Dubuque County Jail

You can support your loved ones at Dubuque Co Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 563-589-4420.

When someone you care about gets locked up, it's tough to figure out all the ins and outs of jail life. From sending mail to visiting, there are a lot of things to sort out. And getting info about the arrest? Not always easy. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get a handle on how things work here so that you can stay connected and support your loved one behind bars.

The Dubuque Co Jail is a detention center located at 770 Iowa St Dubuque, IA which is operated locally by the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Dubuque County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Dubuque Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals.

You can see all the arrest records for Iowa here.

Individuals who do not post bail within the first twenty-four hours are required to appear before a judge. During this first appearance, conducted either in person or via telephone, the judge informs the arrested person of the charges against them and sets the bond amount.

Following the intake process, which includes property inventory, medical screening, and booking, inmates are assigned to the general population. Housing assignments are based on the classification of their charges, whether felony or misdemeanor, to ensure proper management and safety within the facility.

After processing, inmates are assigned to a housing area based on classification. Compliance with jail rules typically results in a lower classification and more privileges, while rule violations or additional charges lead to a higher classification and fewer privileges. Inmates serving as trustees within the jail undertake various tasks, including cooking, laundry, and commissary management, often receiving minimal compensation or sentence reduction for their services.

The jail is designed with "pods," featuring a large common area with affixed tables and attached seats, and individual cells typically on two levels. Inmates spend certain times in their cells and other times congregating in the pod for activities like playing cards, games, reading, or watching television. Movement outside the pod, such as trips to the commissary, library, or recreation area, occurs under the constant supervision of unarmed correctional officers. The environment in the county jail is considered less stressful than that of a prison because the sentences are much shorter.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, there may be increased spending limits. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with all essential basic hygiene items including USPS stamps and writing materials.

Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can sometimes reduce sentences.

Work-release inmates in Dubuque County are evaluated for eligibility based on a series of stringent conditions to ensure suitability for placement on the GPS Monitoring Program. Key disqualifiers include extensive criminal histories, violent or sexual offenses, forcible felonies, and recent failures to appear or comply with previous work release programs. Additionally, inmates with outstanding issues such as contempt of court within the past year, habitual legal violations (e.g., repeated harassment or no-contact order breaches), or any form of interference with peace officers are not considered for the program.

Other factors such as ties to the community, employment status, and having a permanent residential address within Dubuque County are also evaluated. Inmates must undergo an interview, provide negative drug test results (unless on prescribed medication), and have no substantial disciplinary record while in custody. They are also required to clear any outstanding debts to the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office.

Applicants with jobs involving door-to-door sales or delivery are generally not eligible, nor are those with overdue sentencing orders or poor cooperation with work release staff. Gang affiliation also disqualifies an inmate from participation in the program.

These measures ensure that only those inmates who pose minimal risk and demonstrate responsibility are allowed to participate in the work release program, contributing to public safety while allowing inmates the opportunity to reintegrate into the community through employment.