Buchanan County Arrest Records

In Buchanan County, Iowa, arrest records are government documents that provide information about individuals in law enforcement custody and the reasons for their arrests. Arrest records are created through arrests executed within the county's jurisdiction. When individuals are suspected or found to have violated the law, they may be arrested by law enforcement agents under the authority of arrest warrants.

When arrests are executed in Buchanan County, such individuals are held at the Buchanan County Detention Center, the local county jail for persons awaiting trial or individuals sentenced for lower felonies and misdemeanors. Buchanan County arrest records are maintained primarily by the Sheriff's Office, while some records may be obtained from the State Police. The courts also provide access to Buchanan County Court Records, where criminal court documents containing arrest records may be accessed.

Are Arrest Records Public in Buchanan County?

Yes, Buchanan County arrest records are public records because they are maintained by government agencies such as the sheriff's office. According to the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code), the public may access government bodies' public records, including law enforcement agencies. There are also some restrictions contained in the Act that must remain private or inaccessible to the public for safety or privacy reasons. These exceptions include the following:

• Details from criminal investigations that are yet to be concluded
• Records that may jeopardize public safety
• Juvenile records
• Records that violate personal privacy
• Expunged or sealed records

The primary records custodian for Buchanan County arrest records may be located at this address:

210 5th Avenue NE
Independence, Iowa 50644
(319) 334-2568 - Main Office/Administration
(319) 334-2017 - Correctional Facility
(319) 334-2567 - Dispatch
Fax: (319) 334-6542

Buchanan County Arrest Statistics

Buchanan County arrest statistics are publicly accessible through law enforcement agencies such as the Sheriff's Office or online through the FBI UCR website. This website provides data for county arrests within the past two years, which reveals 115 arrests for all other offenses. There were eight arrests for simple and aggravated assaults, respectively. The county recorded four arrests for larceny and motor vehicle theft and two for burglary. There were no arrests recorded for arson, murder, rape, and robbery.

Find Buchanan County Arrest Records

Buchanan County arrest records are publicly accessible through the law enforcement agencies and courts. The Sheriff's Office is the primary custodian of these records, which may be obtained using records requests. The public may submit their requests in person or send them via mail to the sheriff's records office.

Requests may also be submitted online to access Buchanan County court records through the Iowa Courts Online Search website. This website allows electronic docket records searches. The county's Inmate Search website provides access to a county jail search service available at any time of the day. The state Department of Corrections' Offender Search website provides access to the state inmate database.

Buchanan County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Buchanan County arrest records contain details of arrested individuals in county jails, their arrest situation, and the arresting officer or agency. Arrest records provide a picture of the arrest with more information like the arrestee's date of birth, description, full name, and aliases. These records also contain the date and time of the arrest, the charges alleged, booking information, bond details, and more. Arrest records are publicly accessible in the same circumstances as criminal records.

Criminal records contain details of an individual's history of arrests, charges, and convictions. They are referred to as a complete history of a person's interactions with the courts for criminal offenses. These records contain arrest information, trial records, conviction or sentencing records, and incarceration records. Criminal records are publicly accessible except where they contain expunged records and juvenile records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Buchanan County, arrests do not automatically remove themselves from your public records. They may remain publicly accessible until steps are taken to restrict or remove them. Arrest records may be removed from your public records through expungement and are available to individuals who satisfy some requirements. These requirements include the arrest leading to no conviction, no charges, or dismissal of charges.

Where there is a conviction, a waiting period may need to be satisfied, among other conditions. The waiting period for each offense varies. Other conditions include the offense itself being eligible for expungement and the applicant not having used their one chance at expungement in a lifetime.

Buchanan County Arrest Warrants

Buchanan County arrest warrants are official documents issued by a judge to law enforcement officers to direct the arrest of the person named in the document. Arrest warrants are used to legalize the detention of persons for suspicion or commission of an offense while they await trial or arraignment. These records usually contain the suspect's name, the directive to arrest the suspect, the date the warrant was issued, the jurisdiction where it is valid, the charged offense, and the judge's signature.

Do Buchanan County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Buchanan County arrest warrants do not expire. They may remain active and executable until the person of interest is in custody, dies, or is recalled by a judge. Arrest warrants may remain active when the statute of limitations applies. In Buchanan County, the passage of time does not affect the validity of arrest warrants. The person of interest may also be subject to the warrant when they travel or move to another state, as law enforcement operatives may cooperate to execute the warrant.

Expunge Buchanan County Arrest Records

Buchanan County allows expungement according to Iowa laws. Individuals who meet the above-stated conditions are eligible for expungement and may begin the process using these steps:

• Confirm your eligibility by obtaining the requirements to see if you check all the boxes.
• If you do, gather documents such as case files, conviction records, dismissal orders, etc.
• Obtain the petition form from the Iowa Judicial Branch. Such forms include Application to Expunge Court Record according to Iowa Code S901C.2 for dismissals and not guilty verdicts or Application to Expunge Misdemeanor Court Record according to Iowa Code S901C.3.
• File the petition at the office of the Clerk of the District Court.
• Pay the required filing fee if no fee waivers are granted.
• Serve a copy of the application on the County Attorney's Office. This office has 20 days from the date of receipt to file an objection or respond to the application.
• Following the period for response, the court may review the application, and a court hearing may be scheduled if there is an objection or need for more details.
• The judge may issue an Order for Expungement if the application is granted.
• This order may be sent to the relevant agencies, and the records may become confidential and exempt from public access.