Benton County Arrest Records

Arrest records are documents created when law enforcement agents carry out an arrest. Arrests are only made when there is reasonable suspicion that someone has committed a crime in Benton County. The leading organization in charge of making arrests and creating arrest records in the county is the Benton County Sheriff's Department. Individuals arrested by the Sheriff's Department are then taken to the Benton County Jail to have their information processed.

Benton County arrest records also form part of the other public records. They might be found in criminal records from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation or Benton County Court Records, which are kept independently by the Benton County Clerk's Office. Arrest records frequently contain comprehensive details such as:

• Time of the arrest.
• Where the arrest took place.
• Information on the offense for which an individual is being arrested.
• Booking information.
• Personal information, such as the arrestee's name and date of birth.

Are Arrest Records Public in Benton County?

According to Iowa's Public Records Law, documents held by public agencies in Benton County are open to the public. Therefore, Benton County arrest records are public documents that any county resident can request to view. However, this does not apply to records the courts have deemed restricted. For example, records that contain sensitive information such as a victim's identity will be barred from public viewing. Additionally, arrest records that would hinder the administration of justice if they were released are usually restricted.

Benton County Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Crime Data Explorer, the Benton County Sheriff's Office made 406 arrests between 2019 and 2024. Male arrestees made up most of these arrests, at 320. Meanwhile, only 86 women were arrested within that time. The category of crime with the most arrests was Driving Under the Influence, with the office making 114 DUI arrests. All Other Offenses and Aggravated Assault followed this.

Find Benton County Arrest Records

The Benton County Sheriff's Department is responsible for maintaining arrest records in the county. It provides arrest records to county residents who want them. People who would like access to these records should contact the office and provide information about the arrest, such as the names of the people involved, the date and description of the arrest, the names of the arresting officers, and any other known details. They can find the Sheriff's Department at:

Benton County Sheriff's Office
113 E. 3rd St.
Vinton, Iowa 52349

Additionally, interested parties can find information on Benton County jail inmates from the Iowa Department of Corrections. The Department maintains an online roster of inmates incarcerated throughout the state.

Benton County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Although many people often see arrest and criminal records as interchangeable, they are two different types. Both types of records provide information on various phases of the criminal justice system. For instance, when someone is detained by the police on suspicion of a crime, the detaining agency creates an arrest record. This arrest record contains basic information such as the person's identity, the date of the arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency. Criminal records also contain all the aforementioned information, but go a step further.

Since criminal records are only created after a person's conviction, they include more information, such as sentencing and parole information. Therefore, anyone with a criminal record has proven involvement in criminal activity. Meanwhile, an arrest record does not prove guilt, as it only contains information about an arrest.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Benton County arrest records do not have an expiry date. They may stay on a person's record indefinitely under the Iowa Expungement of Criminal Records Law (§901c). However, the courts or the record custodian can delete these arrests from a person's record. According to the law, the court will only grant an expungement in the following circumstances:

• Where the arrest did not lead to a criminal conviction.
• Where the arrest only led to a qualified misdemeanor conviction.

Benton County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are a kind of court order issued when law enforcement suspects a person has committed a crime. The police must show the court that it is reasonable to believe the individual has committed a crime. Once an arrest warrant is issued, law enforcement can arrest the person at their residence or anywhere within the agency's jurisdiction. Interested parties can search for active arrest warrants at the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Department is located at:

Benton County Sheriff's Department
113 E. 3rd St.
Vinton, Iowa 52349

Do Benton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Just like arrest records, arrest warrants in Benton County have no set expiration date and are valid until the subject is taken into custody or the warrant is otherwise fulfilled. However, some policies or judicial discretion within the County may impact the validity of an arrest warrant, leading to the reassessment or rejection of older warrants in specific situations, such as for minor offenses or out-of-date cases.

Expunge Benton County Arrest Records

Arrest record holders must meet specific requirements before the court can have their records removed. For instance, where a defendant is not found guilty of the crime the police arrested them for, the court has the authority to order the erasure of their arrest record. The court must issue this order at least 180 days after the court's non-guilty verdict.

Additionally, individuals convicted of misdemeanours that qualify for expungement can have their arrest records deleted upon request. The defendant must only demonstrate that it has been more than eight years since the misdemeanor conviction and that the court has not awarded them more than one delayed judgment.

Courts can only grant parties expungement for an arrest once. However, a person may ask the court to delete arrest records relating to several misdemeanor offenses resulting from the same event. People can start removing records from public view when the court grants a petition for expungement. Interested parties seeking their records can file an Application to Expunge with the Benton County District Court. Interested parties must complete this application and mail it to:

Benmail itunty District Court
111 East 4th Street #4
Vinton, Iowa 52349
Phone: (319) 472-2766
Fax: (319) 472-2747