Pottawattamie County Arrest Records

In Pottawattamie County, an arrest occurs when a peace officer takes an individual into custody, as directed by law. Iowa Criminal Rules and Procedure authorize law enforcement officers to apprehend and detain persons who have warrants out for their arrest or arrest persons without warrant if:

• The officer witnesses a public offense or an attempt to commit a crime
• The officer receives information about an active warrant being issued for the person’s arrest
• The officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an individual has committed a public offense
• In cases of domestic abuse, if the officer has reason to believe that a person is a perpetrator
• The person to be arrested is a material witness, and arrest is required in line with state laws

Private persons may also carry out an arrest for public offenses committed or attempted in their presence or if they have reasonable grounds to believe that someone committed a felony.

Persons arrested by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office or local police departments are usually booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail to await arraignment or trial. This is why arrest information may be contained within inmate or booking records, even if the arresting body is responsible for creating and maintaining arrest records. Arrest details may also be available in Pottawattamie County court records when the case gets to court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pottawattamie County?

Yes, Iowa Public Records Law classifies arrest and criminal history data as public. In line with this law, individuals may access Pottawattamie County arrest records upon proper request to the lawful record custodian. However, the Public Records Law also grants custodians the right to restrict access to documents or information deemed confidential under Iowa Code § 22.7 or other statute, such as:

• Certain criminal identification files
• Confidential sex offender registry records
• Crisis intervention reports
• Information on the procedures of correctional institution
• Intelligent assessments or data
• Investigative records deemed privileged or confidential by law
• Most juvenile records
• Personal information in personnel records
• Sealed or expunged criminal data
• Security procedures of government agencies
• Social security numbers
• Undercover law enforcement records

Nevertheless, if a record is only partially exempt, the custodian shall remove the restricted information from copies provided to the public unless a specific requester is deemed eligible - by law or court order - to access the record.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public information on arrests carried out by peace officers in Pottawattamie County generally identifies the arrested person and summarizes the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Contained information usually includes:

• Arrestee’s name, known alias, gender, and race
• Arrestee’s date of birth or age
• Mugshot
• Physical description like height, weight, and body markings
• Offense or initial charge
• Arrest date, time, and location
• Arrest description like warrant number and manner of arrest (possession, resistance, use of force, etc.)
• Arresting agency/officer’s details
• Housing facility and booking details

Pottawattamie County Crime Rate

According to the summary report on Iowa’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system, Pottawattamie County had 5,522 reported offenses in 2023, with a 37.58% (2,095) clearance rate. In this year, there were 3,504 crimes against property, 1,189 crimes against persons, and 829 crimes against society. The most recurring offenses were larceny (1,484), drug/narcotics violations (592), simple assault (562), vandalism (537), and burglary (437). Other popular crimes in the county included motor vehicle theft, intimidation, fraud, and aggravated assault.

In comparison to the 2022 statistics, total offenses increased by 4.98% from the 5,260 offenses recorded in 2022. Only crimes against society recorded a slight decrease (0.6%) in reported incidents, whereas crimes against property and society saw a 6.25% and 5.41% increase, respectively. However, the most popular crimes remained the same in 2022 and 2023.

Pottawattamie County Arrest Statistics

The Iowa UCR arrest summary report showed that Pottawattamie County recorded 2,591 total arrests in 2023. These arrests comprised 2,297 adult arrests and 294 juvenile arrests. Offenses that recorded the most arrests that year include drug/narcotic violations (480), DUIs (394), simple assault (331), larceny (175), stolen property (121), and aggravated assault (117).

In comparison, there was a similar trend in the popular arrests reported in 2022. However, the number of arrests had reduced by 8.25% from the 2,824 total arrests recorded in 2022.

Find Pottawattamie County Arrest Records

Interested persons may request Pottawattamie County arrest records from the arresting body or access arrest information by conducting online inmate searches. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and Iowa Department of Corrections provide tools that persons may use to find inmates - by name, inmate number, or other specific details - and obtain related arrest, offense, and booking information. However, these tools only provide information on inmates formerly or currently incarcerated in correctional facilities within their respective jurisdictions.

Free Arrest Record Search in Pottawattamie County

To find persons currently held in the Pottawattamie County Jail, interested persons may view the inmate roster/list provided by the Sheriff’s Office for free. The roster provides each inmate's profile, which includes a mugshot and personal, booking, and offense details.

Alternatively, interested persons may contact the Sheriff’s Office or the specific arresting agency to request a free, in-person inspection. Requesters that require copies of Pottawattamie County arrest records usually have to pay copy fees. Additional free resources may exist in the form of third-party sites. These sites often provide free access to arrest or inmate records in their extensive database.

Get Pottawattamie County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Pottawattamie County are official summaries of criminal activities (arrests, prosecution, and conviction) created or gathered by criminal justice agencies in the county. While individual arrest, incarceration, and court disposition information may be available at different agencies, Pottawattamie County criminal records provide information on an individual’s criminal history within the county.

The Records Division of Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office provides criminal background checks. However, this check only covers local criminal history, excluding traffic or juvenile records. Interested persons should visit the office to fill out requests, provide valid photo identification, and pay applicable fees. Make requests at:

Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office
1400 Big Lake Road
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: (712) 328-5737

Alternatively, individuals may conduct statewide background checks on themselves or others through the Division of Criminal Investigation of Iowa’s Department of Public Safety for $15. Requesters should submit completed requests and billing forms online or in person at 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa. Otherwise, download and send the forms along with fees via mail or fax to:

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Support Operations Bureau
Dissemination Unit
215 E 7th Street,
Des Moines, IA 50319
Fax: (515) 725-6080
Email: dcirecordchecks@dps.state.ia.us

Pottawattamie County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records are both forms of law enforcement records that are related to each other. For instance, criminal history records are built from the arrest data collected from criminal justice agencies. This means that these agencies can only add disposition information if the fingerprint-based arrest file exists.

However, while Pottawattamie arrest records are usually limited to an arrest, offense, and initial charges, criminal records take it further by providing case disposition or conviction details. Therefore, arrest records alone may show that the subject was once suspected of a crime but cannot be used to prove a guilty verdict.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest shall remain on one’s record forever and shall be public unless originally deemed confidential under juvenile law or expunged in line with state laws. However, as of August 2024, there is no automatic expungement of arrest or criminal history record. The record subject, prosecution, or court itself must file for expungement first, meet eligibility criteria, and satisfy legal conditions.

Expunge Pottawattamie County Arrest Records

An expungement in Pottawattamie County means that records concerning the expunged case are removed from public access. However, not all arrest records or cases qualify for expungement. Expungement is only applicable to the following:

• Juvenile cases subject to sealing under Iowa Code § 232.149 and 232.150
• Deferred adjudication as per Iowa Code § 907.3 or 907.9
• Non-conviction arrests (dismissed or acquitted) in line with Iowa Code § 901C (180 days waiting period)
• Non-violent or non-sexual misdemeanor convictions (8 years waiting period)
• Underage prostitution, public intoxication, or possession of alcohol convictions

Eligible persons should submit an expungement petition (application forms) providing needed case information along with a recent copy of DCI criminal history records at the court where the case was filed or convicted. Applicants must also provide a copy of the petition to the County Attorney.

Persons are only eligible for one expungement in a lifetime. Additionally, after the court gives an expungement order, the records are not destroyed but deemed confidential.

Pottawattamie County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Pottawattamie County are legal documents issued by magistrates or judges to authorize the arrest and detention of specified persons. Before issuing a warrant, the magistrate or judge receives a complaint and determines from the complaint or filed affidavit that there is probable cause that the person to be arrested committed a crime. The magistrate can also issue a warrant for material witnesses or persons who failed to appear in court after receiving a citation.

In line with state laws, Pottawattamie County arrest warrants shall be directed to state peace officers and contain the following details:

• Suspect/defendant’s name (if known) or person’s description with a “name unknown” designation
• Offense details
• Issuing date and location
• Magistrate/judge’s name and signature
• Order for bail endorsement (if bailable)

Peace agents may also provide other warrant details like the defendant’s age, race, gender, and physical description to the public.

Pottawattamie County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals can view active warrants in Pottawattamie County on the warrant lists provided by the Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluffs Police Department, or other law enforcement agencies in the county or state. Viewers should note that the list is provided for public awareness, and only authorized peace officers can carry out arrests. Instead, persons should contact local law enforcement agencies with information on wanted persons.

Do Pottawattamie County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants shall remain active indefinitely unless executed/served by a peace officer or recalled/quashed by the court. Therefore, individuals with active warrants can be arrested at any time upon encountering a peace officer, even after a routine traffic stop.