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Buena Vista County Jail Information

Address

Buena Vista County Jail
411 Expansion Boulevard
Storm Lake, IA 50588

Phone Number

Phone: (712) 732-2452

The Buena Vista County Jail is located at 411 Expansion Boulevard in Storm Lake, IA and is a medium security county jail operated by the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Department.

This guide will tell you info about anything one might want to know about the Buena Vista County Jail, such as how to do a jail inmate search, the jail’s phone number and address, intake procedures and booking, court information and records, and lots more.

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to give you information that you’ll need to make helping someone get out of jail less stressfull. If you have questions, please feel free to ask it in the comment section below, and also any comments or tips that would be a benefit to other people in the same situation will be appreciated.

Buena Vista County Jail Inmate Search

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend in jail and want to locate them? Do you know someone who has been arrested and you don’t know how to locate them?

In order to search who’s in jail at the Buena Vista County Jail you will have to use the search form.

Inmate Search

First Name

Last Name

State

Who’s In Jail

The Buena Vista County Jail Inmate Search has information about people who have been arrested, which includes current status, and visiting hours. You can also get info about anybody booked or released in the past 24 hour period. Jail inmates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. You will be able to get their arrest information fast if you enter the arrestee’s name, date of birth, or inmate ID Number.

Buena Vista County Jail Policies and Procedures

Intake Procedures

The jail intake process at the Buena Vista County Jail takes you through each of the following steps:

You will get put in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you will have to wait a while to get processed.

The first step is that you have to answer some basic questions, such as what is your legal name, home address, birth date and an emergency contact, and they’ll also ask about your medical and mental history. Next, you’ll be given an inmate number and you will get fingerprinted. Then, all personal property will be taken from you and stored until you get discharged from jail.

They will allow you to make a phone call in order to call family, friends, or loved one.

If they expect that you will make bail and be released quickly, you might be able to wear your own clothes, otherwise you you will be given a jail uniform – the jumpsuit.

Discharge Procedures

Once bail has been posted, you will be discharged from jail. Getting discharged from jail can take anywhere from 15 minutes to all day. Or, simply, the quicker bail is posted, the quicker you can get out of jail. Also, how fast you get released can depend on if you have a bond amount or if a judge must decide on your bail amount. For a minor offense, you will be booked and get released without having to post bail. When you have completed your jail sentence and are given a date of your release, you should expect to get released between 9am and noon.

Buena Vista County Jail Visitation

The inmate must provide information about each visitor to the Buena Vista County Jail before you can visit. Your visitors will go into the visitors log as an approved visitor. Every visitor will be required to provide a photo ID when visiting. Anyone that gets to visitation or any visitors that are not approved to visit will not be allowed to visit the inmate.

Visitation procedures change often, so call the jail at (712) 732-2452 before you try to visit an inmate.

Visiting Hours

Day	Visiting Hours
Monday	9:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday	9:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday	9:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday	9:00am – 5:00pm
Friday	9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday	9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday	9:00am – 5:00pm

Visitation Rules

In order to visit an inmate at the Buena Vista County Jail you have to be added to the inmate’s visitation list.

Be sure to take your up to date government issued ID or valid driver’s license with you to visitation or you will not be allowed to enter.

No phones are allowed at Buena Vista County Jail, and you will be searched. No personal belongings. Persons currently on must obtain the permission of both the superintendent and their individual supervising officer prior to a visit. Usually is not approved.

If the visitor is under the age of 18 is related to the inmate, they must be accompanied by an adult family member or guardian to include a member of the inmate’s extended family. If a visitor is under the age of 18 and is not related to the inmate, this visitor must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Sending Mail to Inmates

This is what you need to know about sending letters, photos, postcards, greeting cards and even magazines to an inmate at the Buena Vista County Jail. Incoming and outgoing inmate mail at the Buena Vista County Jail is always searched and inspected for contraband that might threaten the security, safety or well-being of the facility, its staff, and inmates. Inmates can only receive metered, unstamped, plain white postcards no larger than 4″ x 6″ as mail. The writing on the postcard has to be in pencil or blue or black ink. If it has a stamp on it, it will get returned. If you write in green ink, then it will get returned. If you send any other kind of mail will be returned to the sender. If there is no return address on it, then the unauthorized mail will be stored in the inmate’s locker until the inmate gets release.

Do not include any of these things in the mail that you send to an inmate: any kind of threat to jail order, any description of the manufacture of weapons, bombs, incendiary devices, or tools for escape; do not encourage or advocate any kind of violence, hate speech, or racial or ethnic supremacy. Inmates are not allowed to write to other inmates.

Mailing Address

The mailing address for the Buena Vista County Jail is:

Buena Vista County Jail
411 Expansion Boulevard
Storm Lake, IA 50588

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Buena Vista County Jail
411 Expansion Boulevard
Storm Lake, IA 50588

The mail policy at the Buena Vista County Jail changes often, so be sure to check the official website when send a letter to someone in jail there.

Sending Other Things to an Inmate

There are strict procedures that you must follow to send anything to an inmate at the Buena Vista County Jail. This includes sending money for to spend in the commissary, sending regular mail or photos, sending money for phone calls, and even postcards.

This page covers everthing you need to know about the Buena Vista County Jail to help you follow these procedures and guidelines. If you have questions, or there is something that you were looking for, but did not find, please contact us using the contact link in the site menu.

Public Records

Warrant Inquiry

If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can find out by checking the court records on the website or you can call the jail directly. You have to have their first and last name. Or, you can just go down to the jail and inquire at the information desk. Keep in mind that if you do have an outstanding warrant, you will be taken into custody immediately.

Arrest Record Search

If you know the person’s first and last name, as well as their arrest date, contact the Buena Vista County jail, on the phone, go there in person, or check online. Arrest records are public record and the information is available to anyone.

Court Records

Court Records are public records. These records include a court case file that includes a court docket and any filings and documents filed in your court case. You are able to access court records on the website, or at Clerk of Court office where the case was filed.

Criminal Records

Every state maintains records of people’s criminal background. These state databases are linked together so you are able to track criminal backgrounds from any other state. You can go to county courthouse and make an inquiry, or check the website. It helps to know the county, and if the crime was in a different state entirely, you might have to pay a fee for a more comprehensive search.

A criminal records search you are able to get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for any crimes they may have committed, which could include DUI or DWI, drug offenses, kidnapping, sexual offenses including rape, assault, violent crimes like assault or murder, or theft, breaking and entering.

Money & Commissary

The process for sending money to Buena Vista County Jail inmates could change, so check the Buena Vista County Jail site before send money to someone in jail there.

How To Send Money to an Inmate at Buena Vista County Jail

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

Guidelines For Sending Money To An Inmate

Before you send any money you should find out what online money transfer companies the jail your inmate is incarcerated in uses. The exact method that the Buena Vista County Jail uses changes frequently, so it is best to call them at (712) 732-2452 to get the current payment method.

You may be required to be on the inmate’s visitation list in order to send them money, and be aware that they may have a limit on how much you deposit at one time, like $200-300 at a time, or a limit on how much money may be in the inmate’s account at one time.

Some of the money transfer firms being used by various facilities include JPay, MoneyGram, AccessCorrections, OffenderConnect, Touchpayonline, JailATM, WU, smartdeposit, and tigercommissary.

If an inmate has fines or are required to pay restitution then they will be subject to garnishment of their commissary/trust account. If the inmate has a garnishment, then money to pay them will be taken from the inmateâ€™s bank account. In some cases it may be a percentage or the entire amount of the obligation, but the actual percentage depends on the circumstances. We recommend that inmates talk to the counselor at their facility and try to find out. You can also try to make an arrangement so that only a percentage of your commissary funds are taken, instead of all your funds take at one time.

Commissary

The commissary is the Buena Vista County Jail store. You can buy a number of things here, such as personal items, food, and things for writing. Keep in mind that you will probably need to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will cause you to lose commissary privileges.

The Commissary will sell an assortment of different items that the inmate can buy if they have money in their account. These products include clothes, shoes, small snacks and other food items, in addition to personal hygiene products including soap, shampoo, and disposable razors for shaving. The commissary also sells other things like books and magazines, televisions and radios, playing cards, headphones, MP3 players, and electronic tablets. They also sell everything need to write home to family, friends, and loved ones: paper, envelopes, and stamps. If an inmate is indigent and cannot afford paper and stamps, the jail will provide these things to an inmate who has not had any money in their commissary account for at least 30 days.

Phone Calls & Phone Usage Policy

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from the Buena Vista County Jail are made through a jail approved pre-paid phone account or phone card . Jail phone calls are usually more expensive than regular phone calls. There are certain restrictions about when you can make phone calls, how long you can talk, and how often you can make calls, but inmates should keep in mind lots of people want to use the phone – so you have to share. If you are under any sort of disciplinary procedure, phone privileges might get reduced or totally denied.

Phone Number: (712) 732-2452

How To Save Money on Inmate Calls

Correctional facility phone service providers have a monopoly at each facility that they are the exclusive phone provider for, which means that they they control how much it costs to make phone calls. The money these phone service providers make from all of the phone calls that inmates make are split with the facility, so there is no incentive for the jail or the counselors at the facility to show inmates or their family how to save money on inmate phone calls at the Buena Vista County Jail. The prices are posted and there are at least two different prices based on where the inmate is calling. The following three factors will determine the cost of an inmate phone call: Where you are located; Where your inmate is located, What type of phone number you have.

For example, if your inmate is in federal prison, if you get a new local number then this will decrease your inmate’s phone call rate from $.21 per minute to only $.06 per minute.

For state prisons and local jails learning how to decrease your inmates phone charges can be more difficult. ArrestedResources.com keeps up to date with all of the changes that affect your inmate’s calling rate and in most cases is able to offer you an inmate calling number that will save you a lot of money on inmate phone calls. There are some circumstances where we will not be able to save you any money, and therefore we will not offer you an inmate calling number. In these cases, the jail or prison has set their inmate calling prices so high that nobody can save you money.

For more detailed information on how to save on inmate calls at Buena Vista County Jail, click the link below.

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