, with an additional $0.25 service infrastructure charge ($0.49)
All Subscription and message credit pricing is subject to state and local taxes.
Replacement Components - should your inmate break it...
Tablet: $249.99 per each
Charger: $8.99 per each
Earbuds: $2.99 per each
To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:
1. First, Register or Sign In to GettingOut/GTL
2. Purchase the services you want for your Polk County Jail inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.
To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 715-485-8370 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in Polk County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Polk County?
This facility, known as "Polk County Jail" is also known as Polk County Jail & Sheriff, Polk County Jail & Sheriff , Polk County Jail & Sheriff , Wisconsin, Polk.
