Iowa Arrest Records

Iowa's criminal justice agencies create and maintain arrest records when they apprehend individuals. These records include identifiable descriptions of the person arrested and notations detailing the arrest, any detentions, formal charges such as indictments, and the final disposition of the case. Generally County Sheriff's Offices such as the Polk County Sheriff and Linn County Sheriff, as well as city departments and the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) are responsible for maintaining these Iowa arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Iowa?

Yes, Iowa arrest records are public. The Iowa Open Records Law gives members of the public the right to examine and copy arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies within the state. For example, a person's prior and current arrest data are typically public in Iowa. However, the law restricts the dissemination of certain arrest records, which include:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Peace officers' investigative reports
• Criminal identification files of law enforcement agencies
• Some portions of law enforcement agencies' email and telephone billing records are confidential if that information is part of an ongoing investigation
• The time, date, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding an arrest where disclosure would threaten a person's safety or critically jeopardize an investigation.

Iowa Arrest Statistics

The Iowa Department of Public Safety's Arrest Trends Report indicates that law enforcement agencies across the state reported 78,401 arrests in 2024. This total includes 42,546 Group A arrests and 35,855 Group B arrests. A further breakdown of the data reveals that authorities made 36,059 arrests for crimes against persons, 35,612 for crimes against property, and 49,664 for crimes against society.

Between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, the most prevalent arrest incidents were:

• Drug/narcotic violations: 10,312 arrests
• DUI: 9,188 arrests
• Simple assault: 8,796 arrests
• Shoplifting: 5,353 arrests.

Iowa's 2024 arrest data also shows an increase of over 2.4% compared to the 2023 figure of 76,532 arrests.

Find Public Arrest Records in Iowa

Iowa does not have a general step-by-step guide on obtaining arrest records; this is because each law enforcement agency has its own unique method of receiving arrest records requests. However, individuals should be able to find arrest records by following this process:

• Step 1: Identify the record custodian: Iowa has different law enforcement agencies (including city police departments, county sheriff's offices, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety) that handle arrest records. Therefore, individuals should be able to determine which law enforcement agencies maintain the specific record they seek, contact them, and request arrest records in their custody.
• Step 2: Determine the records request procedures: Each law enforcement agency has a unique arrest record request process. Individuals can review the procedures for requesting arrest records from each law enforcement agency's website or contact them to inquire about how to request arrest records
• Step 3: Submit the request: Requesters can submit arrest records requests by email, fax, or in person. For example, individuals can request arrest records from the Fort Dodge Police Department by phone at (515) 573-1424, fax at (515) 573-7788, mail, email at fdpd@fortdodgeiowa.org, or in person. For mail and email requests for Fort Dodge County arrest records, requesters may need to complete the Local Arrest History Request Form. Note that individuals can view arrest information on most city police departments and county sheriff's office websites at no cost. A complete arrest record can be retrieved at the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) online, by mail, fax, email, or in person. Mail, email, and fax. Requesters are required to complete the Criminal History Record Check Billing Form.
• Step 4: Pay the necessary fees: The fee schedule for arrest records varies by agency. For example, the DCI charges $15 per last name for arrest records, the Scott County Sheriff's Office charges $5, and the Marshalltown Police Department charges $13.

How to Look Up Arrest Records Online in Iowa

Most Iowa law enforcement agencies make arrest records accessible online. These documents may be available under names such as Arrest Blotter, Arrest Report, Arrest Information, and Arrest Logs. Interested individuals can find arrest records in the Jail or Corrections sections on the county sheriff's office websites. For example, to find Sioux County arrest records online:

• Visit the Sioux County Sheriff's Office website
• Expand the menu, and click DIVISIONS
• Select Arrests Logs under the Correction Section.

Interested individuals may also access Iowa arrest records through third-party online portals. Most third-party vendors require individuals to conduct an arrest record search by first and/or last name. The search will return a list of all arrestees bearing the searched name. Users can narrow by providing the arrestee's age and location. Note that copies of Iowa arrest records may involve fee payments.

What is Included in Iowa Arrest Records?

An Iowa arrest record is open to public inspection. It contains the arrestee's personal information and arrest details. Record seekers may find the following information in an Iowa arrest record:

• Arrestee's full name and address
• Arestee's sex, age, date of birth, and race
• Arrestee's height, weight, hair, and eye color
• Bond amount and type
• Case number
• Offense date
• Crime class
• Arrest time, date, type, and location
• Name of the arresting agency
• Charge description
• Incident and warrant numbers
• Charge type description
• Released date and reason for the release.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Iowa

According to the Record Retention Manual for Iowa Cities, arrest records, arrest books, and investigation reports are permanent records. This indefinite stay is due to their continuing historical value, meaning that arrests remain on a person's record throughout their lifetime unless the owner petitions for expungement and makes them publicly inaccessible. Note that the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) does not include the following arrest information in its criminal history records:

• Arrests that involve simple misdemeanors.
• Arrests due to minor traffic charges like speeding,
• Arrests where the DCI has not received a fingerprint card.
• Any arrest where the DCI does not receive a disposition within four (4) years from the arrest date.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Iowa

Per Iowa Code 907.1(3), expungement is the removal of criminal records (including arrest records) from public databases, making them publicly inaccessible. Arrest records may be eligible for expungement when arrestees fulfill the following requirements (Iowa Code 901C.2):

• Not-guilty verdicts and criminal-charge dismissals:
  • The arrest results in an acquittal or dismissal
  • The arrested person pays all applicable fees (such as court costs and fees ordered by the court or clerk of the district court)
  • At least one hundred eighty (180) days has elapsed since the dismissal or acquittal
  • The case did not result in dismissal due to insanity
  • The arrested person is competent to stand trial in the case.
• Misdemeanor offenses (excluding offenses outlined in Iowa Code 901C.3(2)):
  • A minimum of eight (80 years have elapsed since the conviction date
  • The petitioner has no pending criminal charges
  • The petitioner has not had two previous deferred judgments
  • The applicant has fulfilled all financial obligations, including court-ordered restitutions like fines, fees, court costs, and restitution

For not-guilty verdicts and criminal-charge dismissals, an individual needs to file Rule 2.86 (Form 1) with the District Court that has jurisdiction over the case. In contrast, an individual who wants to expunge a misdemeanor conviction is required to file Rule 2.86 (Form 2) with the District Court in the county where the conviction occurred.

Iowa District Courts will not enter orders to expunge arrest records with not-guilty verdicts or dismissed cases unless all case parties have had time to establish the eligibility of the petitioner and the fulfillment of applicable criteria. The courts only grant expungement for misdemeanor convictions once in a person's lifetime. However, the arrested person can request expungement for more than one misdemeanor offense in one application (this is only possible if the misdemeanor offenses stem from the same occurrence).

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Iowa?

Individuals can access information about recent Iowa arrests online by viewing the daily arrest logs/reports on most city police department websites. For example, the Cedar Rapids Police Department provides a Daily Arrest Report that includes information about arrestees, the charge against them, arrest date, time, location, and case number. These reports are updated daily and only include arrests over the past 24 to 30 hours.

Some County sheriff's offices also provide recent arrest information with the inmate records on their websites, while others specifically have arrest logs separate from inmate rosters. For example, the O'Brien County Sheriff's Office has an Arrest Log, while the Polk County Sheriff's Office merges arrest and inmate records in its Jail and Arrest Information page. Additionally, Dubuque City has a central portal where individuals can find Recent Arrest Information in the custody of law enforcement agencies.

Alternatively, record seekers can visit law enforcement agency offices during business hours to view or copy records of recent arrests. Typically, most law enforcement agencies attend to in-person requests from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and noon, and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays).

Are Iowa Arrest Records Free?

Most Iowa law enforcement agencies provide access to arrest records without charge through their websites. Individuals can typically view arrest information on city police departments and county sheriff's offices' websites. Most city police departments provide a downloadable list of arrest information on their websites. At the same time, some have portals where individuals can easily search for arrest information by date, offender, or charge. Most sheriff's offices have specific pages dedicated to arrest logs, while others include them in the inmate search tools. Individuals can also check third-party platforms to find arrest records at no cost. Most third-party vendors allow requesters to access basic information about arrests within Iowa without charge. The search criteria are mostly by first or last name. Note that extensive services on third-party websites attract a small fee payable by credit card.