There is an extensive history available for local Law Enforcement in the Washington County area. Records show two early court sessions held when Washington County was known as Slaughter County of the Wisconsin Territory.
The third session, held after the county's name had been changed to Washington, met on June 17, 1839. The only case heard concerned the disposition of a business (probably a mill site on Crooked Creek) and was settled "out of court".
The first criminal case appeared on the docket in June, 1840. The case appeared on a change of venue from Muscatine County and involved "passing of fictitious bills". Other early cases involved charges of "riot", "selling liquor to Indians", "setting fire to prairie", and "gaming" or gambling.
The first county jail was built in 1841 and was a 16' x 18', two story structure. The main material used appears to have been "hewn logs". The lower story was "double strength", with an eight inch wall space filled with solid and broken stone. The walls and ceiling had oak planking imbedded with numerous nails and spikes. This was done to keep holes from being sawed into the lower holding area. The only entrance to the building was a door on the wall of second story that was accessed using a stairway. Prisoners were placed in the lower level through a hatchway in the floor. The ladder was withdraw and the hatchway closed to secure the prisoner. The building cost $1,020.
Serious offenders were kept in the lower level, while those charged with minor offenses were held in the upper level. Numerous escapes appear in local records, including "William McCauley" who escaped in 1844 while being held for murder. The first jail was torn down and a new jail "consisting of two iron cages set up in a frame building" was build on West Washington in April 1871.
Additional information about the History of Washington County Law Enforcement will be added at a later date. The book A History of Washington County, Iowa by Lola Kathleen Fisher published in 1978 was the resource used for this page and contains extensive information.