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 Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains the Iowa Crime Reporting System, which holds statewide crime statistics. According to the agency's stats, Linn County's crime rate in 2023 was 4994.8 per 100,000 people, marking a 2.26% decrease from the 2022 rate of 5110.5 per 100,000 people.

The county's top three crimes in 2023 were larceny (3,609 incidents), assault (2,504 occurrences), and drug and narcotics (1,782 offenses). Similarly, larceny was the most prevalent crime in 2022, with 3,864 occurrences. It was followed by assault, with 2,556 occurrences, and drug and narcotics, with 1,495 cases.

Altogether, Linn County recorded 11,547 offenses in 2023 and 11,907 offenses in 2022. [Annual Offense Trend Report.]

Linn County Arrest Statistics

Data extracted from the Iowa Crime Reporting System reveals 6,217 arrests in Linn County in 2023, 4,353 of which were male and 1,864 female. Regarding the gender distribution of the arrestees, 5,537 were adults, and 680 were juveniles.

Comparatively, there were 5,698 arrests in Linn in 2022, 3,905 of which involved males and 1,793 females. Of these arrests, 5,053 were adult arrests, and 645 were juvenile arrests.

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.