Home / Directory / Iowa / Clayton County Jail / Sheriff — Saint Olaf, Iowa
Clayton County Jail / Sheriff — Saint Olaf, Iowa
Only the active adult Sheriff jail is in scope. County facts are separated from provider options and from court, youth, supervision, prison and community systems. Unpublished procedures remain explicit gaps.
JAIL411 / FAMILY FIELD GUIDE
Clayton County Jail family guide
Sources reviewed
Active adult Clayton County Sheriff jail at 22680 230th St. only
- Identity and custody
Confirm the active rural jail and present custody.
- Visits and video
Call for unpublished local rules before travel or setup.
- Phone, mail and money
Keep provider, mail, trust and commissary channels distinct.
- Health and rights
Use urgent escalation and request local procedures.
- Court and release
Verify filed orders, property and discharge separately.
- Parking and transit
Confirm arrival, EARL classification and final path.
- Local support
Call direct services for eligibility and availability.
Identity, lookup and boundaries
Local next steps with verified facts, exact boundaries and accountable unknowns.
Start with the active Sheriff jail
The active adult Clayton County Jail is at 22680 230th St., Saint Olaf, IA 52072. The county lists 563-245-2422 option 1 for Dispatch and option 2 for administration; ask option 1 to route a custody or jail-operation question.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Reliance Telephone — Clayton County Jail
Use the current named jail contact
The current Sheriff is Brent W. Ostrander and the county staff page names Chris Scott as Jail Administrator. Ask for the Jail Administrator when a line officer cannot resolve a policy, access or exception question.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team
Do not use an unsupported bed count
No current official reviewed source publishes rated capacity, staffed beds or today’s population. Commercial nine-bed statements are excluded; call for present custody rather than using a capacity claim as proof.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — About
Separate the jail from courthouse and former-city references
The jail/Sheriff operation is at 22680 230th St. near Saint Olaf. The Clerk of Court remains at 111 High St. NE, Suite 203, Elkader. Neither the courthouse nor a historic Elkader jail lodging property is the active adult jail.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Iowa Judicial Branch — Clayton County · Elkader Lodging Association
Use IowaVINE, then call the jail
The reviewed county pages link IowaVINE but do not publish a county-controlled live roster. Search the exact legal name, save the displayed agency, status and check time, then call 563-245-2422 option 1 before travel, mailing or payment.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff — Victim Information · VINELink · Clayton County Sheriff
A missing result does not prove release
Retry hyphens, prior surnames and alternate spellings, and allow for booking delay. Call 563-245-2422 option 1 and ask Dispatch whether the person is still booking, at court, hospitalized, transferred, held for another agency or outside Clayton custody.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff — Victim Information · VINELink · Clayton County Sheriff
Keep the fields needed for every next step
Record exact name spelling, date of birth only when lawfully available, custody agency, booking or resident identifier, charge/case number, bond status and the time verified. Ask staff which identifier the specific vendor or mail channel requires.
Sources: VINELink · Iowa Judicial Branch — Search Court Records · Reliance Telephone — Clayton County Jail
Route the task, not just the person
Use jail Dispatch for custody, visits, mail, property and release; option 2 for Sheriff administration; 563-245-2204 for filed court records; appointed/retained counsel for legal advice; Reliance for account billing; and EARL for rides.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Iowa Judicial Branch — Clayton County · Reliance Telephone — Customer Contact · NEICAC EARL Public Transit
Visits and video
Local next steps with verified facts, exact boundaries and accountable unknowns.
Call because current visit rules are unpublished
No reviewed official county source publishes a current visiting schedule, mode, reservation method or free on-site option. Call 563-245-2422 option 1 and ask for the current rule for the named housing unit before travel.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team
Confirm six points in one call
Ask the day/time, check-in cutoff, duration, weekly frequency, on-site versus remote mode and whether the resident must add the visitor first. Write down the staff member and confirmation date.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team
Do not assume an ID rule
The county does not publish accepted ID or alternatives. Ask whether government photo ID is required and what a visitor with a lost ID, disability, religious head covering or changed name must bring.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Confirm minors before bringing a child
No current official source states the minimum age, adult-supervision rule, relationship proof, consent document or number of children allowed. Confirm each point with jail staff.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Ask for dress and belongings rules
No local list defines prohibited clothing, colors, footwear, headwear, lockers, infant supplies, medication or accessibility exceptions. Ask what can enter and where other items must be secured.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Request exceptions through the Jail Administrator
For long-distance, disability, clergy, attorney, hospital or urgent family circumstances, ask Chris Scott what documentation, lead time and approval route apply. No current local exception process is published.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team · Clayton County Sheriff
Get cancellation handling before travel
Ask how lockdown, court, transport, illness, weather or staffing cancellation is communicated and whether a missed session is restored. The public county pages give no notice or rescheduling rule.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Do not infer local video from Reliance
Reliance lists Clayton County Jail and markets voice, video and messaging options, but provider catalogs say features vary by facility. Confirm that video is locally active, remote or on-site, and available to the named resident.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Clayton County Jail · Reliance Telephone — Communication Options · Reliance Telephone — Support
Verify setup only after local activation
If jail and Reliance confirm video, select Clayton County Jail and the correct resident, verify device/browser permissions, network, identification and lead time, and save the reservation and transaction number.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Clayton County Jail · Reliance Telephone — Support
Separate local eligibility from provider trouble
Use the jail for housing eligibility, schedule or discipline; use Reliance for login, charge, device or connection errors. Save screenshots without case-sensitive content and request a ticket or refund decision.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Support · Reliance Telephone — Customer Contact · Clayton County Sheriff
Phone, mail and money
Local next steps with verified facts, exact boundaries and accountable unknowns.
Reliance is the verified communications platform
The direct Reliance facility page lists Clayton County Jail at the active address. Select the exact facility and resident; do not use a similarly named county in another state.
Choose the account for the intended caller
Reliance distinguishes resident-linked Inmate Wallet options from number-specific or other communication accounts. Read the destination-number and refund/transfer rule before funding.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Communication Options · Reliance Telephone — Policies
Confirm the local rate at checkout
Reliance publishes generic domestic ranges and says facility rates/options vary. The county publishes no current local rate sheet, so preserve the displayed facility/account price and taxes before payment.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Policies · Reliance Telephone — Clayton County Jail
Troubleshoot the exact number and account
Verify account type, funded phone number, block status, carrier spam filtering, available balance and facility selection. Contact Reliance for billing/technical issues and the jail for local restrictions.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Support · Reliance Telephone — Customer Contact · Clayton County Sheriff
Do not promise transfer or refund
Provider policy varies by account and may make funds nontransferable or nonrefundable. Read the current terms before paying; keep the receipt and request written resolution for a failed service.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Policies · Reliance Telephone — Support
Call for the current personal-mail destination
No reviewed official county source publishes a current inmate personal-mail address or format. Do not use the unsupported commercial P.O. Box 10 listing; confirm addressee, identifier, street/processor destination and return-address rules.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team
Keep legal mail separate
Ask the jail for the current legal-mail destination, attorney marking, resident identifier and handling rule. Counsel should confirm confidential communication and scheduling directly with jail staff.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team
Do not order books until rules are confirmed
The county does not publish publisher-direct, paperback, quantity or rejection rules. Ask whether books or periodicals are accepted, from which sellers, and what happens to rejected items.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Confirm photo rules first
No official local source states size, quantity, color, instant-photo, sexual-content or return rules. Ask before printing or mailing photos.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Treat packages as prohibited until approved
No current county source authorizes family packages. Ask the jail whether any medical, release-clothing or vendor package exception exists and who must approve it.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team
Ask what happens to rejected originals
Confirm whether rejected correspondence is returned, stored, destroyed or appealable and who is notified. Save mailing proof and envelope images.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Separate trust money from communications
Reliance Inmate Wallet pays communication services; it is not proof of the jail trust/commissary channel. Ask the jail for current cash, kiosk, online or money-order methods and required identifier.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Clayton County Jail · Clayton County Sheriff
Do not infer a commissary vendor
No reviewed official source names a commissary or package vendor, order cutoff, spending limit or indigent-supplies policy. Confirm with jail staff before using any commercial listing.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Document a failed deposit by channel
Keep resident identifier, facility, method, date, amount, receipt and error. Contact the payment platform for transaction failure and jail staff for eligibility or posting; never repay blindly.
Sources: Reliance Telephone — Support · Clayton County Sheriff
Health, grievances and safety
Local next steps with verified facts, exact boundaries and accountable unknowns.
Use the jail and emergency escalation for urgent risk
For immediate danger call 911. For an incarcerated person, call 563-245-2422 option 1, state the person’s full name, urgent symptoms, timing and known medication, and ask staff to notify medical personnel.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · MercyOne Elkader Emergency Care
Ask for the unpublished family clinical channel
No reviewed official source names the current jail clinical contractor, nurse line, medical-record release or family message process. Ask the Jail Administrator how to deliver time-sensitive health information.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team · Clayton County Sheriff
Do not bring medication without instruction
Confirm whether medication must come from a pharmacy, in original packaging or by provider verification; ask about glasses, hearing devices and medical equipment. No local public acceptance rule was found.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
Expect limited medical disclosure
Staff may take actionable information even when they cannot disclose diagnosis or treatment without authorization. Ask the resident to sign the facility’s current release if family follow-up is needed.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Public Health / VNA
Use community crisis help without confusing it with jail care
Your Life Iowa offers 24/7 call 855-581-8111 and text 855-895-8398 for community support. It does not replace alerting jail staff about an incarcerated person’s immediate risk.
Sources: Your Life Iowa — Get Help · Clayton County Sheriff
Start with the local grievance and appeal route
No current local form, deadline or appeal level is published. Ask the resident to request the grievance policy and keep dates, names, copies and responses; ask Chris Scott for the family-accessible escalation route.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team · Iowa Ombudsman — County Government
Request a specific accommodation
No jail-specific ADA coordinator or deadline is published. State the barrier and requested modification to jail administration, ask for written handling and keep the response; this is separate from EARL transit accommodation.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Iowa Ombudsman — County Government · NEICAC EARL Rider Guide
Report sexual safety concerns immediately
The county does not publish a jail-specific PREA hotline or third-party route. Report immediate danger to 911 or Dispatch, ask for the PREA reporting path and retaliation safeguards, and use the Ombudsman for independent process concerns.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Iowa Ombudsman — What We Can Do · Iowa Ombudsman — Contact Us
Use the Ombudsman after local resolution when possible
The Iowa Ombudsman covers counties, jails and sheriffs and asks people to try the agency first. Call 515-281-3592; inmate mail to the office must be delivered unopened under Iowa law.
Sources: Iowa Ombudsman — County Government · Iowa Ombudsman — What We Can Do · Iowa Ombudsman — Contact Us
Court, counsel and release
Local next steps with verified facts, exact boundaries and accountable unknowns.
Use the Clerk for filed case facts
Clayton Clerk of Court is at 111 High St. NE, Suite 203, Elkader, 563-245-2204, Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Use Iowa Courts Online, then ask the Clerk about filed bond orders, hearings and public records.
Sources: Clayton County — District Court · Iowa Judicial Branch — Clayton County · Iowa Judicial Branch — Search Court Records · Iowa Judicial Branch — Public Records Requests
Use counsel for legal advice
The County Attorney prosecutes and does not advise private citizens. For appointed counsel, check the filed case or call the Clerk; for system concerns after contacting counsel, the State Public Defender gives a statewide contact.
Sources: Clayton County Attorney · Iowa Judicial Branch — Criminal Cases FAQ · Iowa State Public Defender — General FAQs
Keep civil legal aid separate from criminal defense
Iowa Legal Aid serves civil matters and says it does not handle current criminal charges, appeals, probation or parole. Its Northeast office can help with eligible civil reentry problems.
Sources: Iowa Legal Aid — Get Help
Verify the judge’s actual bond order
The uniform schedule can apply before initial appearance, but a judicial officer exercises discretion after appearance. Read the filed order and ask the jail or Clerk where and how Clayton accepts the exact bond.
Sources: Iowa Judicial Branch — Uniform Bond Schedule · Iowa Judicial Branch — Criminal Cases FAQ · Clayton County — District Court
Do not assume a payment method
No reviewed local source publishes cash, card, surety, 10-percent, after-hours or refund rules. Confirm amount, form, payee, location, hours, ID and receipt before traveling.
Sources: Clayton County — District Court · Clayton County Sheriff
Call before collecting property
No current local property-release form, authorized-person rule, inventory dispute route or pickup schedule is published. Ask the jail what identification and resident authorization are required.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Clayton County Sheriff — Our Team
Do not promise a release time
No reviewed source publishes a release window, door or sequence. Court action, holds, transport, paperwork and account closure can delay discharge; confirm status and pickup instructions with Dispatch.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff — About · Clayton County Sheriff
Separate release funds from Reliance
Ask how trust balance, check or cash is returned and what happens to personal property. Reliance communication balances follow provider account rules and are not proof of jail trust disbursement.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Reliance Telephone — Policies
Build a verified release plan
Confirm identity documents, medications, supervision reporting, housing, food, transportation and court dates before pickup. Use NEICAC, General Relief and Veterans Affairs only for their eligibility-based services.
Sources: NEICAC Agency · Clayton County General Relief & Assistance · Clayton County Veterans Affairs · Iowa Judicial Branch — Clayton County
Parking and transportation
Local next steps with verified facts, exact boundaries and accountable unknowns.
Do not invent visitor parking
The official Sheriff page gives the rural address but no visitor lot, accessible space, entrance, after-hours gate or release-pickup zone. Call option 1 for the correct arrival point before driving.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff
EARL is the verified regional operator
EARL serves Clayton County and is open to the general public, including riders with disabilities. Call 866-382-4259 or 563-382-4259 with origin, destination, return, assistance and lift needs.
Sources: NEICAC EARL Public Transit · NEICAC EARL Rider Guide
Ask specifically for the rural jail address
Online self-scheduling is advertised only for in-town service. Because the jail is near Saint Olaf, call and ask whether EARL can serve 22680 230th St., what lead time applies, and whether door-to-door help is confirmed.
Sources: NEICAC EARL Public Transit · NEICAC EARL Rider Guide
Preserve the current fare-category ambiguity
The FY27 sheet lists rural rides at $2.25 per direct estimated mile, same-county rides at $17 one way, and weekend service at $100 per hour. The 2025 guide calls out-of-town trips $2.25 per mile. Ask which category applies before booking.
Sources: NEICAC EARL FY27 Transit Fares · NEICAC EARL Rider Guide
Seven dates are planning observations, not reservations
The October 2–8 review window contains five weekdays under standard fare headings and two weekend days under hourly service. These are not reservations: no date is a booked seat, jail stop, final path or release pickup.
Sources: NEICAC EARL Public Transit · NEICAC EARL FY27 Transit Fares
Food, lodging and local help
Local next steps with verified facts, exact boundaries and accountable unknowns.
Use verified Elkader lodging contacts, then confirm availability
Elkader Goldfinch Suites is listed at 201 N. Main St., Elkader, 563-245-2521. It is not at the jail; call directly for current rooms, rates, stairs/accessibility and cancellation.
Sources: Elkader Lodging Association · Elkader Goldfinch Suites
Use direct restaurant contacts, not assumed hours
Johnson’s is at 916 High St. NE, Elkader, 563-245-2371, with published Monday–Saturday hours and Sunday closure. Schera’s is at 107 S. Main St., 563-245-1992, with limited lunch/dinner days. Confirm before travel.
Sources: Johnson’s Restaurant Elkader · Schera’s Restaurant
Use the county and NEICAC entry points
Clayton General Relief is at 600 Gunder Rd. NE, Suite 6, Elkader, 563-245-1865. NEICAC Clayton County is at Suite 11, 563-245-2452, with family service and food-pantry hours. Eligibility and supplies must be confirmed.
Sources: Clayton County General Relief & Assistance · NEICAC Locations · NEICAC Agency
Use county Veterans Affairs for eligible families
Clayton County Veterans Affairs shares 600 Gunder Rd. NE, Suite 6, 563-245-1865, Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. It offers benefit navigation and transportation support details, not jail release authority.
Sources: Clayton County Veterans Affairs
Authenticate before sharing money or case details
Use the county website for 563-245-2422, the Judicial Branch for 563-245-2204 and the direct Reliance facility page. Reject unsolicited calls demanding gift cards, cryptocurrency, secrecy or immediate payment.
Sources: Clayton County Sheriff · Iowa Judicial Branch — Clayton County · Reliance Telephone — Clayton County Jail
Original directory record & nearby facilities Open preserved information
This section preserves the earlier Jail411 directory information, including historical figures and contacts. Use the dated, sourced family guide above for the instructions covered there. Other local facilities have their own rules.
Facility record / Iowa
Clayton County Jail is a county or city jail in Saint Olaf, Clayton County, Iowa. It has a rated capacity of 40. By capacity it is the 23rd-largest of the 56 county or city jail records listed for Iowa with a published capacity.
Jail411 does not hold custody records. A listing here does not mean anyone is held at this address. Confirm the person’s location with the responsible agency before you travel, send money, or pay for a service.
Where this record came from. The contact, status and security fields, with capacity and population, come from the HIFLD and Federal Bureau of Prisons directory release refreshed February 2026. They describe the record, not today’s population. Check the facility’s current official website.
Contact this facility
- Phone
- (563) 245-2422
- Address
- 22680 230Th Street
Saint Olaf, IA 52072Open in maps - Official page
- Official page at claytoncountyiowasheriff.com
- County
- Clayton County
Facility details
Listed as open in the February 2026 directory release.
Finding someone held here
Use the county system for a recent arrest. A state corrections search covers people in state custody. It generally will not list someone booked into a county jail this week. Bookings, bail, release, and visiting are all handled by Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.
Official site for this facility →
Call this facility directly: (563) 245-2422
Before you travel, pay, or mail anything
Get two things first: which facility the person is actually in, and their booking or ID number. Almost nothing works without them. Then check this facility’s current instructions — rules and service providers change.
Clear information.
Clear boundaries.
Jail411 is an independent information resource for families and friends. We are not a government agency, jail operator, law firm or live custody-records service.
Can Jail411 tell me if someone is in custody right now?
No. Jail411 does not hold live custody records. Use the official locator for the county, state, federal or ICE system that has the person; start here if you do not know which.
Does posting bond mean the person comes home?
Not always. A probation or parole hold, another county's warrant or an immigration detainer can keep someone in custody after bond is posted. Ask the jail what holds are on the booking before you pay.
What should I confirm before visiting?
The person's current facility, the visiting schedule, approval requirements, accepted identification and arrival instructions. Check the facility page and its official sources before you travel.
What if I find something that needs correcting?
Send us the page and the detail that needs attention. Include the official source when you have one. Do not send private booking documents or other sensitive personal information.
Plan the next step.
Practical guides for calls, visits, mail, money and release.