Decatur County Jail

KELLEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/8/2017 at 14:12:49

Decatur County Jail
Leon, Iowa

In 1846, under Judge KELLEY, a substantial log jail was erected at a cost of $1,800. This was used until 1884. The present [1915] jail is of brick and was erected soon after the old one was abandoned. It cost $12,000. It stood near the northeast corner of the square, at the corner of Eighth and Idaho streets.

~ Howell, Prof. J.M. & Smith, Heman C. "History of Decatur County and Its People." Vol. I. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago. 1915.

After the Decatur County Jail was closed, the jail was moved to the courthouse, the southwest corner lower level of the courthouse. [I'm thinking the jail closed sometime during the early 1980's. ~ SRB]

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Jail Open in New Digs

The Decatur County Jail is now open at its new location at 206 NE 2nd Street in Leon. The facility officially opened on Wednesday, December 2 when prisoners were moved from the old jail that was located on the lower level of the courthouse. In addition, those prisoners that were being held by other counties have also been relocated to the new facility. The modern jail can hold 23 inmates. The communications/dispatch has also been moved to the new building. The Decatur County Sheriff’s Department is also in their new building, located right next door at 203 NE Idaho, the former Verle Norris Law office.

NOTE: Decatur County's new jail opened November 21, 2015.

Photograph courtesy of Decatur County Historical Musuem, Leon IA

Compilation and submission by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2017

Decatur Documents maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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