What You Can (and Can't) Bring When Someone Is Booked at Johnson County Jail
Booking day moves fast. Show up with only what Johnson County Jail actually accepts, and you'll avoid delays. The checklists below cover the few items that matter—skip everything else.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Up to 4 pairs of all-white underwear
- ✓ Socks
- ✓ T-shirts
- ✓ Bras are allowed only if they have no underwire
- ✓ Cash (the accommodation fee is cash only)
- ✓ Prescription medication only if it’s in the original prescribed bottle, or it’s sample medication verified by a doctor
Johnson County Jail only takes cash for the accommodation fee. Bring it with you - there's no ATM solution when you're already at intake.
Heads up: Other property besides cash and prescription medication will not be accepted at the jail. If you bring extra items to “drop off,” expect to leave with them.
The jail accepts medication at intake, but packaging matters. Prescriptions must be in their original bottles. Sample medication? It needs verification from a doctor first.
- Gather the original prescription bottles - the jail requires medication in the original prescribed bottles.
- Get doctor verification for samples - if the medication is a sample, bring it with verification from a doctor.
- Keep it as-is - don’t transfer pills into baggies, organizers, or unmarked containers.
- Bring it with you at intake - prescription meds (in the correct form) are one of the only types of property accepted.
Piercings aren't allowed inside the jail. All of them have to come out before or during intake - plan accordingly.
Tip: Remove piercings ahead of time if you can. They aren’t allowed in the jail, and other personal property (besides cash and prescription medication) won’t be accepted.
Don’t mail packages to someone at Johnson County Jail. The jail does not accept any packages mailed to inmates.
Keep drop-offs simple: the jail only accepts cash and properly packaged prescription medication. That "helpful" personal item you want to bring? It'll be refused.
- Bring only what the jail will accept - cash for the accommodation fee and prescription medication (only in original bottles, or doctor-verified samples).
- Remove all piercings - they must be taken out and aren’t allowed in the jail.
- Use the correct location if you’re going in person - Johnson County Jail is at 511 S. Capitol St., Iowa City (2nd floor).
- Call if you’re trying to avoid a wasted trip - reach the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at 319-356-6020 (Extension 5 for the Jail Division) or the jail at (319) 356-6025.
- Use the jail mailing address for mail questions - PO Box 2540, Iowa City, IA 52244.
Quick contacts: Johnson County Sheriff’s Office: 319-356-6020 (Extension 5 for the Jail Division). Johnson County Jail: (319) 356-6025.
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