Iowa is a straightforward open records state with two practical tools that handle most arrest record searches -- the DCI criminal history check and Iowa Courts Online. The DCI is the state's central repository and its $15 name-based search is among the most accessible statewide systems in the country. Iowa Courts Online gives free public access to court case records across the entire state court system. Together they cover most of what families, employers, and individuals need. Iowa also has a notable rule that shapes what shows up in a DCI check: arrest records more than 18 months old without a court disposition are withheld from standard background checks. This guide covers all of it.
What Makes Iowa Arrest Records Public
The Iowa Open Records Law, codified in Iowa Code Chapter 22, establishes that government records are public documents accessible to citizens. Criminal history and arrest records are covered by this framework, and Iowa Code Section 692.17 specifically addresses how the DCI maintains and provides access to arrest and conviction records.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, known as DCI, is a division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and serves as the central repository for criminal history record information. Sheriff's offices and police departments across Iowa are required by law to submit fingerprint cards to DCI for all arrests involving serious misdemeanors, felonies, and certain simple misdemeanors.
Iowa law does not require a signed release from the subject for most criminal history record checks. However, two categories of records are withheld from standard public background checks: arrest information more than 18 months old without a final court disposition, and completed deferred judgments when the request is from a non-law enforcement agency. These limitations mean the DCI result can be a filtered view of the full arrest history.
Exemptions from full public access include most juvenile records, sealed or expunged records, and records tied to active criminal investigations.
What an Iowa Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It captures the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
An Iowa criminal history record from the DCI contains biographical data including full name, date of birth, and other identifying information. It includes arrest data: the arresting agency, the date of arrest, and the nature of the charges. When courts have submitted disposition information, that data is also part of the record, reflecting how the case resolved. If the person was incarcerated, custody information from the Iowa Department of Corrections is also included.
Note that the DCI database covers only Iowa arrests -- it does not include other states' records, FBI records, or convictions in federal court. A DCI check is a state-only result.
How to Search Iowa Arrest Records
The DCI criminal history check is the primary public tool. It costs $15 per last name and does not require the subject's consent for most requests. The DCI accepts requests online, by mail, by fax, or in person. Online requests use the DCI's online portal, where both a Request Form and Billing Form are required. Results are typically processed in two to five business days. Results can be sent by email as an encrypted PDF, or by mail or fax.
The DCI office is located at Oran Pape State Office Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319. Walk-in processing hours for personal record reviews are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The DCI Criminal History Checks service line is 515-725-6066. Email: dcirecordchecks@dps.state.ia.us.
Iowa Courts Online is the free public court records portal for the Iowa Judicial Branch. It provides public access to the electronic docket across Iowa's state court system, covering charge history, case numbers, hearing dates, and final dispositions. This is the right tool for verifying what happened in court after an arrest -- particularly for older cases where DCI may not show the arrest because the 18-month rule removed it from the standard check. Iowa Courts Online is accessible through the Iowa Judicial Branch website.
County sheriff offices are the starting point for recent arrests. Iowa has 99 counties and each county sheriff maintains local booking records. Most Iowa county sheriffs publish online inmate rosters or booking logs. For anyone arrested in the past 24 to 72 hours, the county sheriff's website in the relevant county is where to look.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Iowa's 99 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Iowa DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Iowa
Iowa has 99 counties and each county sheriff manages the local detention facility. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences. For anyone taken into custody in the past day or two, the county system is where to look before turning to the state DCI database.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Iowa Department of Corrections system. The Iowa DOC has a free online offender search at doc.iowa.gov, searchable by name or offender ID. Results show the person's current facility, offenses, and projected release date.
Federal Arrests in Iowa
Federal arrests in Iowa are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. After federal sentencing, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the Iowa DOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and federal convictions are not part of the DCI database. A DCI check will not surface federal charges.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. In Iowa, they are maintained separately and the DCI criminal history includes both -- though the 18-month rule for non-disposition arrests means the full arrest history may not appear in a standard DCI check.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. For non-conviction outcomes, the arrest entry remains in DCI records unless expunged. It may also appear in Iowa Courts Online even if the DCI check does not surface it due to the 18-month rule.
Iowa also handles deferred judgments differently from most states. When a person successfully completes a deferred judgment -- a sentence deferral contingent on good behavior -- that record is not released to non-law enforcement agencies. It remains in the DCI system but does not appear on most public background checks.
Iowa Expungement Under Iowa Code Chapter 901C
Iowa's expungement statute is codified in Iowa Code Chapter 901C. Iowa expungement is available for two categories of records:
Non-conviction arrests: Under Iowa Code 901C.2, acquittals and dismissed charges are eligible for expungement. This removes the arrest record from public access.
Misdemeanor convictions: Under Iowa Code 901C.3, certain misdemeanor convictions are eligible for expungement after more than eight years have passed since the date of conviction, provided no pending criminal charges exist and the person has not previously been granted two deferred judgments. A significant number of specific offense types are excluded from eligibility, including sex offenses, DUI convictions, stalking, harassment, and domestic assault convictions.
Iowa does not provide expungement for felony convictions. This is a meaningful limitation compared to states like Indiana that allow some felony expungement under the right circumstances.
Once expungement is granted in Iowa, the record is removed from public access. InmateAid's guides on expungement cover Iowa's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expungement is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Iowa arrest records public?
Yes, under the Iowa Open Records Law at Iowa Code Chapter 22 and Iowa Code Section 692.17. Arrest records are generally public. No signed release from the subject is required for most DCI criminal history checks. However, arrest records more than 18 months old without a court disposition and completed deferred judgments are withheld from non-law enforcement requests. Juvenile records and sealed or expunged records are also exempt.
How do I search Iowa arrest records?
The DCI criminal history check at the Iowa DPS website costs $15 per last name, requires no subject consent for most requests, and can be submitted online, by mail, fax, or in person at 215 E. 7th Street, Des Moines. For court case records and dispositions, use Iowa Courts Online through the Iowa Judicial Branch website -- it is free. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For Iowa DOC state prison inmates, search at doc.iowa.gov.
What does an Iowa arrest record contain?
An Iowa DCI criminal history record includes biographical data, arrest information (arresting agency, date, charges), court disposition data when submitted, and Iowa DOC custody information. The DCI database covers Iowa arrests only -- other states' records, FBI records, and federal convictions are not included.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Iowa?
No. An arrest documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction documents a court's finding of guilt. Iowa DCI records include both arrest and disposition data, but the 18-month rule means older non-disposition arrests are filtered from standard public checks. Dismissed charges and acquittals remain in DCI records unless expunged under Iowa Code Chapter 901C.
How do I find someone in an Iowa county jail?
Check the county sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. Most Iowa county sheriffs publish online inmate rosters or booking logs. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Iowa county facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone sentenced to state prison, use the Iowa DOC offender search at doc.iowa.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Iowa?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the DCI database -- a DCI check will not surface federal charges.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Iowa?
Iowa DCI records are maintained to age 80 of the individual or death. The DCI does not provide arrest information more than 18 months old without a final court disposition in standard background checks. Records that do not qualify for expungement remain in the DCI system indefinitely, though the 18-month rule limits how some older non-disposition arrests appear in public checks.
What is the 18-month rule for Iowa arrest records?
Iowa's 18-month rule means that arrest records more than 18 months old without a final court disposition are not provided in standard DCI background checks. The arrest still exists in the DCI system and may appear in Iowa Courts Online, but it is filtered from the background check result. Once a disposition is submitted by the court, the record becomes fully reportable regardless of age.
Who qualifies for expungement in Iowa?
Iowa Code 901C.2 covers acquittals and dismissed charges -- these are generally eligible for expungement without a waiting period. Iowa Code 901C.3 covers certain misdemeanor convictions after more than eight years have passed, with no pending charges and no more than two prior deferred judgments. Excluded from misdemeanor expungement are DUI convictions, sex offenses, domestic assault, stalking, harassment, and a range of other specific offenses. Iowa does not allow felony expungement.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created at booking regardless of the case outcome. If charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest still exists in DCI records and Iowa Courts Online unless expunged under Iowa Code 901C.2. If the DCI check showed the arrest but no disposition, it may also mean the court never submitted the disposition to DCI -- cross-referencing with Iowa Courts Online can clarify what happened in court. ---
Discovery Offer - Silos 1-2
Search arrest records and find out where they are
If you're trying to locate someone who was arrested or find out where they are being held, TruthFinder searches arrest records, court records, and custody status across all 50 states.