Bremer County Inmate Population Overview
The local custody count centers on Bremer County Jail in Waverly. The jail is operated by the Bremer County Sheriff's Office and is the only detention facility identified in the county facility map. The county describes the current jail as a facility that can house people in several configurations, while the research found no separate county annex, city jail, regional jail, work-release building, Iowa prison, BOP prison, or dedicated ICE detention center inside Bremer County.
The Bremer County inmate population is not limited to local pretrial defendants. The jail page says the county contracts with other counties to house prisoners and has a federal-prisoner contract. Vera's 2019 county jail data shows federal and U.S. Marshals custody as a major part of the local jail mix that year. That means the first question is where the person is held. The second is which case or agency controls the custody. A person may be in the Waverly jail on a Bremer County case, another county's hold, or federal transport custody.
Bremer County Inmate Population Statistics
Bremer County does not publish a live jail-population dashboard, current daily count, average length of stay, or current demographic table on the jail page inspected for the research file. The strongest current local number is the county's capacity statement. Historical figures come from Vera's county dataset, the Prison Policy Initiative table, BJS national jail statistics, and Census QuickFacts for county context.
| Measure | Figure | Source / Year |
|---|---|---|
| County-published jail capacity | Up to 79 inmates | Bremer County Sheriff jail page, accessed 2026 |
| Total jail population | 68 | Vera county CSV, 2019 |
| Total jail admissions | 318 | Vera county CSV, 2019 |
| Jail population rate | 439.76 per 100,000 residents age 15-64 | Vera county CSV, 2019 |
| County population estimate | 25,296 | U.S. Census QuickFacts, July 1, 2025 |
The Vera Bremer County incarceration trends page is one of the few public sources that gives a local multi-year view instead of a single jail-capacity statement.
Bremer County Inmate Population Trends
Vera's local series shows the Bremer County inmate population rising sharply after 2016. The compiled jail population moved from 31 in 2016 to 68 in 2019. In 2019, the Vera-rated capacity field was 70, which put utilization near full by that source. Compared with the county's current statement that the jail can house up to 79 people, the same 68-person figure would be a lower but still high use level.
| Year | Jail Population | Rated Capacity | Admissions | Use Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 29 | 79 | 202 | About 36.7% utilization in Vera data |
| 2015 | 45 | 76 | 256.25 | Higher than 2013, still below capacity |
| 2016 | 31 | 74.5 | 255.75 | Population fell from 2015 |
| 2017 | 61 | 73 | 248 | Large increase from 2016 |
| 2018 | 60 | 71.5 | 283.75 | Similar count, higher admissions |
| 2019 | 68 | 70 | 318 | About 97.1% utilization in Vera data |
These figures should not be read as a live roster. Vera is a historical data source, while Bremer County's official custody lookup path is IowaVINE. The county did not publish a 2024, 2025, or 2026 daily inmate-count dashboard in the official materials inspected.
Who Bremer County Jail Holds
Vera's 2019 demographic and custody fields show why the Bremer County inmate population needs careful reading. The data includes pretrial and sentenced custody, local jail admissions, people held from federal authorities, U.S. Marshals prisoners, people held from another jail, and a small state-prison hold field. The county jail page itself supports that mixed picture because it says Bremer County has contracts with other counties and a federal-prisoner contract.
| 2019 Vera Measure | Figure | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pretrial custody population | 17 | Pending cases may still need Iowa Courts Online for filed charges |
| Sentenced custody population | 51 | Some sentences may be local, while prison sentences move to DOC |
| Held from federal authorities | 44 | Federal custody may require USMS or BOP follow-up |
| Held from U.S. Marshals | 43 | Pretrial federal custody may not appear in BOP yet |
| Held from other jail | 6 | Another county may control the case or hold |
| ICE field | 0 | No dedicated ICE facility was found in Bremer County |
Bremer County Jail Population Laws
Iowa law sets the public-record and reporting framework behind Bremer County jail data. Iowa Code Chapter 22 is the general open-records law. It allows examination and copying of public records unless a specific exception applies. Iowa Code section 356.49 requires sheriffs to file a monthly written jail report with the Iowa DOC director, including men, women, and juveniles held during the month. Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 201-50 covers jail standards, including records, inspection, medical services, classification, and operations.
Key access rules: Iowa Code Chapter 22 supports records requests, Iowa Code section 356.49 supports jail reporting, Iowa Admin. Code r. 201-50.3 requires annual jail inspection and reporting, and Iowa Code section 127.3 addresses death investigations for jail or custody deaths.
For sentenced Iowa prisoners, the public-record boundary changes. Iowa Code section 904.602 makes certain DOC offender information public, such as name, age, sex, status, location other than home street address, offense, and county of commitment. It also protects medical, psychological, Social Security, home address, employer, nonconviction, and security-sensitive information.
Search Bremer County Current Inmates
Bremer County does not publish a county-hosted "who is in jail" dashboard in the official pages reviewed. The jail page sends the public to IowaVINE / VINELink and states that users may search by name for current inmates at Bremer County Jail or any jail throughout Iowa. That makes IowaVINE the official first online path for current local custody, while the jail phone and sheriff records channel remain the fallback when the app does not answer the question.
- Start from the Bremer County Jail page or the current Iowa VINELink state app.
- Search by legal name. Use last name first when the form allows it, then add first name to narrow broad results.
- Use an ID number if one appears in court, jail, or family paperwork. Partial ID search may work when the exact number is not known.
- Read custody status as a custody fact, not a conviction. The county warns that an arrest record is not proof of guilt.
- Use Iowa Courts Online for case disposition, and call the jail for time-sensitive release, bond, or hold questions.
The Iowa VINELink application is the search and notification channel named for Bremer jail custody.
Bremer County Inmate Lookup Fields
The public VINE app is JavaScript-driven, so the research file captured safe fields from the county page and static app strings rather than a live Bremer inmate profile. Bremer County confirms name search. The app strings also show ID number, partial ID number, first name, last name, and custody-status result labels.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Text | Unspecified | Bremer County says users may search by name for current inmates |
| First Name / Last Name | Text | Unspecified | Visible in VINE static app strings |
| ID Number | Text | Alternate path | Useful when paperwork gives an inmate or offender number |
| Partial ID Number | Text | Optional alternate | Static strings say at least four non-leading-zero characters may be used |
| State / County Scope | Selection or app context | Context dependent | Bremer link routes to Iowa; IowaVINE can be county-specific or statewide |
Past Bremer County Inmate Records
Released-inmate retention is not published by Bremer County, and the official jail page does not provide an archive of booking reports. For a past booking, the practical path is the Sheriff Civil / Records Division. That office maintains jail-generated records, inactive jail files, fingerprint cards, mug shots, incident reports, investigative reports, citations, and related correspondence. It also handles open-records requests from the public, news media, and law enforcement.
Requests should include the person's full name, date of birth if known, approximate arrest or booking date, and the exact record sought. A booking sheet, incident report, mug shot, photograph copy, or jail file may be routed differently from a court disposition. The sheriff's fee schedule lists accident reports at $10, incident reports at $10, criminal records at $15, fingerprinting at $5, photograph copies at $25, and video or audio copies at $25.
Bremer County Jail vs Other Systems
A local jail search should not be stretched beyond its role. The Bremer County Jail path is for people currently in the county jail. Iowa Courts Online is for charges, case status, bond fields, and disposition after filing. Iowa DOC Offender Search is for sentenced Iowa prisoners and supervised offenders. BOP Inmate Locator covers federal inmates in BOP custody from 1982 forward. ICE ODLS covers immigration detention where ICE or CBP custody criteria are met.
| Need | Best Official Channel | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Current Bremer County Jail custody | IowaVINE or jail phone | Local jail status and notification |
| Formal charges after arrest | Iowa Courts Online | Filed case, case status, court dates, bond fields |
| Sentenced Iowa prison custody | Iowa DOC Offender Search | State prison or supervision records |
| Federal sentenced custody | BOP Inmate Locator | BOP register number, release date, and location |
| Federal pretrial or transport custody | U.S. Marshals Northern District of Iowa | Federal detainee housed under contract or in transit |
| Immigration detention | ICE ODLS | A-number or biographical ICE search |
Bremer County Detention Facility
The facility map has one local detention facility. Bremer County Jail is the primary jail, the sheriff's detention operation, and the place where the county directs current-inmate searches through IowaVINE. No other local detention facility was found in the official research set.
- Bremer County Jail - county jail in Waverly for local detainees and prisoners, other-county prisoners by contract, and federal prisoners by contract.
Bremer County Jail Family Access
Jail population research also matters for families trying to visit, send mail, or place funds. Bremer County uses housing pods for visitation, and friends or family must contact the inmate to learn the housing pod before planning a visit. Each inmate is allowed two 30-minute social visits per week. Visitors over 18 must present valid ID, minors must be with a parent or legal guardian, and visitors must be on the inmate's approved list.
| Pod | Monday | Friday |
|---|---|---|
| GP1 | 1300-1700 | 1300-1700 |
| GP2 | 0800-1200 | 1800-2200 |
| F1 | 1800-2000 | 1000-1200 |
| WR | 2000-2200 | 0800-1000 |
Ordinary personal mail changed on January 1, 2026. Bremer County requires personal mail to be sent to the Reliance processing center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where it is scanned and delivered to the inmate's tablet. Privileged mail still goes directly to the jail. Inmate funds are limited to cash and money orders under the county jail page, and mailed funds must be money orders.
Bremer County Inmate Population FAQ
How big is the Bremer County inmate population? Bremer County does not publish a live count dashboard. The county states the jail can house up to 79 inmates, and Vera's 2019 compiled data lists a 68-person jail population with 318 admissions that year.
Where is the official Bremer County inmate search? The county jail page directs users to IowaVINE / VINELink for current inmates at Bremer County Jail and other Iowa jails. Use the jail phone for urgent custody, bond, or hold questions.
Does Bremer County have a state prison? No Iowa DOC prison is listed in Bremer County. Sentenced Iowa prisoners from Bremer County are searched through the statewide Iowa DOC Offender Search after transfer.
Can the jail hold federal prisoners? Yes. Bremer County says it has a federal-prisoner contract, and Vera's 2019 data shows federal and U.S. Marshals fields in the jail population.