Jasper County Arrest Records

According to IA Code § 804.5, an arrest occurs when a law enforcement officer takes an individual into custody. The officer then transports the suspect to the police station for booking, and the arrest details are entered into the Jasper County Sheriff's Office database and published on various public platforms, making it accessible to the public.

By law, an arresting officer is required to bring an arrested individual before a judge within 24 hours for an initial appearance. The judge and other criminal justice agencies will have access to the suspect's arrest records to assist in processing the case. Records relating to subsequent judicial proceedings, including Jasper County court records, may also feature arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jasper County?

Yes. Under the Iowa Open Records Law, arrest records in Jasper County are generally public. This law grants everyone the right to inspect, copy, and disseminate these records, except for those deemed confidential under Iowa Code § 22.7. Record custodians must respond to requests for arrest records—made in writing, by phone, online, or in person—as soon as possible. However, certain records (e.g., juvenile arrest records, criminal identification files, and investigative reports by law enforcement) are exempt from public disclosure.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Most information contained in a Jasper County arrest record is public. Some examples of such information are:

• The inmate's first, middle, and last name
• Booking number and arresting agency's name
• Intake date and time
• Bond and bond type
• Release date and time, reason for the release, and the name of the person the offender was released to
• Charges, count, and degree of offense

Jasper County Arrest Statistics

The Uniform Crime Reporting System maintained by the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) serves as the central repository for arrest statistics. The 2023 Arrest Trend Report indicates approximately 1,061 arrests took place in Jasper County. Of these, around 514 were classified as Group A arrests and 547 as Group B arrests. In the same year, about 540 arrests involved crimes against persons, 513 involved crimes against property, and 664 involved crimes against society.

Find Jasper County Arrest Records

The Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) has nine institutions that house about 8,200 offenders and oversee 8 district correctional services departments. The arrest information of these offenders can be obtained in person at the institutions and departments during business hours. The IDOC's Offender Search is also a great tool for conducting Jasper County arrest searches. The search parameters required to use this portal are the name, birthdate, offender number, sex, offense, location, and county of commitment of the offender.

Federal law enforcement agencies also issue Jasper County arrest records to the subjects of records and members of the public. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) provides arrest records to only the subject of records online, by mail, or through approved channelers. The fee is $18, payable by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form, money order, or certified check. However, other agencies like the United States Capitol Police (USCP), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) make their arrest records available to the public online and in person.

Free Arrest Record Search in Jasper County

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office shares arrest information on its social media page, which is accessible to the public for free. Alternatively, individuals can contact the Jasper County Jail at (641) 791-7081 to request arrest record searches at no cost. However, the staff will need information about the offender or arrest to conduct a thorough search.

Members of the public can also find arrest records for free on third-party portals. The offender's name or arrest date may be required for the search. Most third-party sites offer limited search results for free. However, users can get in-depth arrest reports or access full arrest records for a fee.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests remain on a criminal record forever in Jasper County. For instance, arrest logs and investigation reports are typically kept permanently, as outlined in the Record Retention Manual for Iowa Cities. While arrests are permanently recorded, access to this information can be limited through expungement.

Expunge Jasper County Arrest Records

Expungement removes or deletes a person's arrest record from public record to restrict it from public access (Iowa Code § 907.1(3)). Only individuals with a not-guilty verdict, charge dismissals, and misdemeanor charges can have their arrest records expunged in Jasper County. Such individuals must also meet the conditions outlined in Iowa Code § 901C.2 to be eligible for expungement. Those eligible can submit the appropriate form online or by mail to the Jasper County Clerk of District Court. The Clerk does not charge a filing fee for expungement requests. Applicants can use any of the following forms to expunge their arrest records depending on the case:

• Application to Expunge Misdemeanor
• Application to Expunge Prostitution
• Application to Expunge Public Intoxication
• Application to Expunge Not-guilty or Dismissed Charges
• Application to Expunge Possession of Alcohol under the Legal Age

The applicant must also send a copy of the application form to the Jasper County Attorney. If the attorney does not object to the request and the applicant meets the necessary requirements, the judge in charge of the case will enter an order expunging the applicant's arrest records. The Clerk will notify the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) of the expungement order so they can remove the applicant's arrest record from their criminal history data files.

Jasper County Arrest Warrants

In Jasper County, a law enforcement officer can initiate a criminal proceeding by submitting a complaint to the magistrate. The magistrate will review the information in the complaint and any attached affidavit to assess whether there is probable cause to believe the individual has committed a crime. Under IA Code § 804.1, if probable cause is found, the magistrate will issue an arrest warrant for the individual's arrest. They will direct the warrant to any peace officer in Iowa. According to IA Code § 804.2, the arrest warrant will state the defendant's name or be designated as "name unknown" if the name is unknown to the magistrate. The warrant must also name or describe the offense, the issuing date, the issuing county or city, the magistrate's signature, and the name of the magistrate's office.

Do Jasper County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Jasper County, arrest warrants do not have expiration dates. Once issued, they remain active until the defendant is arrested. This means law enforcement officers can execute arrest warrants at any time, no matter how much time has passed since they were issued.