Des Moines Arrest Records

In Des Moines, Iowa, arrest records are created and maintained by the police department, Polk County's Sheriff's office, and other local law enforcement or arresting agencies. They contain details of arrests, including the preceding incidents and reasons for arrest. As arrests are part of criminal procedures, arrest records are also included in Iowa criminal history records maintained by the state's Department of Public Safety and Polk County Arrest Records maintained by the state's courts.

Are Arrest Records Public in Des Moines?

Yes, arrest records are public in Des Moines. Per the Iowa public records law, highlighted in Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code, every person has the right to request, examine, and copy arrest records in Des Moines. However, some arrest records are exempt from this law to protect the safety of the record holders and ensure effective investigation. Such records include:

• Juvenile arrest records
• The victim's medical and autopsy records
• Records of ongoing investigations

To obtain Des Moines arrest records, you can contact the police department via the official website or an in-person visit to the headquarters at:

Des Moines Police Department
25 East 1st Street,
Des Moines, IA 50309

Des Moines Arrest Statistics

According to the Des Moines Police Department's annual report, law enforcement officers made 8,191 arrests in 2023. Most of the arrestees were male, accounting for 72.4% of the arrests (5,931), while females accounted for 27.5% (2,249). The gender of 11 arrestees was not listed; hence, they remain unknown.

Upon arrest, suspects and offenders are booked and detained at the Polk County Jail located at:

1985 NE 51st Pl.,
Des Moines, IA 50313

Find Des Moines Arrest Records

Interested individuals can request Des Moines arrest and inmate records by submitting a completed Public Records Request Form on the city's official website or in-person at the police headquarters. For Spanish individuals, you can submit a completed Spanish Public Records Request Form via mail to:

Des Moines Police Department
25 East 1st Street,
Des Moines, IA 50309

Alternatively, you can access current and released inmate records via Polk County's Jail and Arrest Information page. You can also use the Iowa Department of Corrections Offender Search tool to know an inmate's location, supervision status, and possible discharge date. For federal inmate records, you can use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator, which provides details of the arrest charges and the inmate's location.

Des Moines Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Record seekers use "arrest records" and "criminal records" interchangeably; however, both records contain varying information.

Arrest Records

In Des Moines, arrest records contain details of arrests, including the reasons for the arrest, the arresting agency, and the booking time. They do not include convictions, charges, or case dispositions; therefore, they do not imply guilt. Rather, they indicate that a law enforcement agency has apprehended an individual. Des Moines arrest records are generated and maintained by the arresting agency, the Des Moines police department, and the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Criminal Records

Criminal records, on the other hand, are more extensive. They contain a complete history of an individual's arrests, convictions, case dispositions, fingerprint cards, and pending warrants. This includes information from arrest records, court records, and inmate records. Des Moines criminal records are maintained by the Division of Criminal Investigation of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, and they can be requested via email, fax, online, or in person at:

Division of Criminal Investigation
Iowa Department of Public Safety
Oran Pape State Office Building,
215 E 7th Street,
Des Moines, IA 50319

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Des Moines?

Per the Record Retention Manual for Iowa Cities, Des Moines arrest records remain public indefinitely. They are only removed or deleted when a judge grants a request for expungement. Nevertheless, the state's Division of Criminal Investigation may remove an arrest from an individual's criminal history record if they do not receive a fingerprint card or disposition within four (4) years from the date of arrest.

Des Moines Arrest Warrants

Des Moines arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a judge or magistrate to order a law enforcement officer to apprehend an individual suspected of an offense. They include information like the defender's name, the offense, the issuing date, and the issuing judge or magistrate.

Before issuing warrants in Des Moines, the concerned judge or magistrate reviews complaints or affidavits submitted by law enforcement officers. These affidavits detail the reason(s) why an individual should be apprehended. If the affidavit shows clear probable cause, the judge approves the complaint and issues a warrant, which becomes active immediately.

A judicial official may issue a warrant if an individual is suspected of committing a felony or misdemeanor, missing scheduled court hearings, or violating probation terms.

Do Des Moines Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Des Moines arrest warrants do not expire. They remain valid until the individual is arrested or the judge recalls the warrant. While some offenses may have a time limit for filing criminal charges (statute of limitations), this does not invalidate the warrant. Therefore, the individual would remain wanted by the police until they are taken into custody.

Expunge Des Moines Arrest Records

The Iowa state code restricts expungement of arrest records to non-conviction records and conviction records for deferred judgments, some juvenile cases, some misdemeanors, and alcohol-related offenses. Therefore, felonies and misdemeanors like sex-related crimes are not eligible for expungement.

If an individual was arrested and all charges against them were dropped, they can petition for expungement 180 days after the acquittal, as long as all court fees have been paid. Similarly, if the judge deferred judgment and granted probation instead of a sentence, they can petition for the related record to be expunged.

A deferred judgment is a type of plea agreement where a judge postpones the formal conviction and sentencing of a defendant, typically after a guilty plea or finding of guilt. Instead, the defendant is placed on probation or enters a diversion program.

In some cases, the judge may order the expungement on their behalf. Individuals who were convicted of underage drinking, juvenile prostitution, and public intoxication can petition to have the related record expunged after two years, as long as they maintain a clean criminal record during the two years.

Individuals can petition for expungement of misdemeanors after eight (8) years of conviction. The petition would be granted if they have paid all court-ordered fees, have no pending criminal charges, and have not more than one deferred judgment on your record. It is imperative to note, however, that Iowa courts do not grant misdemeanor offenders more than one record expungement in their lifetime.

To expunge Des Moines arrest records, individuals can complete the accurate petition form on the Iowa Judicial Branch Expunge Court Record page and submit it to the concerned city court. The presiding judge will review the petition, schedule a hearing, or order the expungement.