Kossuth County Jail Overview
Kossuth County Jail is operated by the Kossuth County Sheriff's Office at 121 W. State St. in Algona. It is the primary detention facility in the Kossuth County facility map. The official jail page says the facility opened in 2001 and houses people awaiting trial, people serving time for state, county, or municipal offenses, and inmates held for other jurisdictions when overcrowding or separation calls for it.
The jail is a small county facility, not a state prison. The official page lists 26 beds and 12 full-time jailers. That size affects the lookup process. A large urban roster portal was not found in the official Kossuth County material, so current custody checks depend on jail staff, sheriff records, Iowa VINE, and court or state locators when a person moves out of local jail custody.
Kossuth County Jail Custody
The Kossuth County Jail population includes more than one custody type. New arrestees can be held during booking and before a magistrate appearance. Sentenced inmates may serve local jail time, including court-ordered mittimus time. Other jurisdictions may also use the jail when space or separation needs arise. A detainer, which is a hold request from another agency, can affect release even after a local bond issue is resolved.
| Custody Type | What It Means Here | Lookup Path |
|---|---|---|
| Pretrial detainee | Held after arrest while first appearance, bond, or case status is pending. | Jail phone, VINE, Iowa Courts Online |
| Sentenced jail inmate | Serving local jail time or scheduled mittimus time. | Jail staff and sheriff records |
| Other-jurisdiction hold | Held for another agency due to space, separation, warrant, or detainer. | Jail staff and the outside agency |
| State prison offender | No longer a county jail lookup once transferred to Iowa DOC. | Iowa DOC Offender Search |
Kossuth County Jail Capacity
The official jail page states that Kossuth County Jail has 26 beds. Vera's Incarceration Trends dataset gives a 2019 Kossuth County total jail population estimate of 11 and a 2019 Vera rated-capacity field of 30. The current county page is the source for the present stated bed count, while Vera is useful for older population and admissions context.
No official Kossuth County live jail population dashboard, overcrowding notice, consent decree, or recent jail construction project was located. Current population questions should be confirmed with the facility.
Look Up Kossuth County Jail Inmates
No official online Kossuth County Jail roster was located on the county or sheriff website. The jail page gives operational details and points to VINE, but it does not publish a current inmate search form. That means a local lookup starts with direct jail contact and then moves to the correct system for the custody type.
- Call Kossuth County Jail staff at 515-295-9277 for current custody, bond amount confirmation, mittimus scheduling, or jail-specific questions.
- Call the Sheriff's Office at 515-295-3514 for records, civil/criminal records routing, or public counter questions.
- Use Iowa VINE for custody notification, including inmates housed outside Kossuth County or in Iowa DOC.
- Search Iowa Courts Online for charges, hearings, warrants, bond orders, and case status.
- Use Iowa DOC Offender Search after a prison sentence or state transfer.
Federal or immigration custody uses separate channels. The BOP inmate locator, U.S. Marshals Service Northern District of Iowa, and ICE Online Detainee Locator are not county jail roster tools.
Kossuth County Jail Contact
The jail and sheriff's office share the State Street public-safety location in Algona. Walk-in traffic enters through the front lobby, where the Algona Police Department window is on the right and the Sheriff's Office window is on the left. The Office Division page says the front lobby is locked after 4 p.m. and on weekends, with dispatch controlling entry through camera and intercom.
Kossuth County Jail
121 W. State St.
Algona, IA 50511
515-295-9277 jail staff
515-295-3514 sheriff's office
Jail questions, bond confirmation, custody status, visitation day/time, and mittimus scheduling.
Kossuth County Jail Visits
Kossuth County Jail visitation is not listed as a public walk-in schedule. The official jail page says inmates may have up to four visitors during one visit per week for up to 30 minutes, and visitors should contact the inmate or jail for the day and time. Visitors must be on the approved list and must bring valid photo identification.
| Rule | Kossuth County Jail Detail |
|---|---|
| Frequency | One visit per week. |
| Visitors | Up to four visitors during one visit. |
| Length | Up to 30 minutes. |
| Schedule | Contact the inmate or jail for the visitation day and time. |
| Approval and ID | Approved visitation list and valid photo ID required. |
| Age rule | Visitors must be at least 18 unless with a parent or legal guardian. |
| Security | Visitors are subject to search, and visits may be refused or ended for security reasons. |
Visitors who have been incarcerated within the last 90 days cannot visit. Victims or people subject to protective orders involving the inmate are also barred. Food, drinks, tobacco, vaping, purses, cell phones, cameras, bags, and messages are not allowed in the visitation area.
Kossuth Jail Mail Money
Mail must go through the U.S. Post Office and must include complete address information. The jail inspects mail, does not accept mailed magazines or newspapers, and does not accept stamps or envelopes sent by visitors. A local detail is worth noting: visitors may bring new paperback books during visitor hours, and those books are donated to the jail library after release.
| Service | Provider / Detail |
|---|---|
| Mail address | Inmate Name, Kossuth County Jail, 121 W. State St., Algona, IA 50511. |
| Mail limits | USPS only; complete return and forwarding address required; mail is inspected. |
| Commissary funds | Cash or money order; money order must list inmate name; do not mail cash. |
| Phone cards | Purchased by the inmate through commissary; outside phone cards are not accepted. |
| Secure voicemail | 641-548-8260 for short messages. |
| Phone/text funding | Reliance Telephone Systems or 1-800-896-3201 for Inmate Wallet and iPod/texting. |
Kossuth Jail Booking Intake
The Kossuth County Jail page gives a clear booking sequence. Any person arrested is allowed to use the telephone during booking to contact family or an attorney, and those calls are monitored and documented. Personal property is itemized and secured. During the first 24 hours, a person may be held in booking-area holding cells until a judge decides release or bond.
New-charge inmates see a magistrate within 24 hours. The magistrate informs the person of charges and rights and determines release or the bond type and amount. If a person remains in custody after the initial holding period, the jail page says the inmate is showered, issued jail clothing and bedding, classified, assigned to an appropriate cell area, and given jail rules.
Kossuth County Jail Bond
After bond is set, Kossuth County Jail recognizes cash bond and surety bond when allowed by the judge. For cash bond, the jail tells users to call 515-295-9277 to confirm the amount. Exact cash is required because the jail does not make change. When surety is allowed, a bonding agency may post bond, but agencies are independent and are not associated with or recommended by the Sheriff's Office.
| Bond Topic | Local Detail |
|---|---|
| First appearance | New-charge inmates see a magistrate within 24 hours. |
| Cash bond | Call 515-295-9277 for exact amount; exact cash required. |
| Surety bond | Allowed only if the judge permits cash or surety. |
| Outside holds | Another warrant, detainer, probation/parole, federal, or ICE hold may prevent release. |
Kossuth Jail Mittimus Fees
Mittimus is the term the official jail page uses for scheduled jail time ordered by court. A person ordered to serve scheduled time must call jail staff so the Jail Administrator can assign a date and time. Prescription medications may be brought only in original containers with the person's name, medication name, and expiration date.
Pretrial detainees and people awaiting hearing dates are not charged room and board. Once sentenced by the court to serve jail time on a mittimus, the room-and-board fee is $50 per day. The jail does not accept personal checks. Cash or money order is required, and money orders for jail fees can be mailed to Kossuth County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Jail Fees, 121 W. State St., Algona, Iowa 50511.
Kossuth Jail Records Requests
Kossuth County's Public Records Policy assigns criminal and civil records to the Sheriff's Office. A request may be oral or written, and the county encourages a standard form but does not require it for a valid request. The custodian may need time to locate records, review confidentiality, redact information, or deny access under Iowa Code Chapter 22, section 22.7, section 22.8, a court order, or other law.
| Fee Item | County Policy Detail |
|---|---|
| Staff time under 30 minutes | No staff-time charge. |
| Staff time over 30 minutes | Billed by hourly rate, rounded to nearest 30 minutes. |
| Paper copies | Up to 50 cents per page. |
| Email copies | $2.00 first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. |
| Advance payment | May be required for out-of-state requesters, unpaid prior fees, or estimates over $100. |
Note: Confirm custody, bond, and visit timing with Kossuth County Jail before traveling or sending money.