Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find a Polk County inmate without searching the wrong record
The Polk County Sheriff provides separate public tools for people who are currently in custody, recent bookings, recent releases and inmates released during the previous 365 days. Start with the record type that matches what you actually need.
Open Official Jail & Arrest InformationHow to search the Polk County jail roster
If you want to know whether someone is in the Polk County Jail now, use the Sheriff’s Current Inmate Listing. A recent booking record only confirms that a person was booked during the listed period; it does not necessarily mean the person remains in custody.
- Open the official Polk County Jail & Arrest Information page. Use the county government website rather than a commercial people-search service.
- Select “Current Inmate Listing.” Use the booking lists instead if you are checking an arrest that happened recently.
- Search or review the inmate list. Match the person carefully using the identifying information available in the record.
- Open the individual record. Review the booking and custody information rather than relying only on a name match.
- Verify anything time-sensitive. Call the Polk County Jail at 515-323-5400 if custody status is important or may have changed recently.
Choose the correct Polk County inmate record
| Official option | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Current Inmate Listing | You need to check whether someone is presently in Sheriff custody. |
| Bookings Previous 24 Hours | The arrest or jail booking may have happened within the last day. |
| Bookings Prior Date | You are checking people booked on the previous date. |
| Releases Previous 24 Hours | You believe the person was recently released. |
| Releases Prior Date | You are checking releases recorded on the previous date. |
| Released Inmate Search | You need a jail record for an inmate released during the previous 365 days. |
Polk County Jail
Address:
1985 NE 51st Place
Des Moines, IA 50313
Jail phone: 515-323-5400
Public lobby:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Polk County Sheriff
Address:
5995 NE 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
Administration: 515-286-3814
Communications: 515-286-3333
For inmate custody questions, use the jail number rather than the Sheriff administration line.
What a jail record can — and cannot — tell you
The roster is primarily a custody and booking resource. It should not be treated as a criminal-history report or proof that someone was convicted.
- A booking means the person entered the jail system; it is not a finding of guilt.
- A listed charge may change as a case moves through court.
- A recent booking does not automatically mean the inmate is still in custody.
- The Polk County Sheriff does not provide the final disposition of a criminal case through the inmate roster.
- For case filings, hearings and disposition information, use Iowa Courts Online.
How to check the inmate’s court case
If the question is about a court date, filed charge, case status or disposition, move from the jail record to the Iowa court system.
- Open Iowa Courts Online.
- Start a public case search. Basic public docket information can be searched online without a subscription.
- Search the person’s name carefully and compare the county and case information.
- Open the relevant case to review available docket activity.
- For a Polk County court date, time or room number, the Sheriff directs users to the Clerk of Court at 515-286-3765.
Use the jail roster for custody; use the court docket for case proceedings and disposition.
No inmate found? Check these possibilities
A blank result is not always the end of the search. Work through the most likely explanations before assuming there is no record.
Recent arrest
Booking may still be processing. Recheck the recent-booking list or contact the jail if the arrest happened very recently.
Already released
Check the recent-release lists or the Sheriff’s released-inmate search, which covers the previous 365 days.
Federal custody
Federal-charge inmates are excluded from the Sheriff’s public lists. The county provides links to federal and immigration inmate locators from its official helpful-links page.
State prison
If the person has moved into Iowa Department of Corrections custody, use the state corrections offender locator rather than the county jail roster.
Visiting an inmate at Polk County Jail
Polk County uses ICSolutions for video visitation. Visitors must pre-register at least 24 hours in advance. Adults must have valid photo identification, and visitors under 18 must be accompanied or supervised by an adult.
| Visit type | Current public schedule |
|---|---|
| On-site Sunday | 8:30–10:30 a.m. and 12:30–2:30 p.m. |
| On-site Monday–Thursday | 8:30–10:30 a.m. and 1:00–2:30 p.m. |
| On-site Friday–Saturday | No public on-site visitation |
| Remote | Sunday–Saturday, 8:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., excluding designated daily blackout periods |
Remote visits are listed by the Sheriff at $0.25 per minute, with sessions up to 25 minutes. Schedules can change for holidays or jail operations, so verify before traveling.
Useful Polk County jail contacts
| Jail / inmate information | 515-323-5400 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Court / court date information | 515-286-3765 |
| Pretrial release | 515-875-5750 |
| Sheriff administration | 515-286-3814 |
Official Polk County resources
Related county jail search guides
If you are searching outside Polk County, these county jail guides cover the same type of custody and roster lookup:
Polk County Jail inmate search FAQs
1. How do I find someone in the Polk County Jail in Iowa?
Open the Polk County Sheriff’s Jail & Arrest Information page and choose Current Inmate Listing. Use the person’s available identifying information to locate the correct record.
2. Is the Polk County jail roster free to search?
Yes. The Polk County Sheriff provides public inmate, booking and release information through the county government website without requiring a paid commercial background-search service.
3. Does a Polk County booking record mean the person is still in jail?
No. A booking confirms an admission during the relevant period. Check the Current Inmate Listing or release information to determine whether the person remains in Sheriff custody.
4. How far back can I search released Polk County inmates?
The Sheriff provides a Released Inmate Search covering Polk County Jail records for inmates released during the previous 365 days.
5. Why can’t I find a federal inmate in the Polk County roster?
The Polk County Sheriff states that inmates with federal charges are not included in its public current-inmate, booking and release lists. Use the appropriate federal locator when federal custody is involved.
6. How do I find a Polk County inmate’s court date?
The Sheriff directs people seeking a court date, time or room number to the Polk County Clerk of Court at 515-286-3765. Public case docket information can also be searched through Iowa Courts Online.
7. What is the Polk County Jail phone number?
The Polk County Jail’s main telephone number is 515-323-5400.
8. Where is the Polk County Jail located?
The jail is at 1985 NE 51st Place, Des Moines, Iowa 50313. The public lobby is listed as open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
9. Can I visit a Polk County inmate remotely?
Yes. Polk County uses ICSolutions for remote video visitation. Visitors must register in advance and follow the Sheriff’s current scheduling, identification and conduct requirements.
10. Does a Polk County jail record prove someone was convicted?
No. An arrest or jail booking is not proof of guilt. The Sheriff does not provide final case disposition through the inmate roster; use Iowa Courts Online for available court case information.