Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I make a civil payment or bail bond payment?
Please visit GovPayNow.com.
How to have someone committed?
Please visit the Iowa Courts website for more information about starting an involuntary commitment proceeding.
Jail
Can I call or leave a message for an inmate?
The Worth County Jail will not take incoming calls from friends or family for an inmate. The Worth County Jail will not relay messages from friends or family to an inmate.
Exceptions may be made in emergency situations only. This will be at the jailer's discretion.
How and when do I check-in for probation?
Probation check-ins must be done on the 1st and 15th of every month. Call 641-324-2481 and advise them of your name and that you are calling in for probation. When leaving a message, leave your full name and any changes if your status.
How do I get an inmate out of jail with bail?
To get an inmate out of jail prior to final court disposition you can utilize either of three methods.
- PostCash Bond
- Post Cash/Surety
- Post Bond through a Bonding Agency
Cash Bond
To post a cash bond, first verify with the Jail the amount of bond by calling 641-324-2481.
During regular business hours take the cash and go to the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, and present the cash to the Clerk or the Jailer. A certificate will be given to you verifying the bond is paid. After regular business hours, you can still bring the correct cash amount directly to the Worth County Sheriff's Office.
Bonding Agency
To post bond utilizing a bonding agency, you need to contact one of the various agencies in the area. The phone numbers for the agencies can be found in the phone book. The bonding agencies will work with you and come up with the terms and conditions of posting bond for an inmate's release. The bonding agencies are completely separate from the Worth County Sheriff's Office, and the Sheriff's Office does not recommend or discredit any bonding agency.
911
What happens when you call 9-1-1?
Worth County 911 Operators are trained to ask questions so we can gather information and get you assistance as quickly as possible. Please do not hang up until the 911 operator tells you it is ok to hang up. Some of the questions they will be asking you are the following:
- What is the address of your emergency?
- What is your phone number?
- What is your name and address if different than the emergency address?
- What is your emergency?
While the 911 operator is asking the above questions, they will be entering your information into a Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) and dispatching appropriate units to the location of the emergency. By answering the 911 operator's questions, you will help the responding agencies be prepared to assist you more effectively. Please remember while you are on 911 to listen to the 911 operator and do what he/she tells you to so they can gather the information as quickly as possible so they can dispatch out the appropriate responders.
Can I send a text to 9-1-1?
Texting to 9-1-1 is available in Worth County but remember texting should only be used when you are unable to make a voice call to 9-1-1. Text calls, contrary to some beliefs, are not faster than voice calls.
How do I text 9-1-1 in an emergency?
- Enter the numbers 9-1-1 in the "To" field;
- The first text message to 9-1-1 should be brief and contain the location of the emergency and type of help needed;
- Push the "Send" button
- Be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
- Text in simple words- do not use abbreviations or slang.
- Keep text messages brief and concise.
- Remember to silence your phone if you are in a situation such as a break in and don't want the intruder to hear you when you are receiving incoming notifications
- Photos and video cannot be sent by text to 9-1-1 at this time.
- Text location information is not equal to current location technology.
- 9-1-1 voice calls are a higher priority than a text to 9-1-1 and can take longer to receive and multiple text can get out of sequence order or may not be received at all.
- Be aware that texting 9-1-1 may be temporarily unavailable at times, or your cell signal may be picked up by a tower in another county that may or may not have text to 9-1-1. If text to 9-1-1 is not available in another county you will receive a message stating this and you will be instructed to contact 9-1-1 by other means.
- Text to 9-1-1 cannot be sent as a group message. Do not attempt to send a text to anyone else at the same time you text to 9-1-1.
- Do not text and drive
What do you do if you accidentally call 9-1-1?
If you accidentally call 9-1-1, please do not hang up before the 911 operator answers the phone. Your call will still come up on the 911 system even if you hang up. If you hang up, the 911 operator will still need to call you back, which takes more time away from their other duties.
Who is responsible for 911 address signs?
It is the responsibility of the property owner to make sure their 911 address sign(s) is visible from the road. Please make sure to keep all vegetation and growth cleared away from the sign so they don't block the sign. This would include such things as cutting down weeds and keeping tree limbs from blocking the visibility of the sign in all directions as seen from the road by emergency responders.
If your 911 address sign is damaged and needs to be replaced or if it needs to be moved please do not do it yourself but instead fill out our 911 address marker request form.
