Phone Calls to an Iowa Inmate | State Prisons and County Jails

Iowa has two separate phone systems. The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) operates all state prisons under a self-managed telephone fund authorized by Iowa law. Iowa's 99 counties each operate their own jails and contract phone services independently.

Iowa is one of the few states that runs its own inmate telephone program rather than contracting with a commercial vendor like Securus or ViaPath. The proceeds from phone charges go directly into a state fund used for offender benefits - not into a corporation's revenue stream.

Iowa DOC uses "offenders" throughout its official materials.

PART 1 - IOWA STATE PRISONS (DOC)

Phone system: Iowa DOC self-operated telephone fund

Iowa Code Chapter 904.508A authorizes the Iowa DOC to maintain an inmate telephone fund. The proceeds are used by the Board of Corrections for the following offender benefits:

- Legal services

- Religious accommodations

- Education

- Victim services

There is no third-party commercial vendor running the phone system at Iowa state prisons.

How Iowa DOC phone calls work

Offenders place outgoing calls only. No incoming calls are allowed. An offender must add a phone number to their approved calling list before they can call you.

All calls are subject to monitoring and recording. Three-way calling is not permitted.

Rate - effective May 1, 2026

Calls to the lower 48 states: $0.07 per minute

Alaska, Hawaii, and international calls: rates vary (see the Telephone Rates PDF effective May 1, 2026 at doc.iowa.gov)

The Iowa DOC states these rates are lower than in most other states. Rates may vary slightly due to maintenance service and call reporting requirements.

Adding money to a phone account

There are two ways to fund an offender's phone account:

1. Offender commissary transfer: The offender can move money from their commissary account directly to their phone account.

2. Money order by mail (family): You can send a money order to be added directly to the offender's phone account. You must use the official Offender Telephone Service Form, print it, complete it, and mail it along with the money order following the instructions on the form. The form is available at doc.iowa.gov.

There is no commercial prepaid calling account (like AdvancePay or ConnectNetwork) at Iowa state prisons. There is no deposit website or phone line operated by a third-party vendor. Fund the account directly through the commissary system or by money order using the official form.

Offender's phone list

The offender must add your phone number to their approved calling list. Contact the offender directly to request to be added. The process for maintaining the calling list is governed by the Iowa DOC Access to Telephones policy, available at doc.iowa.gov.

Iowa DOC facilities (9 state prisons)

Anamosa State Penitentiary (Anamosa)

Clarinda Correctional Facility (Clarinda)

Fort Dodge Correctional Facility (Fort Dodge)

Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (Mitchellville)

Iowa Medical and Classification Center (Oakdale)

Iowa State Penitentiary (Fort Madison)

Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility (Mount Pleasant)

Newton Correctional Facility (Newton)

North Central Correctional Facility (Rockwell City)

Offender locator (search by name or offender ID): doc-search.iowa.gov

Iowa DOC contact: doc.iowa.gov/contact-us

Video visits and in-person scheduling - Ameelio Connect

Video visits and in-person visit scheduling at Iowa DOC facilities are handled through Ameelio Connect, a nonprofit communications platform. This is separate from the phone system.

Ameelio app: Available on iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and at app.ameelio.org on computer or laptop.

All visitors 13 years and older must create an Ameelio Connect account after being approved by the DOC to visit.

How to get set up with Ameelio (5 steps):

Step 1: Confirm the facility is using Ameelio Connect, then apply to be an approved visitor through the Iowa DOC visiting application process.

Step 2: Create an Ameelio Connect account. Download the app (iPhone or Android) or use the website at app.ameelio.org.

Step 3: Request contact with the offender. On the Contacts page, select "Request contact." You will need to provide the offender's name or inmate ID number, your relationship to them, and three photos: the front of your ID, the back of your ID, and a photo of you holding your ID with the photo facing the camera (shirt with sleeves required, nothing inappropriate in the background). Only visitation staff has access to your documents.

Step 4: Wait for facility approval. Iowa DOC staff reviews and approves or denies the request. Ameelio cannot approve or deny visits. You will be notified by email when approved.

Step 5: Schedule your visit. Select the approved contact, choose "Schedule event," select the type of visit and an available date, and submit. DOC must approve the scheduled visit before it is confirmed.

All in-person visitors 18 and older must bring a government-issued ID.

Ameelio support: ameeliocustomerservice.zendesk.com (submit a request form; attach screenshots for faster help)

Note: Ameelio staff cannot approve or deny visitations. All approvals are managed by facility staff.

PART 2 - IOWA COUNTY JAILS (99 counties)

Iowa has 99 counties, each operating its own jail. County jails contract phone services independently from the Iowa DOC. The Iowa DOC's self-operated phone system does not extend to county jails. County jails use commercial vendors - Securus, ICSolutions, Reliance Telephone, and others - each selected and contracted at the county level.

How to find the current vendor for a county jail

Go to the county sheriff's official website and look for pages labeled "Inmate Telephone," "Phone Calls," "Jail," or "Inmate Services." The vendor name, setup instructions, and customer service number will be listed there. If not found online, call the jail directly.

Common vendors at Iowa county jails

ICSolutions: Used at Polk County Jail (Des Moines). Setup at icsolutions.com; 888-506-8407 (24/7).

Reliance Telephone: Used at Shelby County Jail. Setup at the Reliance Telephone website; 1-800-896-3201. Also provides video calling and iPod-based texting at some Iowa jails.

Securus Technologies: Used at some Iowa county jails. Setup at securustech.net; 1-800-844-6591.

Notable county examples (verify before relying on this information)

Polk County Jail (Des Moines):

Vendor: ICSolutions; icsolutions.com; 888-506-8407

Inmate messaging: $0.25 per message; call (515) 489-8970 and follow prompts (requires prepaid account and Resident ID number)

Shelby County Jail:

Vendor: Reliance Telephone; 1-800-896-3201

Calls: collect; inmates may also purchase phone cards

Texts via iPod device: $0.09/text; audio and video: $0.25/min

Video calling and texts through Reliance Connect app (iPhone and Android)

Note: funds on iPod accounts are not refunded upon release

All other counties: Contact each county jail directly or check its official website for current vendor and setup instructions.

What to do before the first call

For an Iowa state prison:

1. Find the offender's DOC number and current facility at doc-search.iowa.gov

2. Ask the offender to add your phone number to their approved calling list

3. Either ask the offender to transfer commissary funds to their phone account, or send a money order using the official Offender Telephone Service Form from doc.iowa.gov

4. Wait for the offender to initiate the call

For an Iowa county jail:

1. Find the inmate through the county jail's inmate search or the county sheriff's website

2. Identify the current phone vendor from the jail's official website

3. Create an account with that vendor

4. Add funds

5. Wait for the inmate to call