Home / Directory / Iowa / Dubuque County Jail — Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque County Jail — Dubuque, Iowa
Confirm current custody, then use the exact address and channel for the task.
JAIL411 / FAMILY FIELD GUIDE
Dubuque County Jail family guide
Sources reviewed
Active adult Dubuque County Sheriff jail only; task-specific addresses, providers, placements and exclusions preserved.
- 1
Search official P2C and confirm by phone.
- 2
Save the exact name, charge, bond and ID.
- 3
Use 770 Iowa for jail business; 855 Central for on-site visits.
- 4
Match JailATM, ICSolutions and Access Corrections to the task.
- 5
Verify court orders with Clerk and counsel.
- 6
Confirm parking/transit stop and final path before travel.
- 7
Reconfirm completed release before pickup.
identity
Practical steps with explicit local gaps.
Use the active adult county jail
The active adult Sheriff jail is Dubuque County Jail at the Law Enforcement Center. Use 770 Iowa Street for the jail office and booking; call 563-589-4420.
Sources: Dubuque County — Jail · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Confirm the operator
The Dubuque County Sheriff operates the jail. Joseph L. Kennedy is the current Sheriff; the Jail Administrator is reached at 563-589-4405.
Sources: Dubuque County Sheriff · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Keep 770 and 855 task-specific
The county uses 770 Iowa Street for the jail office/booking and 855 Central Avenue for on-site family visits. These are task entrances in the Law Enforcement Center block; confirm the entrance before travel.
Sources: Dubuque County — Jail · Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation
Do not publish a live capacity
No current official adult-jail capacity is published. A 2022 food RFP described about 164 people and ability to serve 212 meals; neither number is current capacity, population or availability.
Sources: Dubuque County 2022 jail food-service RFP · Dubuque County — Jail
Search the official inmate inquiry
Use Police to Citizen Inmate Inquiry. Try the legal name, spelling variants and recent-arrest view; save the displayed name, charge, bond and booking details without relabeling fields.
A missing result is not release proof
If no result appears, call 563-589-4420 and ask whether booking is pending, the person is at court/medical care, was transferred, uses another name, or is outside county custody.
Sources: Dubuque Law Enforcement — Police to Citizen · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Use IowaVINE as a separate alert
IowaVINE may provide custody notifications. Reconfirm any alert with the Jail Office; an alert is not a completed-release time or pickup instruction.
Sources: VINELink Iowa · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Exclude other custody systems
Do not apply this guide to Dubuque Residential Facility, youth detention, police lockups, state/federal/ICE custody, hospitals, contract jails or historic sites.
Sources: Iowa DOC — Dubuque Residential Facility · Iowa DOC — Districts and Prisons · Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator · ICE Online Detainee Locator · Dubuque County Veteran Services — Old Jail Building
visits
Practical steps with explicit local gaps.
Choose on-site or off-site video
The county allows two free 25-minute on-site visits per week and one 15-minute off-site visit per day for a visitor-paid fee. Only one visitor participates at a time; the week starts Monday.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation
Schedule at least 24 hours ahead
Register and schedule through JailATM at least 24 hours ahead. On-site visits are Monday-Friday except holidays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., with exact times varying by housing unit; off-site visits are evenings, weekends and holidays.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation · JailATM
Bring qualifying photo ID
Every visitor must be at least 18 and present picture identification showing an address. The county does not publish an alternative-ID process; call 563-589-4420 before travel if the address or ID is a problem.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Do not bring minors as visitors
The current county rule says no visitors under 18. Do not rely on a commercial directory that allows children; ask the Jail Office whether any legal or professional exception exists.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Use the Central Avenue entrance
For on-site family video, report to 855 Central Avenue, not the 770 Iowa Street booking address. Arrive with time for identification and screening; exact check-in lead time is unpublished.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation · Dubuque County — Jail
Leave phones and cameras out
Phones and cameras are not allowed in the on-site visitation area. The county does not publish storage availability, so leave nonessential property secured before entering.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation
Use ICS for technical failures
For connection or visit technology problems call ICS customer care at 888-646-9437. The county says not to call the jail or front-lobby staff for technical support.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation · ICSolutions
Approval remains discretionary
A scheduled visit can be denied or suspended for safety, rule or disciplinary reasons. Attorney and clergy visits are handled separately; jail workers are not released from work simply for family visits.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation
communication
Practical steps with explicit local gaps.
Create the correct ICS account
ICSolutions provides inmate phone accounts. Start at icsolutions.com or call 888-506-8407; match the facility and person before funding.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Telephone · ICSolutions
Leave a paid voice message
Call 563-258-4600 to leave a $0.50 voice message. You need an ICS prepaid account, your PIN and the inmate ID; payment does not guarantee when the person can listen or call.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Telephone · ICSolutions
The jail does not pass messages
Jail staff do not take or relay routine messages. Use the approved voice-message service or counsel; call 911 for immediate outside danger.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Telephone · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Confirm current call rates
The county does not publish current call rates, taxes, collect/debit options, international access or calling windows. Check the live ICS account and provider support before funding.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Telephone · ICSolutions
Troubleshoot the number and account
If calls fail, confirm the correct facility/person, account balance, phone-number block, carrier restrictions and accepted payment. Ask ICS about refunds; ask the jail only about local restrictions.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Telephone · ICSolutions · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Use counsel for confidential communication
Ordinary ICS calls and family video are not attorney-client channels. Contact appointed or retained counsel for confidential legal communication and ask the jail about attorney procedures.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation · Dubuque County — Inmate Telephone · Iowa State Public Defender — Dubuque
money-mail
Practical steps with explicit local gaps.
Understand the trust account
Money at booking is placed in the trust account. Commissary purchases use that balance; jail debts may be deducted, and remaining release funds are issued on a debit card.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Money
Use an approved deposit path
Deposit cash or credit at the 770 Iowa Street lobby kiosk, online through Access Corrections, or by phone at 866-345-1884. Verify name/ID and fees before submitting.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Money · Access Corrections
Stop after a deposit error
If a deposit is pending, duplicated or sent to the wrong person, save the receipt and contact Access Corrections before paying again. The county does not publish local reversal timing.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Money · Access Corrections
Do not mail money without approval
Cash, checks and money orders mailed to the jail are not posted unless jail administration approved them in advance. Use the published deposit channels instead.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Money · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Money releases are limited
The jail permits account releases for attorney fees, the person’s fines, own bond and room/board or charges; other releases require administrator approval. Inmate-to-inmate money/property transfers are prohibited.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Money · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Confirm commissary timing
The trust account funds commissary, but the county does not publish order days, delivery, catalog, limits, indigent supplies or refund rules. Ask the Jail Office for current local procedure.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Money · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Send personal mail to Arkansas
Effective August 5, 2025, address personal mail: Dubuque County Jail, IA; Inmate Name/Number; P.O. Box 16120; Jonesboro, AR 72401. It is opened, scanned and delivered digitally.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Mail
Do not send personal mail to Dubuque
Personal mail sent directly to the Dubuque jail is returned. The scan center processes no parcels; do not send packages there.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Mail
Confirm the legal-mail street address
Legal mail must come directly from a licensed attorney of record, but the current county page displays unfilled facility/street/city placeholders. Call 563-589-4420 before sending; do not infer 770 or 855.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Mail · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Confirm the business-document route
Checks, money orders, IDs, birth certificates and similar official documents are listed for direct facility handling, but the same placeholder-address defect remains. Confirm exact address and approval first.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Mail · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Books and photo rules remain open
The county does not publish current photo count/size, greeting-card, paper/envelope, book, magazine or publisher rules. Ask before buying or mailing; do not use commercial-directory limits.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Mail · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Respect prohibited contacts
Mail may not be exchanged with victims, prohibited contacts, current/former inmates, parolees/probationers, co-defendants or current/former jail/contract staff and volunteers. Ask about a court order before writing.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Mail
health-safety
Practical steps with explicit local gaps.
Use the jail for urgent health facts
No current public family medical line or named clinical provider was found. Call 563-589-4420 with urgent factual information; staff may not disclose protected health details. Call 911 for immediate danger outside.
Sources: Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · Dubuque County — Jail
Preapprove medication and devices
For a scheduled jail term, glasses, medications and braces must be approved by a supervisor before entry. Do not deliver medicine or equipment without instructions for the named person.
Sources: Dubuque County — Serving Jail Time · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Ask for the local grievance process
The county does not publish the inmate grievance steps, deadlines, appeal level or family role. The person should request the current form/process; family may ask the Jail Administrator at 563-589-4405.
Sources: Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · Iowa Administrative Code chapter 201—50
Request disability accommodation early
No jail-specific ADA request form or coordinator is published. Describe the functional need—not just a diagnosis—to the Jail Administrator before a visit or self-surrender and ask for written confirmation.
Sources: Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation · Dubuque County — Serving Jail Time
Do not import the state facility PREA route
No current county-jail third-party PREA reporting channel was found. Ask 563-589-4405 for the local confidential route; use 911 for immediate danger. The Dubuque Residential Facility channel belongs to Iowa DOC, not this jail.
Sources: Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · U.S. DOJ — PREA final rule · Iowa DOC — Dubuque Residential Facility
Escalate documented unresolved complaints
After giving local supervisors a chance when safe, contact the Iowa Ombudsman at 515-281-3592 or 888-426-6283. Keep dates, names, request numbers and responses; the Ombudsman cannot set release.
Sources: Iowa Ombudsman — File a Complaint · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Expect privacy limits
Family may report medical or safety facts, but staff may be unable to confirm diagnosis, treatment, housing or discipline. Ask what information they can receive and what release/consent is required.
Sources: Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
legal-release
Practical steps with explicit local gaps.
Use the Clerk for filed orders
The Dubuque County Clerk of Court is at 720 Central Avenue, 563-589-4418; case scheduling is 563-589-4582. Confirm case number, filed bond/order and next hearing there, not with a vendor.
Sources: Iowa Judicial Branch — Dubuque County · Iowa Judicial Branch — Search Court Records
Contact appointed counsel directly
The State Public Defender office is 590 Iowa Street Suite 1, 563-582-0750, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Appointment is controlled by the court and case; the office is not the jail.
Sources: Iowa State Public Defender — Dubuque · Iowa Judicial Branch — Dubuque County
Verify bond before paying
The county does not publish a complete current bond-payment method. Confirm the filed amount/conditions with the Clerk and what the Jail Office will accept before obtaining cash, card, check or a private bond.
Sources: Iowa Judicial Branch — Dubuque County · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · Dubuque County — Inmate Money
Separate court status from custody
A court record or order does not prove that jail processing, holds, property and transport are complete. Check the case with the Clerk and current physical custody with 563-589-4420.
Sources: Iowa Judicial Branch — Search Court Records · Iowa Judicial Branch — Dubuque County · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Schedule ordered jail time
Call 563-589-4420 extension 3 Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. to schedule. Report to 770 Iowa Street on time; failure to schedule as ordered may lead to a warrant.
Sources: Dubuque County — Serving Jail Time
Expect the published jail-time fee
The county publishes $50 per day up to $2,000 for serving jail time, payable or billed. Confirm how it applies to the order and keep receipts; do not confuse it with bond or commissary.
Sources: Dubuque County — Serving Jail Time · Dubuque County — Inmate Money
Bring only approved property
For self-surrender, bring nothing unless a supervisor approved it. Clothing, jewelry, wallet and other property are inventoried/stored and returned at release or transfer; exact family pickup rules are unpublished.
Sources: Dubuque County — Serving Jail Time · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Do not promise a release time
No public release window or pickup procedure was found. Ask about remaining holds, court paperwork, transport, property and debit-card processing; reconfirm completed release before anyone travels.
Sources: Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · Dubuque County — Inmate Money · Iowa Judicial Branch — Dubuque County
Keep work release separate
Work release is court ordered and prearranged, with separate eligibility, residence, testing, GPS and debt requirements. Do not assume an ordinary jail stay qualifies or uses family-visit rules.
Sources: Dubuque County — Work Release · Dubuque County — Electronic Monitoring
Keep house arrest separate
House arrest/electronic monitoring is a separate placement and does not mean release from all custody obligations. Confirm the written order, reporting location, equipment and fees with the responsible program.
Sources: Dubuque County — House Arrest · Dubuque County — Electronic Monitoring
access-reentry
Practical steps with explicit local gaps.
Use The Jule only after trip confirmation
The Jule serves Central Avenue corridors, but no official source names a jail stop or final pedestrian path. Call 563-589-4196 with the 855 Central Avenue or 770 Iowa Street task and confirm route, stop, accessibility and last trip.
Sources: City of Dubuque — Public Transit · The Jule — Routes and Schedules · The Jule — MyRide/Trip Help
Preserve the weekday-hours conflict
The main transit page states Intermodal weekday service 4:45 a.m.-7:15 p.m.; the route page states 4:45 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Confirm the specific Green trip with dispatch. Saturday is reduced; no regular Sunday service is published.
Sources: City of Dubuque — Public Transit · The Jule — Routes and Schedules · The Jule — MyRide/Trip Help
Confirm fare and transfer
The published fixed-route fare is $1.50, with $0.75 half-fare categories. Confirm eligibility, transfer and accepted payment before travel; do not infer that release provides fare.
Sources: The Jule — Fares · City of Dubuque — Public Transit
Arrange MiniBus in advance
Eligible MiniBus riders use reservation service: Monday-Friday 5:45 a.m.-7:15 p.m., Saturday 8:15 a.m.-5:45 p.m., no Sunday, $3 one way. Eligibility and an actual reservation are required.
Sources: The Jule — MiniBus
Confirm jail parking before driving
No official jail visitor/bond/release parking, accessible drop-off or final path was found. City meters and ramps are general alternatives, not jail-approved; ask the Jail Office which entrance and parking apply.
Sources: City of Dubuque — Parking · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · Dubuque County — Inmate Visitation
Do not transfer courthouse parking advice
The court page directs courthouse visitors to the Iowa Street ramp and then the 4th Street ramp. That instruction is for 720 Central Avenue court business, not proof of jail parking at 770/855.
Sources: Iowa Judicial Branch — Dubuque County · City of Dubuque — Parking
Do not rely on transit for release pickup
Neither The Jule nor the jail guarantees a release pickup. Release can occur outside service or after the planned trip; prepare a backup ride and do not send a driver until release is confirmed.
Sources: City of Dubuque — Public Transit · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us
Confirm community meals
Dubuque Rescue Mission at 398 Main Street, 563-583-1394, publishes meals and support. Confirm the current meal, eligibility and accessibility before walking from the jail.
Sources: Dubuque Rescue Mission · Dubuque Rescue Mission — Meals
Call lodging directly
Hotel Julien, 200 Main Street, 563-556-4200, and Holiday Inn, 450 Main Street, 563-556-2000, are nearby direct contacts. Confirm price, vacancy, ID/deposit and accessible room; neither is jail-endorsed.
Sources: Hotel Julien Dubuque · Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena
Use county assistance at the historic Old Jail
General Assistance at 36 E 8th Street, 563-589-7840, handles eligibility-based support. The office is in the historic Old Jail Building; it is not the active custody site.
Sources: Dubuque County — General Assistance · Dubuque County Veteran Services — Old Jail Building
Use veteran services separately
Veterans Affairs at 36 E 8th Street, 563-589-7840, offers benefits navigation and a veteran food pantry. Confirm documents, appointment and current pantry availability.
Sources: Dubuque County — Veterans Affairs
Separate civil legal help from defense
Iowa Legal Aid screens civil matters; it is not the appointed criminal defender. Use 211 Iowa for broader food, shelter, transportation and utility referrals.
Sources: Iowa Legal Aid · 211 Iowa
Build a release checklist
Before pickup, confirm completed release, property, debit card, medications, ID, destination, ride and after-hours plan. Use 211 Iowa, Rescue Mission or county assistance only after confirming eligibility and hours.
Sources: Dubuque County — Inmate Money · Dubuque County Sheriff — Contact Us · 211 Iowa · Dubuque Rescue Mission · Dubuque County — General Assistance
Original directory record & nearby facilities Open preserved information
This section preserves the earlier Jail411 directory information, including historical figures and contacts. Use the dated, sourced family guide above for the instructions covered there. Other local facilities have their own rules.
Facility record / Iowa
Dubuque County Jail is a county or city jail in Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa. It has a rated capacity of 80. By capacity it is the 13th-largest of the 56 county or city jail records listed for Iowa with a published capacity. It is one of 2 correctional facilities in Dubuque County.
Jail411 does not hold custody records. A listing here does not mean anyone is held at this address. Confirm the person’s location with the responsible agency before you travel, send money, or pay for a service.
Where this record came from. The contact, status and security fields, with capacity and population, come from the HIFLD and Federal Bureau of Prisons directory release refreshed February 2026. They describe the record, not today’s population. Check the facility’s current official website.
Contact this facility
- Phone
- (563) 589-4420
- Address
- 770 Iowa Street
Dubuque, IA 52001Open in maps - Official page
- Official page at dbqcosheriff.com
- County
- Dubuque County
Facility details
Listed as open in the February 2026 directory release.
Finding someone held here
Use the county system for a recent arrest. A state corrections search covers people in state custody. It generally will not list someone booked into a county jail this week. Bookings, bail, release, and visiting are all handled by Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office.
Official site for this facility →
Call this facility directly: (563) 589-4420
Before you travel, pay, or mail anything
Get two things first: which facility the person is actually in, and their booking or ID number. Almost nothing works without them. Then check this facility’s current instructions — rules and service providers change.
Other facilities in Dubuque County
| Facility | City | Type | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque Residential Facility | Dubuque | State prison | — |
Clear information.
Clear boundaries.
Jail411 is an independent information resource for families and friends. We are not a government agency, jail operator, law firm or live custody-records service.
Can Jail411 tell me if someone is in custody right now?
No. Jail411 does not hold live custody records. Use the official locator for the county, state, federal or ICE system that has the person; start here if you do not know which.
Does posting bond mean the person comes home?
Not always. A probation or parole hold, another county's warrant or an immigration detainer can keep someone in custody after bond is posted. Ask the jail what holds are on the booking before you pay.
What should I confirm before visiting?
The person's current facility, the visiting schedule, approval requirements, accepted identification and arrival instructions. Check the facility page and its official sources before you travel.
What if I find something that needs correcting?
Send us the page and the detail that needs attention. Include the official source when you have one. Do not send private booking documents or other sensitive personal information.
Plan the next step.
Practical guides for calls, visits, mail, money and release.