Pottawattamie County Jail

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

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.