Des Moines County Arrest Records

The Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for maintaining arrest records. Arresting officers compile these records following an individual’s apprehension within county limits. A Des Moines County arrest record will detail information about the offender, the circumstances of the arrest, and the offense for which the individual was arrested. The Sheriff’s Office generally makes this information accessible to the public via phone or in person. Once the offender appears in court, their arrest records are forwarded to the court and added to its database. Individuals may perform a Des Moines County court record search to view judicial information relating to a specific arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Des Moines County?

Yes. The Iowa Open Records Law generally favors public access to arrest records. Anyone can inspect and copy arrest records during an agency’s regular business hours. Although most arrest records will be disclosed upon request, the following are confidential and may be restricted:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Peace officers’ investigative reports
• A law enforcement agency’s criminal identification files
• Arrest information whose disclosure would jeopardize an investigation or endanger someone’s safety
• Certain portions of law enforcement agencies’ email and telephone billing records that are part of an ongoing investigation

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following arrest information is publicly available in Des Moines County:

• The offender’s name, sex, birth date, and location
• Offender number, offense, and supervision status
• Commitment and recall dates
• County of commitment and offense class
• Tentative discharge and supervision discharge dates

Des Moines County Arrest Statistics

According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Uniform Crime Reporting System, there were about 1,983 arrests in Des Moines County as of 2023. Of these, approximately 1,019 were for Group A offenses, and 964 were for Group B offenses. During that same year, around 1,098 people were arrested for crimes against persons, 1,268 for crimes against property, and 1,197 for crimes against society.

Find Des Moines County Arrest Records

The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) makes offenders’ arrest records publicly available per Iowa Code §904.601(1). The DOC’s Offender Search portal allows searches by name, birth date, sex, offense, county of commitment, location, and offender number. If you cannot find the record you need online, you may visit any DOC prison to make a request in person. A search or copy fee may apply.

For records of Des Moines County offenders housed in federal prisons, contact the federal agency responsible for the inmate’s custody. Many agencies provide online databases:

• United States Capitol Police (USCP): Offers an Online Portal for arrest summary reports (search by CFN number, crime date, crime summary, or crime type).
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Provides arrest information through the Online Detainee Locator System (search by A-Number or biographical information).
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): Maintains the Inmate Locator (search by number or name).

These agencies typically accept in-person requests at their local field offices or facilities during business hours. The USCP also allows mail-in requests using a Request Form. While most federal agencies release arrest records to the public, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discloses such records only to the individual named in them. The FBI charges an $18 fee for record requests, which can be made online, by mail, or through approved channelers. Acceptable payment methods include money orders, certified checks, or credit cards via the Credit Card Payment Form.

Free Arrest Record Search in Des Moines County

Individuals can find free arrest records by contacting the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office Records Division. The Division accepts phone requests at (319) 753-8212 from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays). Record seekers can also find free arrest records on third-party databases. However, free searches may return limited information that might not satisfy the user. Most third-party platforms have fee-based options for users who want to conduct comprehensive searches or download detailed arrest reports.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

According to the Record Retention Manual for Iowa Cities, some arrest records, such as investigation reports and arrest books, stay on a person’s criminal records permanently due to their continuing historical value. However, Iowa law permits arrestees to restrict access to their records through expungement. This restricts public inspection or copying of such records. The Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) makes the following arrest records unavailable for public perusal:

• Arrests where the DCI has not received a fingerprint card
• Arrests that involve simple misdemeanors and minor traffic charges like speeding
• Arrests where the arresting agency has not sent a disposition to the DCI within four (4) years from the arrest date.

Expunge Des Moines County Arrest Records

According to Iowa Code § 907.1(3), expungement is the segregation of a person’s arrest records in a secure database that is not available for public access. Des Moines County residents with not-guilty verdicts, criminal-charge dismissals, or convicted of some misdemeanor offenses can have their arrest records expunged if they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in Iowa Code § 901C.2. Eligible applicants can file Rule 2.86—Form 1 or Rule 2.86—Form 2 with the Des Moines County Clerk of District Court to have their records expunged. The Clerk will enter an order to expunge if the applicant meets the eligibility requirements. It is important to note that applicants with misdemeanor convictions can only apply for expungement once in their lifetime. However, they can expunge multiple misdemeanor offenses in one application.

Des Moines County Arrest Warrants

According to IA Code § 804.1, a criminal proceeding commences when a complaint is filed with a magistrate. The magistrate will issue an arrest warrant when the complaint or the affidavit shows probable cause to believe an offense has been committed and a designated person committed it. An arrest warrant is usually directed to any peace officer in Iowa (IA Code § 804.2). It contains the defendant’s name, but the magistrate can designate “name unknown” if it is unknown. An arrest warrant must state the name or description of the offense, the issuing date, the county or city where it was issued, and the magistrate’s signature with the name of their office.

Do Des Moines County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Des Moines County will remain valid until they are cleared by being withdrawn or the arrest of the named individual. Consequently, those with an outstanding warrant for their arrest are typically advised to contact their local police department to turn themselves in or speak to a licensed attorney for appropriate judicial advice for the circumstance.