Anamosa State Penitentiary

By BpRichfield, 7 April, 2024
Name of Warden:
Brian Foster
Description of Facility

Anamosa State Penitentiary, situated in Jones County, Iowa, is a maximum security prison that accommodates some of the most hardened criminals in the state. While officially rated for 911 adult male inmates, it often houses more, currently around 950 offenders.

The facility includes a segregation unit for challenging inmates and oversees a satellite facility named Luster Heights in the northeast. Inmates have access to educational programs for adult basic education, GED, and college courses, as well as vocational training in custom woodworking, graphic arts, braille transcription, metal furniture fabrication, cleaning products, and a warehouse and farming operation. The prison also engages in prison industries, where inmates work on producing various goods including license plates.

Notable former inmates like John Wayne Gacy and Robert Hansen, both serial killers, were housed at Anamosa. Interestingly, the prison features a museum outside its walls dedicated to its history, open to the public.

Facility Telephone Number
319-462-3504
Facility Address

Anamosa State Penitentiary
406 North High Street
Anamosa, IA 52205
United States

Inmate Mailing Address

Inmate Name, ID Number
Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP) - 1106
P.O. Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193
United States

Legal Mail
Inmate's Name, ID Number
Anamosa State Penitentiary
406 North High Street
Anamosa, IA 52205
United States

What you can send an inmate

 Inmates incarcerated in Iowa use a centralized mailing system.  This has been introduced to lower the amount of contraband entering the facility.  The centralized mail system is for personal mail sent to an inmate, legal mail should be sent directly to the facility.  In order to send mail to your inmate, you will need to know the following:

  • You will need to know the inmate's Full name and DOC Number.
    You can find this information by doing an inmate search.
  • Always include your full name and return address on the envelope and on the letter (include the inmate's information on the letter as well).
  • The mailing code for Anamosa State Penitentiary is 1106
  • The mail processor is Pigeonly, they open the mail scan the contents in color, then the digital copy is printed and delivered to the inmate at the facility.  Originals are stored for a short period and then destroyed, you will not receive back what you send.
  • The Address to send personal mail to an inmate is:
    • Inmate's Full Name, ID Number
      Anamosa State Penitentiary - 1106
      P.O. Box 96777
      Las Vegas, NV 89193

Inmates may receive the following through digital mail:

  • Letters and children's drawings
  • Up to ten 4"x6" photos
  • Unbound newsletters
  • Postcards 5"x7" only
  • Greetings/holiday cards (up to 5"x7" no electronics, popups.  No glitter, stickers, glued on items, or rhinestones)

All mail sent to an inmate must have the following:

  • Inmate's Full Name
  • Inmate's DOC Number
  • Facility code of the correctional facility
  • The full name and address of the sender

Read the Iowa Department of Corrections Correspondence Policy.

O-Mail
Inmates are also able to receive O-Mail, which is sort of like an e-mail service for inmates.  You can write an inmate for $0.25, and add money for O-mail credits, since they are in an account separate from their trust account.

Sending Books and Magazines
Inmates can purchase books and magazines directly from approved vendors using their DOC account.  Additionally, friends and family members of inmates can purchase books directly from the approved vendors: Books N Things and Edward R. Hamilton Books.  Purchases made through other vendors will be rejected.  Publications cannot contain nudity or present a safety or security issue.

Read more about sending publications to an inmate in Iowa.

Sending Holiday Care, Food, and Quarterly Packages
These specialty packages are only allowed to be purchased select times of the year from November 1st to November 30th.  Packages are delivered December 19th through the 23rd.  Inmates can also purchase these packages themselves, using their trust account.  You can sign up for an account and access the catalogue here.

How Inmate Calls Work

 

Incoming calls are not allowed, however once you have been added to an inmate's approved phone list you can start receiving calls from them.  Iowa Department of Corrections allows inmates to make outgoing collect calls, additionally, you can fund an offenders pre-paid telephone account by filling out this form, inmates can also buy pre-paid phone minutes using their commissary funds.  You can read more information about the phone policy for inmates in Iowa here.

How to send money to an inmate

   Inmates incarcerated in Iowa utilize a centralized banking system.  All incoming funds are processed at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility.  Funds are not accepted at any other facilities.  Restitution, child support and court fee's are handled by Iowa State Penitentiary.

Fund Iowa Inmate Accounts through the following methods:

  • By Mail:  Fund a Trust Account using a money order or cashier's check.
    • Make the money order or cashier's check payable to: "IDOC offender Fiduciary Account"
    • Include the inmate's full name, ID number, and your full name and address.
    • If the writing is not legible it will be returned.
    • Send the completed cashier's check or money order to:
      • IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account
        1550 L Street, Suite B
        Fort Dodge, IA 50501
         
  • By Web:  Via the following providers:
  • By Mobile App: App is Called Send2Corrections available on Apple and Android.
     
  • By Telephone: Through the following providers
    • Jpay 1-800-574-5729
    • Access Corrections 1-866-345-1884

For more information read the Iowa Correctional Departments policy on inmate funds here.

How to do an Inmate Search

 If your loved one is in jail in Iowa, the first thing you should have is their DOC Number, which is the Department of Corrections Identification number for the inmate. You can find this information, along with more details, by searching the Iowa Inmate Database.

Visiting Information/FAQs

Before visiting or video chatting with an inmate in Iowa, you need to complete an Iowa inmate visitors application and receive approval. To visit an inmate in Iowa, you must follow these steps:

Do not bring the following with you into the facility:

  • No Cell phones, pagers, cameras, or electronics
  • No tools
  • No tobacco products or lighters
  • No weapons
  • No drugs
  • If you are visiting with a baby you can bring two diapers, a clear non-glass bottle with milk or formula only.  A single baby blanket, burp cloth and single factory sealed clear plastic container baby food.

Visiting Hours for Anamosa State Penitentiary:
All visits must be scheduled using Ameelio (links above)

In person Visiting:
Saturdays and Sundays
8:30am-5:30pm
Visits are in two hour blocks

Video Visitation:
Mondays and Fridays
8:30am-5:30pm
Video visits are in 50 minute blocks
Saturdays and Sundays
8:30am-5:30pm
Video visits are in 2 hours blocks

Do not arrive late to your visit, instead arrive a maximum of 15 minutes prior.
Visitors are searched upon entry to the correctional facility.  Searches include pat down, electronic ion scanners, visual searches, metal detectors, and other methods.

Dress Code and Visiting Rules

  • Shoes are required for all visitors
  • No miniskirts, or shorts (no clothing above the knee)
  • No halter tops or crop tops
  • Midriff/Stomach is required to be covered
  • No sleeveless dresses or tops
  • No see-through or sheer garments
  • No revealing dresses, blouses or tops
  • Sunglasses are not allowed (medical sun-glasses must be verified by prescription).
  • No electronics of any kind.  This includes cell phones, beepers, laptops, tablets, fit bits or other electronic devices.
  • No clothing that contains profanity, or be symbolic of drugs or gangs, sexual symbols, or contain offensive or threatening language/images are prohibited

Iowa Inmate Video Visitation
Video visitation is provided through Ameelio Connect App, available on Android and Apple.

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