Attorney Contact with Incarcerated Clients

Iowa Admin Code 201-20.3(10)(b)

Attorneys must complete an initial application form to visit an offender; however, this initial application shall apply to multiple visiting lists. After initial approval is established, attorneys must contact the central visiting authority at (319)385-9511 to be added to the visiting lists of additional offenders. Background checks ae not required, and attorneys shall not be counted as a friend on an offender’s visiting list.

Attorneys shall present proof of identity upon entrance to the institution. The offender must express a desire to visit with an attorney before the attorney will be admitted. Attorney visits shall be during normal visiting hours unless a special visit has been requested by the offender and approved by the warden/superintendent or designee prior to the visit. For more information on visiting hours and DOC visiting policy, see DOC website tab entitled “Visiting Hours.”

Iowa Admin Code 201-20.4(3)(x)

“O-mail” is electronic mail that can be sent to and from offenders and the public

The offender’s family and friends shall be responsible for registering on the corrlinks Internet site to enroll in the O-mail system: http://www.corrlinks.com.

Each O-mail message is limited to two pages, and attachments are not allowed.

There is a cost for sending an O-mail message, which shall be the responsibility of the sender.

Incoming and outgoing O-mail shall meet the same standards as used for offender mail.

An attorney wishing to communicate with an offender by telephone must be aware of certain rules and restrictions.

Incoming Calls- Each institution shall designate an individual as the primary contact for attorneys who wish to arrange for an incoming call to an offender. Attorneys must provide 5 days advance notice to the institution’s primary contact in order to arrange an incoming legal call between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except State holidays. The institution shall provide one private attorney telephone area with a telephone that is not capable of outgoing calls. Calls shall be scheduled in 25 minute intervals. Though attorneys are encouraged to limit their calls to one 25 minute time slot because only one telephone room per institution is available, attorneys may schedule two consecutive slots when necessary and if consecutive time slots are available. A staff member must be tasked to answer the telephone, verify the identity of the attorney, and provide the telephone to the offender. These calls shall not be monitored.

Incoming legal calls that are needed to address an imminent deadline within 5 day notice period may be approved by the Warden or designee upon review of written documentation which establishes the need for the imminent call.

Outgoing Calls- Offenders can utilize the inmate telephones to place an outgoing call to their attorney. Calls to attorney office telephone numbers registered with the Iowa Supreme Court are not monitored or recorded in the offender telephone system.

The use of electronic devices, such as videotape recorders or computers, is generally not permitted. The warden may permit such use, however, if it is shown that such use is absolutely essential to facilitate the attorney-client relationship, and such use would not be inconsistent with the institution’s maintenance of security, good order, or discipline.

Under section 1.305(4) of Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, any inmate of any institution in the control of a director of a division of the department of corrections may be served by the official in charge of such institution or that official’s assistant. See DOC website tab entitled “Institutions/Districts” for the official in charge of each institution. Proof of such service may be made by the certificate of such official.

Primary Contacts:

Anamosa State Penitentiary. ASP-Records@iowa.gov - Sharon Vratney OR (319)462-3504  -Tami Moore

Clarinda Correctional Facility. (712) 542-5634 - Steve Slough OR (712) 542-5634 - Scott Heuer

Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. (515) 574-4743 - Leslie Stamp OR (515) 705-7104 - Victoria Young 

Iowa Correctional Institution for Women. (515) 725-5006 - Deanna Summy OR (515) 725-5009 - Lorie Woodard

Iowa Medical & Classification Center.  (319) 626-2391 - Kimberly Nissen OR (319) 626-4205 - Carisa Rickels

Iowa State Penitentiary. (319) 372-5432 ext. 41803 - Jill Johnson OR (319) 372-5432 Rebecca Bowker

Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility. (319) 385-9511 Kristi Brown OR (319) 385-9511 Alex Pardall

Newton Correctional Facility. (641) 792-7552 - Lorna Marter OR docncfphonehearings@iowa.gov 

North Central Correctional Facility. (712) 297-7521 Josh McNeil OR (712) 297-7521 Chantal Gottsch