Juvenile

Visits & Phone Calls

Each juvenile is allowed one (1) thirty minute visit a day. Visits are limited only by staff demands and the availability of visiting facilities and as specifically regulated by the court. The only other limitations are strictly related to security issues. Staff will ensure your privacy is maintained within reasonable restrictions as dictated by the security needs of the center.

You must present a valid form of picture I.D. (i.e. current driver’s license, current DOT issued I.D., etc.) at the time of your visit. For children 13-17 years of age this may be a current academic school year I.D.

Weekday Visiting Hours

Monday-Friday
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 – 7:15 p.m.

Note: The first time slot will be filled prior to using the second time slot.

All visits must be scheduled in advance by calling (515) 286-3344.  You must call between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to have your name placed on the visitor's list. 

Weekend Visiting Hours

Saturday-Sunday 
1:00 - 1:30 p.m. / 1:45 - 2:15 p.m.

All visits must be scheduled in advance by calling (515) 286-3344.  You must call between 7:00 a.m. and Noon to have your name placed on the visitor's list. 

Holidays

9-9:30 a.m. / 6-6:30 p.m. / 6:45-7:15 p.m. 

Note: Holiday hours are in effect on Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

All visits must be scheduled in advance by calling (515) 286-3344.  You must call between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to have your name placed on the visitor's list. 

Authorized Visitors

Only those who are authorized are allowed to visit. An authorized visitor is defined as immediate family members which includes; parents, step-parents, siblings, stepbrothers, stepsisters, half-brothers, half-sisters, grandparents, step-grandparents, and legal guardians. If the youth has a biological child, that child may visit with the youth's parents/guardians only.

Siblings up to the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Siblings not living with a parent/guardian must have prior approval from Juvenile Court before being allowed to visit. A team leader from detention can contact juvenile court on your behalf to obtain permission to visit.

A maximum of two (2) visitors will be allowed to visit a juvenile at one time.

Visiting Guidelines

  • A maximum of two visitors will be allowed to visit a juvenile at one time.

  • No items of any kind will be allowed into the detention center. If visitors have items for the youth, they must leave them at the front desk and a staff person from  Central Intake will check in and log the items on the youth’s personal property sheet.

  • Coats, jackets, headwear, (i.e. hats, baseball caps, dew rags, bandanas, etc.) pagers, cellular phones, car keys, coins, paper currency, wallets, and purses are not allowed in the visiting area. Visitors will be required to secure these items in lockers located in the reception area. Polk County will not be responsible for lost or stolen articles.

  • Staff will monitor visits only to the extent necessary to ensure the child’s safety and detention security.

  • The staff supervising visits will announce the end of visits five (5) minutes prior to the end to allow discussions to be resolved. At the end of the visit, the parents will be led out of the visiting room first. The visitor will be escorted back to the front reception area, return the visitor tags, and exit through the front entrance.

  • A staff member of the same gender will conduct a pat down search of all juveniles prior to and after their visit.

Phone Calls

Youth are allowed to receive one and make one seven (7) minute call each day.  A limit is placed on calls in order to allow all youth the opportunity to make/receive a phone call. There are eleven youth on each wing when the building is full, sometimes getting a call through can be difficult.

You may call (515)286-3344 and push the number that coincides with the wing the youth is currently on. Wing 400 - 4, Wing 500- 5, Wing 600- 6.

Youth wanting to make an outgoing call must sign up prior to going to school Monday – Friday and by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Telephone calls are made throughout the day when they do not interfere with legitimate programming. Calls are made in the order that the youth signed up.

As youth move up in the level system they will be able to make longer telephone calls.