Iowa Criminal Records

Iowa Criminal Records, commonly known as rap sheets, are official papers that provide information about the criminal history of individuals in the state.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety (also known as Iowa DPS) is the state's principal repository for criminal records. The information on these records derives from several administrative offices and law enforcement agencies in Iowa.

According to Iowa's Open Records Act, criminal records are public information in the state. However, the information included in public criminal records will primarily rely on the legitimacy of the person making the request.

Once you successfully obtain a copy of criminal records in Iowa, it will include the following:

• Personal information of the subject (full name, date of birth, race)
• Any Aliases
• A mugshot
• Set of fingerprints
• Unique identifiers (tattoos, piercings, etc.)
• Past conviction and pending dispositions
• Arrest Records (date of arrest and outstanding warrants)
• Guilty Pleas
• Convictions (felony or misdemeanor charges)
• Prosecution date

The information included in Iowa Criminal Records varies based on the conviction type. The state criminal charges are as follows:

Felonies

In Iowa, felonies are crimes that can get you locked up for two years or more in state prison. The state categorized felonies into four: Classe A, B, C, or D.

Class A Felonies

A class A felony is the worst kind of felony, and the punishment for it is life in prison. Sexual assaults resulting in significant harm are classified as class A felonies.

Class B Felonies

Class B felony sentences average 25 years in jail. Examples under this class include possession of 100 to 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and first-degree burglary.

But the following Class B felonies can get you locked up for up to 50 years:

• Certain criminal drug offenses
• Second-degree murder
• Several incidents of child endangerment
• A person killed due to railroad vandalism

Class C Felonies

Class C felonies often carry a jail sentence of up to ten years and a $1,000 to $10,000 fine. Assaults that cause severe injury and thefts of property valued at more than $10,000 are class C felonies.

Class D Felonies

Class D felonies, the least severe in Iowa, are punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of $750 to $7,500. Marijuana plantations weighing up to 50 kilograms and pimping are class D felonies.

How long does a felony record stay in Iowa? Felony records in Iowa remain on file for life. But if you qualify for state expungement, you can remove it after eight years or more since the conviction date.

Misdemeanors

Most of the time, misdemeanors are less severe than felony crimes, leading to lengthy prison sentences. Misdemeanors are crimes that can get you up to a year in a county or local jail. In descending severity, Iowa classified misdemeanors as aggravated, serious, and simple.

Aggravated Misdemeanors

The class aggravated misdemeanors are the most severe misdemeanors, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine between $625 and $6,250. Examples of these misdemeanors include:

• Second OWI
• Second offense drug possession
• Carrying a gun without a permit
• Prostitution
• Indecent exposure

Serious Misdemeanors

In Iowa, a serious misdemeanor can get you up to a year in jail and a fine of $315 to $1,875. Some of the Iowa misdemeanors in Iowa under this category are:

• First OWI
• Assault with bodily harm
• First offense drug possession
• Second offense domestic abuse assault

Simple Misdemeanors

A simple misdemeanor may carry up to 30 days in prison, a fine ranging from $65 to $625, or both. Iowa simple misdemeanors include:

• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Assault with no bodily harm
• Disorderly conduct
• First offense domestic abuse assault
• Trespassing

How long are Iowa misdemeanor records kept? All convictions in Iowa are permanent unless you go through expungement. Section 901C.3 of the Iowa Code permits the expungement of one misdemeanor conviction in an individual's lifetime.

Criminal Driving Violations

A traffic violation in Iowa happens when a driver violates the law while driving a motor vehicle. In Iowa, traffic offenses can result in fines or prison time, as well as the suspension or revocation of a driver's license. However, the seriousness or type of the crime determines the severity of the sanctions.

In Iowa, there are three categories of criminal driving violation, and these are:

Iowa Felony Traffic Violations

In Iowa, a felony traffic offense is any violation that results in serious bodily harm or death. These crimes are penalized with a greater degree of gravity than other traffic offenses because their effects are much more severe. Felony traffic violations can lead to jail time, substantial fines, and revocation driver's license.

Here are some examples of felony traffic offenses in Iowa:

• DUI or OWI that leads to severe harm or death
• Reckless driving causing serious injury or death
• Hit and run that leads to severe damage or death
• Vehicular homicide

Iowa Traffic Misdemeanors

Traffic misdemeanors in Iowa are criminal violations that can result in a fine, jail, or both. Some traffic misdemeanors in Iowa are:

• DUI or OWI
• Reckless driving
• Leaving the scene of an accident

Iowa Traffic Infractions

Traffic infractions in Iowa are breaches of the Iowa Traffic Code solely punishable by a fine. Infractions vary from other types of offenses (misdemeanors and felonies) because they do not carry the threat of prison time. Examples of traffic infractions in Iowa include:

• Speeding
• Running a stop sign
• Failing to use a turn signal

How long do criminal driving records in Iowa stay on file? A conviction for OWI stays on a driver's criminal record for life and stays on their driving record for 12 years.

Sexual Offenses

Sexual abuse is how Iowa defines sexual offenses. Under Iowa law, sexual abuse is any sex act perpetrated against the victim's choice, against someone by coercion, or when the victim is unable to agree, such as while asleep, mentally disabled, under the influence of a sleep-inducing substance, or under 14 years old.

Iowa law defines "sex act" as any touch between a person's genitals, hands, or fingers and another's genitals or anus.

Here are the types of sexual abuse in Iowa:

• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree
• Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree
• Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree
• Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse
• Lascivious Acts with a Child
• Statutory Rape
• Indecent Contact with a Child
• Sodomy

These sexual abuses in Iowa are felony charges, which means they will stay forever in someone's criminal record unless eligible for state expungement.

In Iowa, anyone convicted of sexual abuse must register as a sex offender. People convicted of aggravated sexual assault or sexual abuse committed by force or against the victim's will must register for life. Other sex offenders have a 10-year required registration. 

Public members can find sex offender information from a county sheriff's office under Iowa Code Chapter 692A. You must send your requests in writing, over the phone, or in person. The requester must supply the name of the sex offender and at least one of the following:

• Birth date
• Address
• Social security number
• Telephone numbers
• Internet identifiers

Expungement in Iowa means that the general public will no longer be able to see these records. But that doesn't mean there will no longer be any case record. Still, it might remain on a restricted list that the court, prosecutors, and police can see.

Iowa only allows expungement for minor convictions and situations where someone is not guilty of a crime or when there is a withdrawal of all charges. Additional qualifying restrictions apply based on the kind of offense that needs expungement.

After 180 days, you may have your criminal record expunged if:

• Cases lead to dismissal or acquittal
• You satisfied the deferred judgment conditions

Furthermore, Iowa law provides expungement for some alcohol-related offenses. For example, suppose you have convictions about public drunkenness, drinking, or underage consumption. In that case, you may be eligible for expungement, provided you have not received any other offenses in the previous two years.

The 180-day waiting period will not apply if you demonstrate good reason. You must also pay any court expenses and financial responsibilities associated with the charges.

You cannot have your criminal record expunged if you were found not guilty due to insanity or deemed incapable of standing trial.

Filing Expungement in Iowa

You must first submit a written petition to obtain an expungement in Iowa. You may register and file your expungement request online through the Iowa Supreme Court. It has established several forms for expungement requests for a particular conviction type a person committed.

If you do not opt to file online, you must mail or hand deliver a copy of your application to the court and the county attorney.

After the petition filing, the court will review your request and either grant or deny your expungement. You can't grant an expungement unless a court approves the application. You may need to go to a hearing depending on your case facts.

Iowa Inmate Records are official papers that detail a person's present and previous imprisonment status. Also, it may refer to the facility and prisoner-related data created and kept by the state's numerous correctional facilities.

Most inmate records provide information comparable to criminal records but include jail terms.

The Iowa Department of Corrections keeps and disseminates publicly accessible inmate records through its online database. It has a name-based search where you can find inmate or offender records.

When the public has access to inmate records, they may get the following information:

• Personal information (name, date of birth, gender, race)
• Inmate registration number
• Inmate mugshots
• Inmate location
• Custody status
• Jail transfer information
• Arrest and booking details
• Court information
• Release dates

Iowa Arrest Records are official files that include information regarding the arrest and detention of individuals suspected of criminal behavior.

The municipal or state court issued warrants where the suspect is located and are invalid outside that jurisdiction. After obtaining the document, law enforcement authorities can arrest the person identified on it.

Following the suspect's arrest, booking begins. This process begins the official police record that matches the suspects personal information to the evidence of the crime.

A person arrested for a crime must appear before a court without "unreasonable delay". The "unreasonable delay" under Iowa law is 24 hours. This first appearance before the judge is appropriately titled "Initial Appearance".

At the Initial Appearance, the judge sets the next court date and determines the terms of the arrested person's release and pending future court proceedings.

The arresting agency can provide the arrest record to anybody interested, and it is often the local Sheriff's office or the police department at the county level.

However, this arresting agency will not make the record available to the public if public exposure of the document might jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation.

The record keeper will charge the price for document duplication if you want to obtain an arrest record. You can still get free arrest records, mainly if the government deems publishing this information would benefit the public. Otherwise, you must pay the total copying costs to get this police record.

Arrest records in Iowa often include information on the suspected offense as well as:

• The arrestee's personal information (name, birth date, gender, race)
• Fingerprint
• place and date of the arrest
• The arresting officer involved
• The detention center or jail address
• Case status
• The person who issued the arrest warrant

Employers in Iowa that want to do a background check on a possible employee most often seek copies of official criminal records.

The Iowa DPS makes these records accessible to the public through a Criminal Background Report via its Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

You can send requests for criminal records by mail or fax. And to get the necessary forms, you must contact the Iowa DPS.

In most cases, requesters must pay a nominal charge to access these criminal records. Free public criminal record checks are also available (others sometimes come at a low cost). However, the information gained from cost-free databases is not dependable.