Buena Vista County Arrest Records

Buena Vista County arrest records refer to documents that contain information about law enforcement arrests and detainees. These records are created following arrests executed by the Buena County Sheriff’s Office or the Storm Lake Police Department. An arrest can be executed with a warrant issued by a court or without a warrant if the peace officer witnessed the commission of the crime. Arrest warrants in Buena County are issued when there is probable cause, to prevent the alleged offender from fleeing while investigations are ongoing, or to prevent someone from committing a crime as outlined in Iowa Code Section 804.7.

According to Iowa Code Section 236.2, an arrest can be executed when a peace officer has reasonable grounds to suspect domestic abuse. When an arrest is executed, the alleged offender is processed for booking and held at the Buena Vista County Jail. This jail facility also holds offenders convicted and serving less than a year's sentence for misdemeanor offenses.

Arrest records in Buena County are maintained by the sheriff’s office, which provides updated information. This office also provides an up-to-date list of county jail inmates after every booking. If formal charges are filed after an arrest, the case will go to court, and some arrest details will be retained in the Buena Vista County court records. These details, through arraignment documents, can be accessed through the Buena Vista County Clerk of Court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Buena Vista County?

Yes, arrest records in Buena Vista County are public records, as mandated by the Iowa Open Records Law (Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code). They can be obtained by anyone through the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office. While there are publicly accessible arrest records, such as the name of the offender, the location and date of the arrest, and the arresting agency, there are also restricted arrest details. The public will not be able to access sensitive or private arrest information, such as the offender's address or personal telephone number.

Arrest records containing investigative reports from ongoing investigations, sealed or expunged records, and juvenile records are also restricted from public access. While everyone can access public arrest records, only the subject of a restricted record or someone with a court order or other specific authorizing document can access sensitive arrest records. The public can approach the sheriff’s office at this address:

Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office
411 Expansion Boulevard
Storm Lake, Iowa 50588
(712) 732-2452 - Mail/Jail Line
(712) 749-2525 - Non-Emergency
(712) 749-2530 - Administrative Office Phone
(712) 732-3397 - Fax

Buena Vista County Arrest Statistics

Buena Vista County arrest statistics can be accessed online through the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website. According to this database, there were 119 total arrests in 2024, which included 84 arrests for all other offenses, 31 arrests for driving under the influence, and two arrests for disorderly conduct. The county recorded no arrests for arson, aggravated assault, simple assault, larceny, burglary, robbery, or homicide offenses.

Find Buena Vista County Arrest Records

Buena Vista arrest records can be found by physically requesting them from the relevant agency or sending requests via mail. They can be obtained through the appropriate law enforcement bodies, such as the sheriff’s office, as well as the courts. These records can be found online through the state Department of Corrections’ Search Offender website. The sheriff’s office maintains a Jail website which provides a link for viewing the current inmate roster. There is also an Arrest Distribution Report, which generates arrest records within the search range you input. Individuals who want to access arrest records through criminal case documents can do so by submitting a request to the County Clerk of Court. The state judiciary provides online search access to court records through the Iowa Courts Online Search. This website provides a Case Search link for all users and an Advanced Case Search link for registered users.

Buena Vista County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Buena Vista County arrest records and criminal records are similar because they contain details about an offender and the crimes they committed. Unlike criminal records, arrest records contain information about the offender’s detention and alleged offenses. They are restricted to details about the time, place, and location of the arrest, as well as the investigating agency and the arresting officer’s information. The sheriff’s office primarily maintains arrest records, while criminal records are maintained by law enforcement agencies and criminal justice outfits like the courts.

Criminal records refer to an individual’s complete profile with the criminal justice system. This provides details of the offender’s arrests, court cases, court sentences, and jail records. Criminal records can be obtained when evidence of conviction is needed, as this cannot be found in arrest records. It is also easier to clear arrest records, especially when there is no conviction, unlike criminal records, which usually have convictions and stricter requirements for expungement.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Buena Vista County will remain on the public records for a long time. They are designed to perpetually appear on your public profile unless an order for sealing or expungement is granted by the court. There is no law in the county or in Iowa that removes them automatically or after a period of time. To get an order of sealing or expungement, the arrest must not have resulted in a conviction. If there is a conviction, the offender must meet these requirements:

• The offender has satisfied the waiting period, such as 1 year after conviction for single simple misdemeanors.
• The sentence for the crime has been completed.
• The offender was not charged or had no pending cases during the waiting period, and when filing the petition.

Buena Vista County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants refer to documents that are issued to law enforcement agencies directing the lawful apprehension of an individual suspected of committing a crime. This document is issued by a court or judge. They become effective after a judge signs them and will remain active and executable across jurisdictions until the offender is detained or the judge or court recalls them.

Arrest warrants are usually in the form of bench warrants, which are issued for the arrest of individuals who do not show up for court appointments, or arrest warrants, which are issued for an individual’s arrest for initial arraignment. Arrest warrants are public records according to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. They are maintained by the sheriff’s office and the courts through records of bench warrants and arraignment documents. Shelby County arrest warrants will contain the following details:

• The offender’s name, age, occupation, and physical description
• The name and badge number of the arresting officer
• The investigating or arresting agency
• The filed charges and corresponding laws
• The time, place, and date of the arrest

Do Buena Vista County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire. These documents are issued to remain active indefinitely after they are signed by a judge. The judge can recall the warrant, which makes it inactive. Arrest warrants also become inactive when the offender is in law enforcement custody. In special situations where the alleged offense is subject to a statute of limitations, the warrant becomes inactive after the safe period for filing the charge expires. In cases where the court grants an extension of time or the prosecution pays the fine for late filing, a fresh warrant will be issued for the offender’s arrest.

Expunge Buena Vista County Arrest Records

Buena Vista allows the expungement and sealing of records according to state laws. Expungement refers to the process of removing an arrest that did not lead to a conviction, according to Iowa Code 692.17, while sealing refers to hiding records from public view, according to Iowa Code 907.4 and 907.9. Eligibility for expungement requires that the case was either dismissed, deferred, or the charge was not filed after at least 6 months from the arrest date.

For sealing of court records, the sentence must be completed, including any period of probation. The offense must also be a single, simple misdemeanor, except for motor vehicle offenses. There is also a waiting period of 1 year from the date of completing the sentence. Qualified individuals can apply by obtaining and filing the motion or petition through the County Circuit Court. For non-conviction arrests, the judge may sign the order quickly. In the case of a conviction, the judge will schedule a hearing after the petition is served on the defendants. If an order is granted, the Iowa Department of Public Safety and Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office will be directed to remove the records from their archives.