Hardin County Jail

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (319) 221-1550 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. When you call, please have the alien’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

Friends and Family Visits

Visitation Eligibility & Rules

Detainees not under disciplinary action are allowed to receive visitors during the scheduled times appropriate to their age and/or gender.

Each registered visitor may have 30 minutes.

Visits are for one person and each detainee may have up to one visit a day.

Visitors may not register more than once each day.

Visitors under the age of 18 years old may only visit detainees in their immediate family and must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Visitation Policy Reminders

These policies are to be strictly enforced with no exceptions:

All visitors are subject to search.

All visitors must produce picture identification. You must produce identification each time you intend to visit.

For security reasons, you must be certain of public visitation times. There are no special or nonscheduled visits allowed.

No smoking. The Hardin County Law Enforcement is a smoke-free facility as required by Iowa Law.

Visitation may be denied due to refusal of any requirement.

Visitation may be terminated at any time for security reasons.

Visitor Dress Code

This visitor dress code is as required by federal standards:

Shorts and skirts shall cover areas of the anatomy customarily covered to include the buttocks and crotch area, both standing and sitting.

Shorts and skirts shall be no shorter than mid-thigh both standing and sitting.

No sheer or see-through clothing, gang-related "colors," or any clothing top that is strapless so as to expose the chest or midriff is allowed.

Tube tops and swimsuits are prohibited.

Shoes must be worn at all times.

No visitor will be allowed to visit unless properly dressed.

What is Prohibited in Visitation

The public is prohibited from bringing food, beverages, diaper bags, and packages larger than briefcases into the Correctional Center. Additionally, food, beverages, and/or smoking are not allowed in visitation.

Cell phones and electronic devices are not allowed in the visitation area. Those caught with cell phones or electronic devices will be subject to a visitation suspension.

Visitation Expectations

Visits may be denied for the following reasons:

Visitor is a security or safety risk, intoxicated, or has been charged with or convicted of furnishing drugs or contraband to detainees.

Disruptive or disorderly behavior or persons with serious mental illness.

Visitors communicating with detainees other than those they are registered to visit.

Detainee declines visit.

Inappropriate clothing or indecent exposure including "flashing" of covered body areas.

Attorney Visits

Legal representatives are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:

Monday through Friday

8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated quarterly. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee’s responsibility to contact them for an appointment.

Legal Calls or Video Teleconferencing

Legal calls and video teleconference (VTC) meetings can be scheduled by contacting the main office at (641) 939-8189. Accommodations will be made for any available time slots.

All appointments for VTC meetings or phone calls should be made 24 hours prior to the desired appointment time. Appointments are scheduled during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call length is unrestricted except that it should permit other detainees equal time to make calls to their attorneys. Legal representatives are not limited in the number of VTC appointments they can request.

The same guidelines for in-person attorney/client visits will apply to VTC meetings and legal calls. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters will be allowed; no family or friends of the clients are permitted. The attorney and/or his/her agents may contact outside interpretation services during the call or session. The sessions will be confidential; a visitation officer will be stationed outside of the confidential room to ensure security by standing out of earshot but within eyeshot. The officer will knock 5 minutes before the cut off time.

Please be advised that legal representatives and their staff are not permitted to video or audio record during any virtual or in-person visit or any call with aliens at the facility. Any violation of these rules may result in suspension or a permanent revocation of VAV user privileges.

Electronic Exchange of Legal Documentation

When timely communication through the mail is not possible, the facility administrator may, in his discretion, allow for a reasonable amount of electronic written communication by means between the detained alien and their designated legal representative.

Emails Sent by Legal Representatives to the Attention of Detained Aliens

Legal representatives can send legal correspondence to jail@hardincountyia.gov. Legal representatives should make clear in the subject line that it is legal correspondence/mail and include as an attachment the specific documents/forms that the legal representative wants the facility to deliver to the detained alien. Within the email the legal representative should include the following information and a cover sheet for the attachment that includes the:

Alien full name

A-Number

Notation that the correspondence is “Legal Mail”

The documents will be inspected for contraband but not read. The legal mail will be delivered to the detainee. All legal electronic communication requests will be processed during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer for this facility can be reached at (319) 221-1550.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time but may always call ahead to reserve time to speak with a detainee to ensure prompt attention.

Visiting Restrictions

All family or other social visits are non-contact.

No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.

If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.

All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.

Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.

Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.

Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations)

All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

Visitors may deposit money into inmate accounts at the facility through an automated teller service. Funds deposited in this manner must be in the form of cash, credit, or debit card. Funds deposited at the facility, either for inmate accounts or bond are subject to a processing fee through the automated teller service.

Deposits may be made online by creating an account through the JailATM website. Follow the simple prompts to set up an account by clicking the "Sign In" button.

Alternatively, funds may also be mailed to any detainee of the facility simply by sending the detainee the funds either in the form of cash, cashier's check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted for payment of any account or service.

Personal Item Rules

All personal items including clothing, supplies, or travel necessities must be mailed to the facility and may not be dropped off at the facility.

All personal items must be sent through the regular mail service or by courier and are subject to routine screening procedures.

Medications are not accepted from outside sources either in person or by mail.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee property may not exceed 40 pounds total weight at any time.

There will be no exceptions for receiving detainee mail that do not follow the above guidelines.

Detainees are allowed to purchase stamps for use. Generally, there is no limit to the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense. Indigent detainees (those who have no means of financial support and no funds in their facility account) will be provided postage allowance at government expense.

When detainees depart the facility or are transferred to another facility, only their legal mail will be forwarded to them. General correspondence will be endorsed "Return to Sender" and returned to the post office.

A detainee may receive items that are determined to be necessary for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the ICE Deportation Officer. Send property to the Hardin County Jail. Items must be mailed to the facility and may not be dropped off at the facility.

Hardin County Jail

1116 14th Ave

Eldora, IA 50627

Note that detainees being removed from the United States are allowed one small piece of luggage. If a detainee does not have such baggage, such luggage can be sent/delivered after receiving approval from Supervisory Deportation Officer. Please be advised that for security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.) will be accepted.