Marshall County Arrest Records

Iowa Code, Section 804, authorizes peace officers to make arrests under the circumstances permitted by law, including after witnessing a crime or because of an outstanding warrant. In Marshall County, this authority is exercised by the Marshalltown Police Department and the Marshalltown County Sheriff's Office, which are responsible for ensuring public safety and order within the region.

Following an arrest, the individual is initially held in a detention area, where information needed to form an arrest record is collected and processed. They may then be transferred to a nearby detention center or jail while awaiting their court date. The law enforcement division responsible for the arrest is responsible for maintaining the related arrest record. However, researchers can also find these records as part of Marshall County court records and Iowa criminal files.

Are Arrest Records Public in Marshall County?

Per Iowa's Open Records Act, Marshall County law enforcement agencies process requests for public records that they maintain. Arrest records fall under this category of public records and are generally accessible to the public under the Act. However, certain restrictions apply to certain types of arrest data. For instance, records of individuals under 18, cases requiring confidentiality, or data related to ongoing investigations are restricted. Access to confidential records is usually limited to law enforcement personnel, the judiciary, and, in some cases, the parties involved.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Marshall County provide general information about an arrest that took place locally, including:

• The identity of the detainee (name, mugshot, race, sex, age)
• The charges
• Intake details, including booking time and date
• Arresting agency
• Bail/bond information

Marshall County Arrest Statistics

The offense and arrest summary reports published by the Iowa Department of Public Safety reveal that Marshall County recorded 1,121 arrests in 2023, resulting in an arrest rate of 4,096.32 per 100,000 people.

Larceny constituted the highest number of arrests among Group A offenses, with 196 arrests for adults and 29 for juveniles. It was followed by simple assault, which accounted for 149 arrests (112 adults and 37 juveniles), and drug/narcotic violations, with a total of 143 arrests (97 adults and 46 juveniles).

Among the Group B offenses, the leading cause of arrest was driving under the influence, which totaled 128 arrests (124 adults and four juveniles. It was followed by liquor law violations, which accounted for 23 arrests (2 adults and 21 juveniles).

Find Marshall County Arrest Records

Law enforcement in Marshall County is composed of the Marshalltown Police Department and the Marshall County Sheriff's Department. These agencies are responsible for maintaining peace and order throughout the county and conducting most arrests within the jurisdiction.

Arrest records for incidents occurring in the county are created and preserved by the respective records division of the agency that conducted the arrest. These records can be requested from either agency onsite or by written request. The Sheriff's Office also offers an online inmate roster for public access.

Individuals can also obtain statewide criminal records from the Iowa Department of Safety for a fee, which will include all releasable arrest information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Marshall County

Under Iowa's Open Records Act, public records are often available for free inspection or review. As a result, one can contact the respective custodian of an arrest record to read open arrest information at no cost. However, there may be fees for requests for printed copies.

Marshall County arrest records may also be obtained at no charge from some third-party websites. The required search keywords on such sites are usually an arrestee's first and last name and place of residence. However, users are advised to crosscheck for accuracy through government repositories.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records are typically classified as permanent due to their "continuing administrative value," as evidenced in Schedule 10, Section C of the Records Retention Manual for Iowa Cities and other retention guides used by criminal justice departments. As a result, arrest records in Marshall are treated as permanent documents. However, these records may be sealed or expunged under specific circumstances, rendering them unavailable to the public.

Expunge Marshall County Arrest Records

Under Iowa Code, Chapter 901, expungement of criminal records, including records of arrests, is only permissible for:

• Not guilty verdicts or dismissals of criminal charges
• Certain misdemeanors

However, an expungement does not destroy or altogether remove records from government databases. Instead, it makes the affected record(s) unavailable to the public unless the requester possesses a court order.

Individuals seeking expungement of their arrest records in Marshall County must submit a written request to the court that handled or has jurisdiction over their cases. Applications must adhere closely to Rule 2.86 (which has the expungement forms); parties can also find these forms on the state judiciary's website under Expunge Court Record.

Petitioners must have no prior or pending criminal charges and no more than two deferred judgments. Additionally, more than eight years should have passed since the conviction (if applicable), and all court-imposed fines and fees must have been paid. Notably, expungement related to misdemeanor offenses can only be granted once in a person's lifetime.

In the case of not-guilty verdicts or dismissed criminal charges, the following conditions apply to file for expungement:

• A minimum of 180 days should have elapsed after the acquittal or case dismissal unless the court waives this requirement for good reason.
• The defendant should not have been found not guilty due to insanity or deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Marshall County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a judicial document issued by a magistrate on behalf of a county or state authorizing the arrest or detention of a specified individual.

Per Iowa Code 804.1, an arrest warrant is issued after a complaint is filed with a magistrate charging a specific person with a crime. If, based on the complaint or affidavit presented, the magistrate has reason to believe that the crime indeed occurred and the named person committed it, they will issue an arrest warrant directing the individual's arrest.

Arrest warrants are typically directed to peace officers and include the following information: the name of the accused (if known), a description of the offense, the issuance date, the county or city of issuance, and the name and signature of the issuing magistrate.

Do Marshall County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Under Iowa law, arrest warrants in Marshall County do not expire. They remain valid until their subjects are apprehended and taken to court to answer the stated charges.