About

The Pottawattamie County Jail has been located at 1400 Big Lake Road in Council Bluffs, IA, since it opened in 1999. The jail has a design capacity of 288 beds. The jail combines direct supervision with pod-based indirect housing units. In the direct supervision units, detention staff are stationed within a commons area that encourages and fosters direct interaction with the inmate population. In the podular, indirect housing units, the cells or dormitories are located around a dayroom area with detention staff observing primarily from a remotely located workstation. The jail houses inmates of all security levels, from maximum to minimum, including work-release inmates.

The facility is a multistory building that includes 12 distinct male and female housing units, along with areas for intake, booking and release, a medical clinic, food services, laundry operations, and maintenance. The facility was designed as a multilevel structure with administrative offices on the first floor and two operational jail levels on the second and third floor. The facility has approximately 112,048 square feet.

The jail is staffed by a dedicated team of 120 personnel, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the facility. This team includes detention officers, medical staff, maintenance staff, administrative personnel, and support staff who work collaboratively to maintain security, oversee inmate welfare, and manage day-to-day operations. Detention officers play a critical role in supervising inmates, intake and release procedures, enforcing facility rules, and ensuring safety, while medical staff provide essential healthcare services to the incarcerated population. Administrative and support personnel handle various administrative tasks, food service operations and maintenance, helping to keep the facility running smoothly. The staffing levels are designed to meet the operational needs of the facility while maintaining a secure environment for both staff and inmates.