Winneshiek County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Winneshiek County hold jurisdiction over the arrests of individuals within the county. Typically, they exercise this jurisdiction if a warrant has been issued against an individual or there is probable cause to believe that they committed an offence. Winneshiek police officers may determine probable cause by observing a crime in progress, recording witness testimonies, or analyzing crime scenes. After an individual is arrested, booking occurs. Here, details of arrests and preceding incidents are recorded into official documents called arrest records, which are maintained by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office.

Apprehended individuals in Winneshiek County are held in the Winneshiek County Jail before proceeding to trial in the concerned courts. Winneshiek County arrest records are highly needed during trial as they provide information that aids court proceedings and the generation of Winneshiek County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Winneshiek County?

Per the Iowa Open Records Law, arrest records are public records. Therefore, interested individuals can access and review them. However, some records may be exempt from public disclosure for various reasons. These exemption records include:

• Juvenile offenders information
• Victim medical records
• Records of cases undergoing investigations
• Sealed/expunged records

The aforementioned records are restricted from public disclosure to maintain the safety of the victims, the dignity of juveniles, and the integrity of ongoing investigations.

For accessible records, interested individuals can contact The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office via Phone: ((563) 382-4268), Fax: ((563) 382-29042), email, or in-person at:

Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office
400 Claiborne Drive,
Decorah, IA 52101

It is advisable to have some information about the arrest or the arrestee before embarking on a search, as this will aid a more effective record search.

Winneshiek County Arrest Statistics

The Iowa Uniform Crime Report is the repository for Winneshiek County arrest statistics. According to the report, law enforcement officers in the county recorded a 9.94% decrease in crimes between 2023 and 2024. Similarly, there was a significant decrease in arrest rates across the county.

FBI reports indicate that there was a total of 19,292 arrests in Winneshiek County in 2024, resulting in a 0.08% decrease in the number of arrests across the county.

Find Winneshiek County Arrest Records

In Winneshiek County, arrest records are generated and maintained by the Sheriff’s Office. Therefore, this is usually the first point of call when searching for Winneshiek arrest and inmate records. One can opt for any of these methods to obtain arrest information from the Winneshiek Sheriff’s Office:

• Contact the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office in person or via Phone: ((563) 382-4268), Fax: ((563) 382-29042), or email.
• Contact the Winneshiek County Jail via Phone: ((563) 387-4096) or in-person visits.
• Check the Sheriff’s List of Current Inmates to gain information on inmates in the county jail.

Although the Sheriff’s Office handles booking for all arrests that happen in the county, it does not accommodate all arrestees. Individuals who are arrested for state and federal offenses are held in state or federal prisons, and their details can be found using either of these tools:

• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator for federal inmates.
• The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) Offender Search portal for state inmates.

Notably, all methods require record seekers to provide information like the inmate’s name, booking number, or date of arrest to aid an effective search.

Winneshiek County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Winneshiek County arrest records highlight details of arrests such as the arrestee’s identifying information, the reasons for the arrest, the date and time of the arrest, and the location of the arrest. They are created during booking and are maintained by the Sheriff’s Office. Notably, Winneshiek arrest records do not contain details of other legal proceedings, like court hearings or penalties.

Winneshiek Criminal records, on the other hand, are official documents that contain details of all encounters an individual has had with law enforcement or judicial authorities within the county. They are comprehensive compilations of all legal records in the holder’s name, including arrest records, court records, and warrants. Therefore, they provide details of arrests, pre-trial detention, court hearings, judgments, probation terms, fines, subsequent arrests, and outstanding warrants. They are compiled and maintained by the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC), and are only disclosed to record holders or authorized individuals.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests do not have expiry dates in Winneshiek County. They are only removed from an individual’s records upon application for expungement. Expungement refers to a complete deletion of records to ensure that they are no longer publicly accessible. The eligibility criteria for record expungement in Winneshiek courts vary among offenses. Therefore, a record holder may need to contact the concerned court to inquire if they are eligible for expungement.

Notably, Winneshiek district courts may make an exception for arrests that result in not guilty verdicts or case dismissal. Per the Iowa Code Chapter 901C.2, such cases may be automatically expunged by the court 180 days after criminal prosecution.

Winneshiek County Arrest Warrants

Winneshiek County arrest warrants are legal documents issued by judicial officials of the district courts to authorize law enforcement officers to arrest an individual and hold them in custody.

Before issuing a warrant in Winneshiek County, the committing judge must determine that there is probable cause to believe that the individual is guilty. This is usually based on the petition or indictment filed by a law enforcement officer in the county. Once the indictment is reviewed and probable cause is determined, the judge approves the petition and issues an arrest warrant.

Per the Iowa Code Chapter 805.2, all valid warrants in Winneshiek County must contain the following information:

• The defendant’s name (if known) or “unknown” (if unknown)
• A description of the offense or charges that warrant the charges
• Date and location of issuance of the warrant
• The name and signature of the issuing judge or magistrate

Do Winneshiek County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants do not have specific expiry dates. Instead, they remain active until the individual is arrested, the warrant is dismissed, or recalled. Therefore, warrants remain on the holder’s database and can be discovered during routine checks like airport screenings, traffic stops, and background checks for employment.

Although Winneshiek warrants do not expire, they are subject to the Iowa Statutes of Limitations. This statute of limitations indicates periods in which prosecution must commence in the district courts. Individuals who are apprehended outside the Statute of Limitations may not be prosecuted or tried. Notably, statutes of limitations vary with the offenses.

Expunge Winneshiek County Arrest Records

Expungement refers to the deletion of arrest records from an individual’s criminal history, such that they are no longer accessible to the public. This is often effected by the county’s district courts upon request from the record holder, attorneys, or the court. Note that expunged records may be disclosed to government agencies and attorneys, who may need them for official purposes. The eligibility for the arrest records expungement varies among offenses, and one can only petition for it if they are eligible.

Winneshiek district courts may offer automatic expungement of arrest records if:

• The defendant is a juvenile.
• The defendant received deferred judgment.
• It has been 180 days since a case was dismissed and acquitted, and all court fines have been paid.

Individuals with misdemeanor charges can request expungement from the Winneshiek district courts if:

• It has been eight (8) years since the conviction.
• The person does not have any pending criminal charges.
• The person has not received two deferred judgments previously.
• All court-ordered fines have been paid.

Notably, some sex offenses and violent crimes are not eligible for expungement under the Iowa code. Also, Winneshiek arrest records can only be expunged once in a person’s lifetime.

Before applying for record expungement, offenders are advised to review their criminal history records. This will enlighten them on the specific charges to be expunged and other details of the case. Interested individuals can obtain their criminal history records from the Iowa Department of Public Safety through any of these means:

• Online using the Iowa Record Check Online.
• Mail or fax using the Criminal History Billing and Request Form.
• In-person visit to the Department at:

Oran Pape State Office Building,
215 E 7th St,
Des Moines, IA 50319

Once eligibility is confirmed and criminal history records have been reviewed, record holders can complete and submit the accurate form provided by the Iowa Judicial Branch website to the Clerk of Court in Winneshiek County. Notably, one must send a copy of the application to the county attorney’s office. After filing, a judge will review the application and grant or deny it. In some cases, a court hearing may be necessary.