Iowa Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Iowa criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Iowa's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Iowa sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Iowa?

There are three main ways to look up an Iowa criminal record:

• Iowa DCI Criminal History Record Check. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), part of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, maintains the statewide criminal history database. The public can request a name-based check for $15 per last name by submitting a first name, last name, and exact date of birth. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, by fax, by email, or in person at DCI's office in Des Moines (215 East 7th Street). See the DCI Criminal History Record Check page for current forms and instructions.
• Iowa Courts Online case search. The Iowa Judicial Branch provides Iowa Courts Online, a statewide electronic case index. A basic name search is available to anyone; advanced features and document access require a paid subscription or can be used at a public terminal in any county clerk of court's office at no charge.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from court, county, and statewide sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for the official DCI check or an FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)-compliant background check.

A name-and-date-of-birth search can return matches that belong to someone else. A fingerprint-based check is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person.

Are criminal records public in Iowa?

Most adult criminal records in Iowa are public. Under Iowa Code Chapter 692, the DCI's criminal history repository provides public access to conviction records, and court records are generally open under Iowa's open-records law (Iowa Code Chapter 22). The main exceptions are records that have been expunged under Iowa Code Chapter 901C (those no longer exist as a matter of law), deferred judgments that were successfully completed and expunged under Iowa Code section 907.9, and juvenile records that are confidential or sealed. Arrests that are more than 18 months old and have no final disposition on file may also be withheld without a signed release from the subject.

Where can I look up arrest records in Iowa?

Arrest records are maintained by the agency that made the arrest, such as a city police department or a county sheriff. The DCI's criminal history database includes arrest data reported by Iowa criminal justice agencies, along with dispositions from the Iowa Judicial Branch. An arrest record documents that someone was taken into custody but is not proof of guilt or conviction. Remember that arrests more than 18 months old that lack a final recorded disposition may not be released to the public without a signed authorization from the subject.

How do I find court records in Iowa?

Iowa has a statewide electronic case search system. Iowa Courts Online, operated by the Iowa Judicial Branch, lets you search case records from district courts across all 99 counties. A basic name search is free and accessible to anyone; access to case schedules, judgment indexes, lien indexes, and document links requires a paid subscription or use of a free public access terminal at any county courthouse clerk of court office. To request a specific case file or certified copy, contact the clerk of the district court in the county where the case was filed.

How do I look up warrants in Iowa?

Warrants in Iowa are issued by the courts, but the best place to check for an outstanding warrant is the clerk of the district court or the county sheriff in the county where the charges would be filed. Some Iowa county sheriffs post warrant information on their websites. You can also search for case activity through Iowa Courts Online, which may show warrant-related entries in open cases. There is no single statewide public warrant search, so for a definitive answer, contact the relevant county court or law enforcement agency directly.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Iowa?

It depends on the type of check and whether the arrest led to a conviction. For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. Under the FCRA, a consumer reporting agency generally cannot report an arrest that did not lead to a conviction if that arrest is more than seven years old. Iowa does not have a separate state law that imposes stricter limits than federal law, so Iowa largely follows the federal FCRA rules. Convictions can generally be reported indefinitely under federal law, subject to any relief obtained through expungement or a deferred-judgment dismissal.

How far back does a background check go in Iowa?

Iowa does not have its own background-check reporting time limits beyond the federal FCRA rules. Under the FCRA, consumer reporting agencies generally follow these guidelines:

• Non-conviction information (arrests that did not lead to a conviction, dismissed charges) generally cannot be reported after seven years.
• Criminal convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law, with no automatic cutoff date.
• The FCRA's seven-year limit on non-conviction records does not apply to jobs paying $75,000 or more per year.

Iowa has no "ban the box" law at the state level restricting when employers may ask about criminal history, though some Iowa municipalities have their own rules. Employers must still comply with EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) guidance on using criminal records fairly in hiring decisions.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Iowa?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or community corrections. Use the Iowa Department of Corrections' Iowa Offender Search at doc-search.iowa.gov. You can search by name, offender number, sex, offense type, or county of commitment. Offender records are public information under Iowa Code section 904.601(1) and include location, conviction details, and projected release information.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are usually held in a county jail. Check that county sheriff's website for an online inmate roster or contact the jail directly.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than the Iowa DOC system.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Iowa?

Parole in Iowa is overseen by the Iowa Board of Parole. The Board conducts hearings and reviews at least annually for eligible inmates, and parole hearings are open to the public. An offender's supervision status - including parole information, reporting office, and Board decisions - is public information and may appear in the Iowa DOC's offender search at doc-search.iowa.gov. Probation is supervised locally by the Iowa Department of Corrections' community corrections districts and through the sentencing court, so the court's case records are a useful starting point. Probation allows a person to serve a sentence in the community under court-set conditions rather than being incarcerated.

What are the felony classes in Iowa?

Iowa divides felonies into four classes, from most to least severe, with maximum sentences set by Iowa Code section 902.9:

• Class A felony: Life in prison without the possibility of parole unless the governor commutes the sentence. Examples include first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
• Class B felony: Up to 25 years in prison. Examples include robbery in the first degree and certain sex offenses.
• Class C felony: Up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $10,000. Examples include burglary in the first degree and drug trafficking.
• Class D felony: Up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $750 to $7,500. Examples include third-offense OWI (operating while intoxicated) and theft in the second degree.

These are maximum ranges; actual sentences depend on the specific offense, prior record, and other factors. An habitual offender convicted of a Class C or D felony faces a maximum of 15 years.

What are the misdemeanor classes in Iowa?

Iowa misdemeanors are divided into three classes under Iowa Code section 903.1, in decreasing order of severity:

• Aggravated misdemeanor: Up to 2 years in prison and a fine of $625 to $6,250. Examples include second-offense OWI and operating without a license causing bodily injury.
• Serious misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and a fine of $315 to $1,875. Examples include first-offense OWI and simple assault causing bodily injury.
• Simple misdemeanor: Up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $65 to $625. Examples include petty theft, simple assault, and trespassing.

Are traffic violations crimes in Iowa?

Most routine traffic violations in Iowa are simple misdemeanors or scheduled violations (fines only), which carry no jail time and typically have little effect on employment background checks. More serious driving offenses are charged at higher levels: a first-offense OWI (Iowa's term for DUI) is a serious misdemeanor, a second offense is an aggravated misdemeanor, and a third offense becomes a Class D felony under Iowa Code section 321J.2. A felony OWI can result in up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $9,375, plus a six-year license revocation.

Is the Iowa sex offender registry public?

Yes. Iowa maintains a public sex offender registry under Iowa Code Chapter 692A, and you can search it for free at the Iowa Sex Offender Registry (iowasexoffender.gov), operated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The registry lets you search by name or location and shows each registrant's photo, address, identifying information, offenses, and tier level. There are currently over 7,100 active registrants. Iowa uses three tiers: Tier I offenders register annually for a minimum of 10 years, Tier II offenders register every six months, and Tier III offenders register every three months. Sexually violent predators must register for life.

Can someone be removed from the Iowa sex offender registry?

In limited circumstances, yes. Under Iowa Code section 692A.128, eligible registrants may petition for a modification to reduce their tier level or end their registration requirement. For registrations that started before July 1, 2022, the registration must have been in place at least two years before filing for a Tier I offender, or five years before filing for a Tier II or Tier III offender. The petition process goes through the district court, and the court weighs risk factors and offense history. Sexually violent predators and those with the most serious offenses generally remain on the registry for life. Because eligibility is fact-specific, an attorney should review the particular situation.

How do I clear or expunge my record in Iowa?

Iowa offers several paths to clear a criminal record, depending on the type of case:

• Dismissed charges and acquittals (Iowa Code § 901C.2). If all charges were dismissed or you were found not guilty, the record can generally be expunged 180 days after the final disposition, provided all court costs are paid. An expunged dismissal "no longer exists as a matter of law."
• Deferred judgment (Iowa Code § 907.9). If you successfully completed probation under a deferred judgment, the conviction is expunged. Deferred judgments completed after July 1, 2013 are expunged automatically; earlier ones may require an application.
• Misdemeanor conviction (Iowa Code § 901C.3). You may expunge one misdemeanor conviction in your lifetime if: at least eight years have passed since the conviction, there are no pending criminal charges, you have not previously received two deferred judgments, all court costs and fines are paid, and the offense is not one of roughly 25 excluded categories (which include sex offenses, assault, harassment, and stalking).
• Felony convictions: Iowa does not provide for expungement of felony convictions. A governor's pardon can restore certain rights but does not expunge the record.

Iowa Legal Aid's guide at iowalegalaid.org explains eligibility in plain language and is a helpful starting point before consulting an attorney.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Iowa?

You are not legally required to hire a lawyer to apply for an expungement in Iowa, and the courts and Iowa Legal Aid publish self-help materials. That said, the eligibility rules have multiple exceptions, and a procedural mistake can prevent you from clearing a record you are otherwise entitled to clear. Many people benefit from consulting an attorney or a free legal-aid clinic, especially for older cases or situations where eligibility is unclear.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Iowa?

An Iowa felony conviction stays on your record permanently. Iowa does not provide a path to expunge a felony conviction, and there is no automatic removal after a set number of years. The FCRA seven-year rule described above limits what a background-check company may report for certain non-conviction items, but it does not erase the underlying record. A governor's pardon (executive clemency) can restore some civil rights, such as the right to vote and hold public office, but it does not remove the record from public view.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Iowa?

Juvenile court records in Iowa are generally confidential. Under Iowa Code section 232.147, juvenile court records are not public records except in limited circumstances, such as cases involving forcible felonies. Nonforcible felony and misdemeanor juvenile adjudications that occurred after July 1, 2016 are confidential by operation of law. An adult juvenile court record can be sealed under Iowa Code section 232.150 once two years have elapsed since final discharge or the last official action, and the person has not been subsequently convicted of a felony or aggravated or serious misdemeanor. After sealing, the record "shall no longer be deemed to exist as a matter of law."

Polk County criminal records

Polk County, home to Des Moines (Iowa's capital and largest city), is the most populous county in Iowa with an estimated 516,000 residents as of 2025. Most Polk County criminal cases are filed in the Iowa District Court for Polk County, part of the Iowa Fifth Judicial District. Case information for Polk County is searchable through Iowa Courts Online at iowacourts.state.ia.us, which covers district courts statewide. For copies of specific case files, contact the Polk County Clerk of Court at the Criminal Courts Building (110 6th Avenue, Des Moines) or the Polk County Courthouse. The Polk County Sheriff's Office also maintains an online jail inmate lookup for people currently held in county custody.

Official Iowa criminal record sources

• Iowa DCI Criminal History Record Check - statewide criminal history requests; $15 per last name, name and date of birth required.
• Iowa Courts Online - statewide electronic case index for all 99 Iowa district courts; free basic name search, advanced access requires subscription or courthouse terminal.
• Iowa DOC Offender Search - Iowa Department of Corrections public database to find people in state prison or community corrections, including parole information.
• Iowa Sex Offender Registry - Iowa Department of Public Safety's free public registry; search by name or location.
• Iowa Board of Parole - information on parole hearings, decisions, and victim services; parole hearings are open to the public.
• Iowa Legal Aid: Expungement Guide - plain-language guide to Iowa record-clearing eligibility under Iowa Code Chapter 901C.
• Iowa Code Chapter 692A (Sex Offender Registry) - the registration statute, including duration and tier requirements.
• Iowa Code Chapter 901C (Expungement) - the misdemeanor expungement statute and dismissal expungement rules.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Iowa public records, not legal advice; for advice about your specific situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.