Iosco County Sheriff Office
428 W. Lake Street
Tawas City, Michigan 48763
(989) 362-6164

Serving the citizens of Iosco County with pride & respect

Sheriff Michael R. Fischer
Undersheriff Gary A. VanRiper
Captain Robert W. Koenig

The Iosco County Sheriff Office's mission is to the people of Iosco County and by law is responsible for county-wide law enforcement, operating a county jail, and providing for the safety of its residents.

Sheriff Fischer, Undersheriff VanRiper, and Captain Koenig have brought the Iosco County Sheriff Office into the 21st Century with advancements, new policies, a regional training facility and a new level of teamwork that is resulting in a department that is becoming second to none.

Sheriff Fischer also has an extremely active Posse Division, Operation Lifesaver, yearly Marine Patrol, and ORV Patrol. Sheriff Fischer and staff provide all of these services for the safety and security of the people of Iosco County during these hard financial times.

The goal of the Iosco County Sheriff Office and Sheriff Fischer is “to do all we can to provide a safe environment for the people of Iosco County.”

The Iosco County Sheriff Office is open 24/7 and the residents of Iosco County always know that they can find a safe haven during any situation. Our Control Center Personnel provide a vast array of services to our citizens. Those services include handling CCW permits, gun registrations, finger printing, and holding most of the warrants for Iosco County. The Control Center personnel also provide security for the jail and its personnel.

The Iosco County Jail

The Iosco County Jail is operated as part of the Iosco County Sheriff Office. The facility is in Tawas City, Michigan, in Iosco County. This facility has been serving this community for more than 50 years. The jail has a rated capacity of 63 inmates and provides inmates with the best supervision possible.

The jail administrator, Captain Robert Koenig, and his staff are highly trained professionals who provide for the safety and security of this facility and treat all with respect and dignity. Koenig's staff are well trained professional correctional officers. They strive daily to maintain each inmate in a safe and healthy environment. We do not tolerate harassment of inmates by anyone, and the welfare of the inmate is foremost.

Anyone under arrest will not enter this facility without having handcuffs (behind their backs), as this is done for officer safety. All will be read the "Contraband Statement” and anyone who is found to be in possession of illegal drugs or weapons after the statement is read will face a 5-year felony charge, beyond their original charge.

Information Guide for Family & Friends of Iosco County Jail Inmates

Inmate Information
Staff is only allowed to provide friends and family members with the following information about a person lodged in the Iosco County Jail.

1. If that person is lodged in the jail
2. The amount of the bond or fines necessary for this person’s release
3. The person’s visitation days

No other information can be provided, under the inmates' Rights of Privacy. Any additional information must be provided by the inmate themselves.

Bonding
If bond is being posted during regular business hours of the county, the bond should be paid at the court. When the court is closed, cash bonds and credit cards will be accepted at the Iosco County Sheriff Department Control Center. Bonds can also be posted by Licensed Bonding Agents who are authorized by the courts. Staff is not able to make change, so please have the exact amount. For a person’s bond, you can call the number below, and receive the amount of the bond set by the court and those fees required to be paid by law. If you have any questions about bonding information, call (989) 362-6164.

Fines & Costs
If a person has been lodged and/or is serving a sentence, it may be necessary to pay court ordered fines and costs. If during regular business hours of the county, these should be paid at the court. When the court is closed cash and/or credit cards will be accepted at the Iosco County Sheriff Department Control Center.

Telephones
Telephones are located in each cell for the inmates' use. These phones are for outgoing calls only. It is not possible to place a call into these areas. The phone system is owned and operated by Securus. All calls being placed by inmates are collect calls.
The party receiving the call from an inmate must accept the charges before a connection is made. Friends and family members can also purchase pre-paid phone cards for the inmates. These phone cards can be obtained at the Iosco County Sheriff Department Control Center

If an emergency situation arises requiring notification to an inmate, you can call (989) 362-6164. This number is only for emergency situations. Staff is required to verify the emergency and will then inform the inmate. Inmates are not allowed to be removed from their cell for personal phone calls. All calls will be done from their respective cell phones.

ALL INMATE CELL PHONES ARE RECORDED – for security and officer safety reasons.

Phones are on from 7 a.m. to midnight.

Mail
All mail to inmates in the Iosco County Jail will be opened and searched for contraband before being passed on to the inmate. All mail to inmates must be received via the US Postal Officer. Inmates cannot receive mail from other inmates incarcerated in this jail.

All mail must contain:

     Return name and address
     Inmate name
     P.O. Box 59
     Tawas City, MI 48764-0059

We will not accept Polaroid pictures, or pornographic pictures or drawings.

Inmate Money & Personal Property
Upon being lodged in the Iosco County Jail, an inmate’s money will be taken at the time of his/her booking and will be deposited in an inmate trust fund for the duration of the inmate’s period of incarceration. The entire inmate’s personal property will be recorded and placed into a locked locker assigned to that inmate. While a person is incarcerated at the Iosco County Jail, friends and family may deposit money into the inmate’s trust account for his/her use.

Personal Items Allowed
Inmates are allowed to receive four (4) pair of white underwear, four (4) pair of white undershirts, four (4) pair of white socks, two (2) pair of white long underwear (during winter months only), four (4) bras white in color (with no under wire), prescription eye glasses, and prescription medicine upon approval of the medical department and jail administrator.

Visitation
Sentenced or non-sentenced inmates must be in jail for a total of 3 days before they can have a visit. This does not include visits from attorneys or clergy. It is the inmate’s responsibility to contact friends and family. Inmates will receive one 30-minute visit each week as follows:

Last names beginning with –

                            A thru E
                            F thru J
                            K thru O
                            P thru T
                            U thru Z

Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Saturdays
Sundays

6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m.

Visitors must sign in by 7:00 p.m. for Wednesday through Friday visitation days. Visitors must sign in by 1:30 p.m. for Saturday and Sunday visitation days. Visitors must be signed in by these deadlines or no visits will be granted

Visitors must be 17 years of age or accompanied by parent or legal guardian. The adult will be held responsible for their conduct. Misconduct by any visitor or inmate will result in the immediate termination of their visit and possible further visiting restrictions.

All visitation conversations are recorded for security reasons, except visits with attorneys, the clergy, and mental health professionals.

Programs
Inmates are allowed out-of-cell activities once a week, and can attend church, GED classes, and AA programs and any future programs. Inmates must be eligible or meet necessary program requirements.

Commissary
Inmates can order food items and other items from the commissary, provided they have money in their account. Order sheets are handed out by staff on Tuesday and then picked up. The commissary will arrive on Thursday. Inmates can order commissary items only from their Inmate Trust Account. No outside commissary items are permitted in this facility.

Indigent Inmates
Indigent inmates are provided with basic personal hygiene items. New inmates are also provided with these items if they arrive after commissary has been ordered. The cost of Indigent Packs are deducted from their Inmate Trust Account – at $3.80 for each Indigent Pack received. The Indigent Pack includes a tooth brush, toothpaste, pencil, 2 stamped envelopes, 2 blank sheets of paper, Tylenol, underarm deodorant.

Medical
Inmates, except in case of emergencies, must fill out a Medical Request Form, and present it to a correctional officer. The medical department does not operate 24/7, but the jail nurse makes several visits a week and the jail doctor has sick call once a week.

All medical appointments are arranged by the medical department and, for security reasons, any previously set appointments before a person is incarcerated will be rescheduled.

Work Release
The courts of this county authorize the sheriff to run a work release program. If the judge authorizes a person for work release, our staff will conduct a background check on the person’s work status.

The inmate must sign the work release rules and understand that violation of these rules will result in possible termination of their work release privileges. Inmates must also pass a drug test and are subject to random testing while on work release.

As work release is a privilege granted by the court and enforced by the sheriff, some people may not be granted work release due to the nature of their charges or past criminal history.

Work release will be paid at a rate of $20.00 a day. This payment must be made each week and falling behind will result in your loss of work release status.

A person granted work release will be allowed to work in the surrounding area, but there will be case-by-case limits on work locations. In general the surrounding area is considered Iosco, Ogemaw, Arenac, and Alcona counties.

Prisoner Reimbursement
Whereas, the provisions of Michigan Public Act 118 of 1984; as amended by Michigan Public Act 212 of 1994, known as the “Prisoner Reimbursement to the County Act” (MCL 801.80) permits the county to seek reimbursement of cost incurred to incarcerate an individual in the County of Iosco jail. All sentenced inmates will be charged $10.00 per day while lodged in the Iosco County Jail. Those persons with a legitimate hardship may establish a payment plan with the Iosco County Sheriff Department. However, upon default in payment, the entire balance will be forwarded to our collection agency.

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Iosco County, Michigan © 2003-2008-2008- All Rights Reserved
Revised: 03/12/2008 02:59 PM