Pottawattamie 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 (712) 890-2250 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

Telephone Calls

Most inmates have daily access to telephones in their housing units. Inmates cannot receive incoming telephone calls and no messages for inmates will be taken by Detention staff unless it is a verifiable emergency. After the booking process, all telephone calls by inmates are collect and the financial responsibility of the receiver.

Effective May 15, 2018, inmate telephone services are provided through a contract with TurnKey Corrections. Go to InmateCanteen.com to set up an account or put money on an inmate’s calling or canteen account.

The facility has kiosks accessible to detainees. Information about sending non-confidential messages may be found at: team3.inmatecanteen.com where an account must be created to utilize the facility messaging system which operates with either email or SMS service.

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

The Pottawattamie County Jail encourages inmates to maintain ties with their families and friends through regular visits. These visits are conducted in the least restrictive manner possible to remain consistent with safety and security concerns, classification requirements, and space availability. The Pottawattamie County Jail utilizes a video visitation system for regular visits.

Regular visitation is available Monday through Friday according to the following schedule:

All Housing Areas

9 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.

3 p.m. to 3:40 p.m.

8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (dependent on housing location)

Please contact the front desk at (712) 890-2250 for additional information regarding scheduling for visits on holidays as they vary by holiday.

Visitation will be granted on a first come, first served basis, and each visit is 20 minutes in length. Each inmate can receive a maximum 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.

Any visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and have their birth certificate or guardian papers present.

Inmate home visitation services are provided through a contract with TurnKey Corrections. Visitors need to register an account with Turnkey which can be done online or at a lobby kiosk. Allow up to 24 hours for approval. Go to InmateCanteen.com to set up an account or put money on an inmate's canteen account.

Attorney Visits

Professional visitation is recognized as a visitor from a legal or medical entity, such as the courts, mental health, or law enforcement. Inmates have the right to confidential visits with the following persons acting in their official capacity during any time of day, 7 days a week; attorneys or authorized members of their staff, clergy who are cleared by the jail, mental health professionals who are cleared by jail, personal physicians or psychiatrists, law enforcement officers, probation and parole officers, or social workers. It is encouraged to set professional visits up in advance by contacting the Jail Administration.

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

Any time of day, 7 days a week.

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 or video teleconferencing for legal purposes can be scheduled by contacting the front desk for inquiry of available times at (712) 890-2250 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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 (612) 409-7799.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office.

Visiting Restrictions

All persons entering the premises are subject to search. All children must have adult supervision at all times. All intoxicated individuals or those appearing to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to remain on the premises. No food or drinks. No disruptive behavior.

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.

Dress Code

All dress must be conservative in nature. The following items are prohibited:

See-through clothing (lace, sheer etc.)

Low cut shirts, blouses or T-shirts

Short or cut-off shirts

Short splits (skirts, slacks or shirts)

Belly or midriff shirts

Clothing with vulgarity, profanity or racial slurs.

Failure to comply with visitations expectations regarding dress code will result in visit denial until the violation has been corrected.

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.

Letters sent to detainees must include the last four digits of the detainee’s A-number (File Number), plus the sender’s name and address. To enhance the safety of the facility, all incoming mail is subject to screening for contraband. The mail is not read upon opening, only inspected by the delivering officer. Detainees may send mail from the facility. Detainees may seal their outgoing letters and place them in the provided receptacle. All incoming mail will be delivered to the detainee, and outgoing mail will be routed to the proper postal office within 24 hours of receipt by facility staff. A mail pick-up and delivery schedule is posted in all housing units.

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.

If detainees receive funds in the mail, they will be taken to the processing area for the money to be placed into their account. The processing officer will provide a receipt for all funds received. Detainees are cautioned not to have cash sent to them in the mail.

A detainee may receive items that are determined to be of necessity for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the ICE Deportation Officer.

Before sending packages to detainees:

Letters mailed to inmates must contain the inmate's full name as part of the address. The jail will not accept certain items through the mail. Restricted items include packages, obscene or pornographic materials, personal checks, cashier’s check, postage stamps or stamped envelopes, any type of food, or periodicals not directly sent from the publisher. Inmates will receive photo copies of the mail. The original will be placed on their property.

Mail should be addressed in the following manner:

Inmate's Name

Pottawattamie County Jail

1400 Big Lake Rd.

Council Bluffs, IA 51501

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.