Iowa State Penitentiary
Need to reach someone at Iowa State Penitentiary? Look up an inmate, send messages or mail, add commissary funds, or schedule a visit.
Explore
Find an Inmate at Iowa State Penitentiary
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Guides for This Facility
How to Apply to Visit Someone at Iowa State Penitentiary: Complete Mailing Checklist
Getting approved to visit someone at Iowa State Penitentiary starts with a paper application. Print it, sign it, and mail it to the right address—that's how you avoid the most common delays.
Read Guide
How to Send Money to Someone at Iowa State Penitentiary: All Your Options Explained
Sending money to someone at Iowa State Penitentiary is straightforward once you understand how Iowa's system works. The key thing to know: most commissary deposits go through a centralized banking location, while restitution and similar obligations are handled separately.
Read Guide
Phone Calls from Iowa State Penitentiary: What They Cost and How Inmates Call You
Waiting on a call from Iowa State Penitentiary? Here's what you need to know: you can't call an inmate directly. All calls have to be placed by the offender to numbers on their approved calling list.
Read GuideAt a Glance
Visitation
- In-person and video visits are free and must be scheduled through the Ameelio app for approved friends and family.
- Visitor applications must be printed, signed, and mailed; electronic applications are not accepted and each adult must submit their own form.
- All visitors are subject to searches, including pat-downs, metal detectors, ion scanners, electronic-device checks, or visual searches; refusal to comply denies entry.
Communication
- To send O-mail at Iowa State Penitentiary you must register at www.corrlinks.com and each O-mail costs $0.25.
- O-mail messages are limited to 13,000 characters or 100 lines, with 100 lines equal to a 2-page maximum.
- The facility does not accept incoming phone calls; inmates must place outbound calls and add your number to their approved calling list.
Mail & Letters
- All incoming non-legal mail must be sent to Pigeonly’s central mail processing at PO Box 96777, Las Vegas, NV 89193.
- Use the Iowa State Penitentiary mailing facility code 1110 when sending non-legal mail through the central processor.
- Pigeonly opens and scans all non-legal mail into color digital copies; originals are not returned and are later destroyed per policy.
Sending Commissary
- All incoming commissary and spending funds for Iowa State Penitentiary are processed centrally at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility.
- Mailed cashier's checks or money orders must be sent to the IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account at 1550 L Street, Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
- Access Corrections accepts online deposits at www.accesscorrections.com with deposit rates starting at $3.49 and offers a toll-free phone deposit option at 1-866-345-1884.
Facility Info
- Male offenders are processed at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) in Coralville.
- Female offenders are processed at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (ICIW) in Mitchellville.
- New admissions may bring only a bible, an address book, a small number of photos, and cash at reception/classification.
Based on official sources and community feedback.Learn how we verify
Topic Overviews
Mail & Letters
All incoming non-legal mail for Iowa State Penitentiary goes through Pigeonly's central processing facility. Don't send mail directly to the institution—it'll just get rerouted to the processor anyway. Address your envelope with the incarcerated person's full name, inmate/booking number, and facility code 1110. Pigeonly opens all non-legal mail and creates a color digital scan that gets delivered to the facility. Originals aren't returned—they're retained and eventually destroyed under the processor's policy. You can send photos through U.S. Mail using the Pigeonly addresses too. Pelipost is the approved photo print provider for ISP, with 4x6 and 5x7 prints allowed (limit 10). Legal or privileged mail works differently—mark it appropriately and follow the facility's rules rather than using the central processing address.
Read full guideSending Commissary
Commissary funds for Iowa State Penitentiary go through Iowa DOC's centralized banking system at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility—not the penitentiary itself. To mail funds, send cashier's checks or money orders only to: IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account, 1550 L Street, Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Include the inmate's name and ID so the deposit doesn't get delayed or returned. Prefer online or phone deposits? You've got options. Access Corrections takes deposits at www.accesscorrections.com (fees start at $3.49) or by phone at 1-866-345-1884. JPay accepts Visa/MasterCard at www.JPay.com, with fees typically $3.95–$10.95; call 1-800-574-5729 for phone deposits. Western Union Send2Corrections is another route—use the inmate's commissary number and facility name, or call 1-800-634-3422 (option 2).
Read full guideFacility Info
Admissions to Iowa State Penitentiary don't all start at the same place. Male offenders go through the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) in Coralville; female offenders process through the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (ICIW) in Mitchellville. At reception, new admissions can bring only a few personal items: typically a bible, an address book, a small number of photos, and any cash. Everything else needs to be picked up by family or friends—it won't be kept. The Iowa Department of Corrections doesn't take requests for placement at a specific facility or region, and hardship transfers based on a loved one's medical condition aren't allowed. Policies can vary, so confirm current requirements directly before you go.
Common Questions
Showing 6 of 14How do I apply to visit someone at Iowa State Penitentiary?
Print the visitor application, sign it, and mail it—electronic submissions aren’t accepted. Each adult must submit a separate signed application, and minors must be listed on a parent or guardian’s form.
VisitationAre visits free and how are visits scheduled at Iowa State Penitentiary?
Yes. In-person and video visits are free for approved friends and family. Once you’re approved, all visits must be scheduled through the Ameelio app; Ameelio handles scheduling, not approval decisions.
VisitationHow do I send O-mail to an inmate at Iowa State Penitentiary?
Register for CorrLinks at www.corrlinks.com to send O-mail. Each O-mail costs $0.25, and messages are limited to 13,000 characters or 100 lines.
CommunicationCan I call an inmate at Iowa State Penitentiary?
No. Iowa State Penitentiary does not allow incoming calls to inmates; they place outbound calls and must add your number to their approved calling list first.
CommunicationHow much do inmate phone calls cost from Iowa State Penitentiary?
Local, intrastate, and interstate inmate calls cost $0.06. International call rates vary by destination.
CommunicationWhere do I send non-legal mail for someone at Iowa State Penitentiary?
Send non-legal mail to Pigeonly’s central processor at PO Box 96777, Las Vegas, NV 89193. Include the person’s full name, inmate/booking number, and the Iowa State Penitentiary facility code 1110 on the envelope.
Mail & LettersMore Guides
Ready to Connect?
Search for your loved one to start communicating today
Did You Know?
Iowa State Penitentiary offers both in-person and video visits — and they're free for approved friends and family. You'll schedule visits through the Ameelio App.
This guide is compiled from official facility documentation and community feedback. Learn how we verify