Washington County Arrest Records

People who become criminal suspects or offenders in Washington County, Iowa, may be subject to an arrest per Chapter 804 of the Iowa Code. Under the law, police agents can make arrests with a court-issued warrant or without one if an offense occurs in their presence or an investigation uncovers incriminating evidence. Private citizens are also authorized to make arrests when a public offense is attempted or committed in their presence or if they have reasonable suspicion of a felony (Iowa Code § 804.9).

Either way, anyone who enters police custody in Washington due to an arrest is taken to the closest police station to be booked for the offense. During booking, the arresting department will create an arrest record, and the party may be admitted into the county jail (for adults) or held at a juvenile detention or placement facility until the case is finalized. Sometimes, bail may be granted for an offense, allowing the accused to attend court proceedings without being held in secure custody.

It is important to note that arrest records merely indicate that a person was detained by law enforcement for a suspected crime and do not establish their guilt. To determine the events after an arrest, one may peruse related public records. An example is the Washington County court records, which reveal the proceedings and outcomes of criminal cases.

Are Arrest Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. Arrests are not restricted records in Washington County. Under Iowa Code, Chapter 22 (the state's Public Records Act), documents, files, or information maintained by police agencies regarding their public functions are accessible to any member of the public. This means anyone can inspect or copy a Washington arrest record unless the record is exempt by law or court order. The following are considered exempt in Washington County:

• Documents regarding an ongoing investigation
• A confidential informant or source's identifying data
• Results of a psychological examination
• Medical and similar information
• Certain victim information, including details that identify child victims

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Washington County police agencies are directed under the Iowa Public Records Act to release nonconfidential arrest data upon a member of the public's request. This information includes the full name of the person arrested, as well as their age, gender, last known residence, and physical description. Agencies also disseminate the arrest's time, date, and location; the arresting department/officer; the arrestee's charge; booking information; and any bond/bail details.

Washington County Arrest Statistics

Washington County arrest statistics are publicly available through the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS runs the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which collects, compiles, and analyzes crime and arrest statistics from various state and local law enforcement bodies.

In Washington County, Iowa, police agencies made 403 arrests between January and December 2024. Of these arrests, 293 involved male suspects and 110 involved female suspects. Adults accounted for most arrests, with 370 apprehended individuals, and the remaining 33 classified as juvenile arrests. The county's three most common arrest categories were driving under the influence (77 arrests), simple assault (54 arrests), and drug/narcotic violations (47 arrests).

Find Washington County Arrest Records

To find an arrest record in Washington County, an interested person can submit a public records request to the agency responsible for the arrest, which is generally either the Washington County Sheriff's Office or the Washington Police Department. Requests can be submitted in person during business hours or through any other means provided by such agencies (like via telephone). Requesters are responsible for any fees originating from their requests, and it should be noted that law enforcement can only release nonconfidential data to the general public.

Still, federal and state law enforcement agencies can arrest people in Washington County. Where a state agency arrest occurs, individuals may contact the Sheriff's Office for related information. The Sheriff manages the local jail, where such offenders may be kept in custody until they conclude their court proceedings. Below are the addresses of the Sheriff's Office and the county jail.

Washington County Sheriff's Office
2181 Lexington Boulevard
P.O. Box 6
Washington, IA 52353
Phone: (319) 653-2107
Alternate Phone: (319) 864-1005
Fax: (319) 863-1002

Washington County Jail
2185 Lexington Boulevard
P.O. Box 6
Washington, IA 52353
Phone: (319) 653-5902

Nonetheless, parties may contact the arresting state department for information. It is important to note that while the Iowa Department of Corrections provides the Offender Search tool, this system does not contain local arrest details. It is only relevant when looking up information about those convicted of a serious offense and serving time in a state penitentiary.

Where a person was taken into federal custody, access to their current location may be sought through the Federal Inmate Locator or by contacting the Federal Bureau of Prisons directly. One can also reach out to the federal arresting department via a Freedom of Information Act request.

Free Arrest Record Search in Washington County

No fees may be assessed to view or inspect a public arrest record through a Washington County law enforcement agency, as agencies generally only charge for copying or certifying documents. A free arrest record search can also be conducted on a third-party aggregator website. Such sites provide a variety of U.S. public records to interested parties and are often searchable by a person's name or a case number. However, because of potential data accuracy concerns, users are encouraged to cross-reference information with government sources for legal or official use.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests are often permanent components of a person's criminal history in Iowa, irrespective of where the arrest occurred. While it is true that criminal justice agencies maintain record retention schedules—which direct when and how they permanently dispose of records in their custody—these schedules do not necessarily affect the existence or accessibility of an arrest record.

Since arrest information is shared across agencies (even with third parties), and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI)—the state's central criminal record repository—can retain records for 80 years or longer, the most reliable way to have an arrest removed from one's record is an expungement.

Expunge Washington County Arrest Records

A person must qualify under the Iowa statutes to expunge arrest information in Washington County. Per Iowa Code § 907.1, an expungement in Washington does not physically destroy or erase a record, but only segregates (shields) it from public view. Thus, the record will still be available for criminal justice or other legitimate purposes, but no unauthorized party will have access.

People eligible to have their arrest and court records expunged in Washington are generally those who received not-guilty verdicts or charge dismissals (§ 901C.2), those who were convicted of an eligible misdemeanor (§ 901C.3), or those who received a deferred judgment (§ 907.9). The relevant application/petition form is available under the "Expunge Court Record" section of the Iowa Judiciary's Forms page.

The form, together with the necessary filing fees/costs and documentation (like the defendant's criminal history), should be submitted to the Washington County District Court. The applicant may also need to deliver a copy of their petition to the county attorney. If the petition for expungement is approved by the court (which may hold a hearing to decide its merits), the affected record will be removed from public access.

Washington County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal commands for peace officers to arrest a person accused of a criminal offense or who has violated a court order. These written orders are only issued after a probable cause determination, in which a magistrate receives a law enforcement complaint and determines whether reasonable grounds exist to arrest the accused (Iowa Code § 804.1). If such grounds are present, the court will issue the warrant.

The following are the contents of a Washington County arrest warrant per Iowa Code § 804.2:

• The name of the accused, if known
• The name or general description of the offense
• The date when issued
• The county or city where issued
• The name of office and signature of the committing magistrate

Do Washington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Whether issued for a felony, misdemeanor, or other offense, arrest warrants in Washington County do not expire. These writs remain active until the accused is arrested or voluntarily surrenders. Notwithstanding, certain circumstances may prompt a court to withdraw or quash an arrest warrant, such as when the warrant can no longer be executed because the accused is found to be deceased or the underlying charges are dismissed.