Linn County Arrest Records

Per Iowa Code, Chapter 804, an arrest occurs when a person is taken into custody for a crime. Depending on the circumstances, the arrest can occur with or without a warrant.

Following an arrest, the suspect is transported to the county jail for processing. This involves recording various details such as their full name, date of birth, age, the alleged crime, physical description, fingerprints, and mugshot. These details form the Linn County arrest records, which the arresting department preserves. Subsequently, the suspect may appear before a judge who determines whether the case should proceed or be dismissed in the absence of sufficient evidence to support the arrest.

If a case progresses to court, the arraignment and other case events are documented in the Linn County court records, and when combined with the arrest records, these form the county's criminal history records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Linn County?

Yes. Linn County arrest records are public records under Iowa's Open Records Law, indexed as Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code. This law grants the public the authority to inspect or obtain public records, regardless of their form or characteristics.

However, not all arrest records are accessible to the public. Information in Linn County arrest records that may be withheld from public access includes:

• Investigation reports
• Sensitive information that would infringe on an individual's right to privacy if publicly disclosed
• Law enforcement criminal identification files
• Identifiable descriptions in records that, if released, would jeopardize an individual's safety
• Juvenile arrest records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Details that may be found in a Linn public arrest record include:

• Arrestee's full name and age
• Arrest date and time
• Arresting agency
• Charges
• Court information, including docket number
• Release conditions, including bail amount

Linn County Crime Rate

The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting database recorded over 4,690 crime incidents for Linn County in 2024. This includes 490 violent crimes and 4,203 property crimes. Over 72% (3,396) of all crimes recorded within Linn County in 2024 were larcenies. There were also high numbers for burglary (465), aggravated assault (388), and motor vehicle theft.

Furthermore, the Linn County Attorney's Office filed charges for 890 violent crimes and 3,002 indictable misdemeanors within the county in 2024. This shows a decrease in violent crime prosecutions from the 969 cases recorded in the previous year. The figure also indicates a decline from the 2,824 indictable misdemeanor cases in 2023. 

The tables outline Linn County's 2024 statistics for violent crimes, property crimes, and the various cases prosecuted by the Linn County Attorney's Office.

Violent Crimes

Property Crimes

Linn County Felony and Misdemeanor Prosecutions

Based on a Population Estimate of 231,762

Linn County Arrest Statistics

In 2024, law enforcement agencies in Linn County arrested 4,318 males and 1,819 females for over 6,100 incidents. This includes 932 arrests for larcenies, 921 for simple assault, and 842 for drug-related offenses. Additionally, 486 individuals were arrested for DUI, 228 for aggravated assault, 125 for liquor law violations, and 124 for vandalism.

Linn County Arrest Rate for 2024

Find Linn County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Linn County can be obtained from the Sheriff's office or the arresting police department at the local level.

The Sheriff is the primary law enforcement body in Linn County's unincorporated areas. The office also provides contractual law enforcement services in certain towns. Individuals can access the Sheriff's arrest records online, by mail, or in person. For example, online access is available through the Inmate Search portal on the Sheriff's Office website, which provides basic information about detainees in the county jail. Arrest inquiries can also be made using the following contact details:

Mailing Address
Office of the Sheriff
P.O. Box 669
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406

Physical Address
310 2nd Avenue South West
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone: (319) 892-6100
Fax: (319) 892-6276
Email: Sheriff@LinnCountyIowa.gov

Where an arrest was made in an incorporated city, the interested person may query the municipal police agency responsible for the arrest. However, suppose the information relates to a person arrested in Linn but sent to state or federal prison. In that case, the Iowa Offender Search or Federal Inmate Search can be used to find available information about them.

Free Arrest Record Search in Linn County

One free option to access a Linn County arrest record is to visit the local Sheriff's Office Inmate Search website to review arrest information about individuals in custody. Another way is to request records from the arresting agency by mail or in person. Under Iowa's Open Records Law, agencies may not charge a fee unless it requires the reproduction of a record.

Another option is to explore third-party websites that provide free access to arrest records. To acquire arrest information on a third-party website, one usually needs an arrestee's name or booking number.

Get Linn County Criminal Records

A Linn criminal record comprises an individual's arrests and court dispositions, often called their RAP sheet or criminal history record. These records are accessible at the state and federal levels, and individuals may also request certain criminal records from the court system.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) maintains and disseminates criminal records within the state. Individuals can utilize the division's online, fax, mail, or on-site request methods to request a statewide criminal record check, which includes the Linn criminal records. A $15 fee per last name applies for such orders.

Applicants must complete and submit the Criminal History Request and Billing Form for online requests. The form should include a credit/debit card or DCI account number, fax number, and physical or email address. Once all necessary information is provided, the applicant can submit the form online, with processing typically taking one to three days.

Alternatively, individuals can fill out a blank Criminal History Request and Billing Form and fax or mail it to the DCI. The processing time for these requests is one to three working days, depending on the unit's workload at the time of the request.

Personal visits can also be paid to the DCI for those preferring a hands-on approach. Same-day results are typically available when requesting one's record, but this provision does not extend to requests made on behalf of others. In-person requesters must provide a valid government-issued identification card. The office can be found at:

Oran Pape State Office Building
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 725-6066
Email: Dcirecordchecks@dps.state.ia.us

Individuals can also obtain criminal records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation online, by mail, or in person. This check is considered a national criminal background check, and it covers criminal information submitted by criminal justice agencies to the FBI and those known to the FBI. Each check costs $18 and can only be requested by the subject of the record.

Linn County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Linn County arrest records are components of the Linn County criminal records, but it is essential to distinguish between the two.

The presence of a Linn arrest record does not indicate guilt on the part of the individual in question. The record only details the incident of an arrest for a public offense within Linn County and serves to initiate criminal proceedings.

Meanwhile, a criminal record provides a more comprehensive account of a person's criminal past, including arrests, court proceedings, and trial outcomes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Linn County are typically permanent fixtures in a person's criminal history. Consequently, they may be retained for an individual's lifetime, depending on the seriousness of the underlying crime and the retention policies utilized by criminal justice agencies.

Nevertheless, certain individuals can pursue an expungement, rendering the record inaccessible to the public.

Expunge Linn County Arrest Records

To expunge an arrest record, one must qualify for expungement under Iowa's laws. According to the Iowa Code § 901C.1, an expungement does not physically destroy a record; it only removes it from public access.

The following records can be generally be expunged in Linn County:

• Cases in which the charges were dismissed or the defendant was acquitted. However, at least 180 days must have passed from the dismissal or acquittal before the petition can be filed, and the dismissal must not have been due to a mental condition, nor should the defendant have been found incompetent to stand trial.

All court costs, fees, and other financial obligations imposed by the court or assessed by the district court clerk must also have been duly paid.

• Cases where the judgment was deferred (Iowa Code § 907.9).
• Certain misdemeanor convictions, per Iowa Code § 901C.3.

Individuals can apply for expungement in Linn as follows:

• Obtain statewide criminal history to determine eligibility and obtain information necessary to file an expungement petition in the Linn County District Court.
• Complete and submit the appropriate expungement application form, i.e., the form corresponding to the type of record being expunged. For example, under Iowa Code § 901C.3, one must fill out the Application to Expunge Misdemeanor Court Records Form. This type of expungement can only be requested for eight years after the conviction of the offense.
• Fulfill any other court requirements and pay the necessary fees.

Linn County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Linn County is a legal document authorizing law enforcement officers to apprehend the subject named in the warrant. Per Iowa Code § 804.1, a judge or magistrate can release an arrest warrant when probable cause exists to assume that an individual has committed a crime. A judicial authority may also issue an arrest warrant if an individual fails to respond to a citation or if the judge determines that the summoned individual does not intend to respond.

After an arrest warrant is approved, it becomes the responsibility of the assigned officer/agency to execute it.

In general, a Linn County arrest warrant includes the following information:

• The name of the defendant or an adequate description if the name is not known
• The type and description of the offense committed
• The date of the warrant's issuance
• The county of issuance
• The name of the issuing judge or magistrate
• The signature of the judge or magistrate who issued the warrant

Linn County Arrest Warrant Search

Generally, there are two locations where a researcher may obtain information about arrest warrants in Linn County: the Sheriff's Office and the local district court. For example, parties can access the Iowa Electronic Docket Record Search to determine if the court issued an arrest warrant, or they may contact the Sheriff's Office at (541) 967-3950.

When considering access options, researchers have the autonomy to determine the most suitable choice for their warrant search needs. However, visiting a local address may trigger an arrest attempt. As such, one may consider hiring a legal or bail bonds service.

Do Linn County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants do not have an expiration date and remain valid until they are executed. Consequently, anyone with an active warrant can be apprehended at any time or place.