Jail

Current Inmates:

You may search by name for current inmates residing at the Bremer County Jail or any jail throughout Iowa by accessing the IowaVINE website. You may also find information from the Iowa Attorney General's Office, Crime Victim Assistance Division at this location. Use the link below for more information and search tools.

https://www.vinelink.com/vinelink/siteInfoAction.do?siteId=16000


Visitation:
Each inmate is authorized two, 30 minute social visit per week. It is the friends and family responsibility to contact the inmate they wish to visit and determine his/her housing pod.

Visitation Times:

POD  Monday Time  Friday Time
 GP1  1300-1700  1300-1700
 GP2  0800-1200  1800-2200
 F1  1800-2000  1000-1200
 WR  2000-2200  0800-1000

 

At least one of the following forms of valid identification is required by everyone over the age of eighteen requesting to visit an inmate:

  • Valid Driver’s License (any U.S. State) and Mexico
  • Valid I.D. Card
  • Valid Government Employee I.D. Card with picture (i.e. Military I.D.)
  • Valid Passport


ANY MINORS PRESENT TO VISIT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN. ALL VISITORS MUST BE ON THE INMATES VISITATION LIST. ANY VISITOR NOT ON THE INMATES VISITATION LIST WILL BE REFUSED.

 NOTHING WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE VISITATION ROOM. ALL ITEMS NEED TO BE SECURED BEFORE ENTERING THE VISITATION ROOM.

Dress Code:
The dress code is directed at both male and female visitors. The following clothing is not allowed: tube tops, see through mesh materials, short shorts, micro mini skirts, tank tops with thin straps, backless or sleeveless tops, midriff or cutoff shirts or bathing tops. In addition, any clothing that is excessively provocative or which promotes violence, hate, drug use, profanity, sex acts or gangs is not allowed. All visitors are also required to wear footwear (shoes, sandals or boots).

Letter Mail and Correspondence:

New Procedure for Processing Inmate Personal Mail Effective January 1, 2026

Beginning January 1, 2026, all inmate personal mail must be mailed to the Reliance mail processing center address for scanning and electronic delivery to the inmate:

Bremer County Jail - IA
 Inmate Name (First and Last name)
 1533 S 42nd Street – Suite 200
Grand Forks, ND 58201

Once inmate personal mail is received for processing, it will be scanned at the Reliance mail processing location and will then be sent to the inmate electronically via the tablet assigned to the inmate. 

Inmate Personal Mailing Guidelines:

  • All mail must conform to existing Bremer County Jail mail rules.
  • All envelopes and mail must include the inmate’s full name.
  • All envelopes must include senders full name and complete return address. 
  • Only mail that is within 8.5 inches wide x 14 inches tall will be accepted.
  • No personal pictures showing sexually suggestive material or behavior. 
  • Any personal mail that is sent directly to the Bremer County Jail will be returned to the sender.
  • Privileged mail must continue to be send directly to the Bremer County Jail.
  • No inmate legal or medical mail and no magazines, bulk mailing, newspapers, or books will be accepted at the Reliance mail processing center address (see below).

Important: Any inmate personal mail that is sent to the Reliance mail processing center in North Dakota will not be returned to the sender or released to the inmate. Once the mail is scanned, processed, and uploaded electronically to the tablet, it will be destroyed. This includes photos and anything else contained within the envelope and mailed to the processing facility. By sending the inmate personal mail to the Reliance mail processing facility, you agree to the items being destroyed and understand that anything that you mail will not be returned or reimbursed for.

Books, Newspapers and Subscriptions:
The Jail will not accept books, newspapers or magazines mailed from a book store or an individual. If these items are sent to the Bremer County Jail they will be returned to sender.

Inmate Funds:
Cash and Money Orders are the only funds that the Bremer County Jail will accept for Inmates. Inmate funds that are mailed will only be accepted in the form of a Money Order.  Cash and Money Orders may be dropped off during the Inmates scheduled visitation time at the time of check in or mailed to:

Inmate Name
Bremer County Jail
111 4th St NE
Waverly, IA  50677 

Inmate Phone System:
The inmate phone system used in the Bremer County Jail is Reliance Systems.  Friends and family may contact Reliance at 1-800-893-3201 or online  at https://www.reliancetelephone.com/ ,  to create an account or with any questions. 

Release Notification:
VINELink® Website Victims and other concerned citizens can also register to be notified by phone, email or TTY device when an offender's custody status changes. Users can also register through a toll-free number. VINELink® is the online version of VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), the National Victim Notification Network. This service allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day.

Disclaimer:
Record of an arrest is not an indication of guilt. The Bremer County Sheriff’s Office does not provide case disposition. 

The Bremer County Sheriff’s Office does not expressly or by implication warrant that the information or data accessed by the customer is accurate or correct. The Sheriff is not liable for any loss, cost, damage or expense arising directly or indirectly in connection with this access. In no event shall the Sheriff be liable for any special or consequential damages or for any direct damages resulting from the customer’s use or application of the information obtained as a result of using this web site.

 Individuals obtaining information from this web site should verify accuracy through the arresting agency or Iowa Courts Online.

Current Inmates:
You may search by name for current inmates residing at the Bremer County Jail or any jail throughout Iowa by accessing the IowaVINE website. You may also find information from the Iowa Attorney General's Office, Crime Victim Assistance Division at this location. Use the link below for more information and search tools.

https://www.vinelink.com/vinelink/siteInfoAction.do?siteId=16000

Jail Division

Jail History:
The first Bremer County Jail consisted of what could be described as a large wooden box that sat in what is now the front yard of the Bremer County Court House. The first Sheriff of Bremer County, Austin Farris, became Sheriff in August 1853. In 1937 a new Bremer County Court House was dedicated and opening along with it was a county jail that consisted of two dorm style cells that each held four inmates. In addition there were two individual cells for a total population of 10 inmates. Frank Sager was Bremer County Sheriff when the court house jail opened for service to the citizens. In 1973 Sheriff Wm. L. Westendorf oversaw the building of a new county jail that also consisted of a combined law enforcement center that included office spaces for both the Sheriff and the Waverly Police Department. The new jail housed up to 15 inmates in 7 cell areas. In 2003 voters passed a local option sales tax resolution to finance a new Bremer County Jail and complete renovation of the existing law enforcement center. Sheriff Dewey L. Hildebrandt managed the new jail project which includes housing for up to 79 inmates in various cell configurations.

The bars and cell door you see here were part of the original Bremer County Court House Jail built in 1937 that were saved for use in the jail that was built as part of the joint law enforcement center in 1973. The old Bremer County Jail was built at its current location in 1975 after having been located in the courthouse previously. The jail was able to house 11 inmates in 6 cells and could hold additional 4 inmates temporarily or overnight. The jail was under the direction of one civilian supervisor and 4 full time jailers who are on the premises 24/7.The jail had a library and indoor exercise area for inmate use.

In 2003 voters passed a local option sales tax resolution to finance a new Bremer County Jail and complete renovation of the existing law enforcement center. The new jail can house up to 79 inmates in various configurations. Bremer County currently has contracts with other counties to house prisoners along with a contract for federal prisoners. Jailers provide for the needs of the jail and enhance the security of the jail by their presence and their knowledge of the job. Bremer County Jail Staff are responsible for upholding the established rules for inmates and for receiving and releasing all prisoners brought into the facility by law enforcement officers. Jail staff assists in scheduling for court appearances, medical appointments and visitation privileges.