1. Police Arrests
  2. Iowa

Search Iowa Arrest Records

Iowa’s Department of Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) collects and maintains all criminal records and has made them available to the public. You can quickly and efficiently perform a free search on policearrest.com and view a report of someone’s criminal history.

Iowa Arrest Records and Warrants

Iowa makes available to the public those arrest records and warrants that are permissible by Chapter 692.2 of the Code of Iowa. Arrest records and warrants without resolution are kept on file for a period of 18 months and then removed. All other arrests and warrants will stay online permanently.

Performing a Background Check

The most common reason for doing a background check is for employment. However, there are many other reasons you might want to check in someone’s past and be sure of who you are dealing with. Hiring a nanny to watch the children, signing a new tenant or checking out a new neighbor are some other great reasons for needing a background check. Running a background check on someone is quick and simple using a search portal like this one.

Criminal Records Search in Iowa

Although just name will suffice, when searching for someone’s criminal record it’s good to have their date of birth and gender as well. Also helpful is social security number and middle name or any aliases. Iowa’s criminal records are available to the public as specified in their code of law. Some records that have not been resolved will not show up, but the rest will be viewable.

Prison and Inmate Records

Iowa’s Department of Corrections manages all jail and prison inmate data and keeps it online for public access. You can quickly find out if someone is in jail or prison, where they are being held and when they will be released or paroled. You can also view their offender number, birth date, offense, when they incarcerated, their current status and other information.

Crime Rate

Total reported incidents in Iowa in 2016 increased by 0.47% compared to 2015 and is higher than national average of 3,311.69 per 100,000 people. Violent crimes increased from 7,276 to 7,399 while non-violent crime increased by 0.3% from 54,265 to 54,429.

5 Crimes In Iowa 2016 with most arrests

Crime Arrests
Larceny-theft 38,975
Burglary 11,449
Aggravated assault 5,285
Motor vehicle theft 4,005
Robbery 1,096

Counties in Iowa with the Highest Crime Rate

Among the 76 counties the most dangerous is the Polk county with 91 violent crimes that’s 1.23% of the total of 7,399. Fremont County has the highest number of records per 100,000 residents that is below the state average of 397 and lower than national average of 469.

County Arrests
Polk 91
Johnson 91
Pottawattamie 65
Scott 58
Dallas 43

Safest Cities in Iowa

Are you planning a move to Iowa? Here are the safest cities in Iowa with the lowest crime rates. You chance of being a victim of a violent crime in Iowa is 1 out of 252 up by 0.03% compared to previous year. The lowest rate of violent crime is in Cresco and safest city to encounter a property crime is Sioux Center.

Violent Crimes

Violent Crimes rates in IA increased by 1.69% from 2015 and increased by 16.26% in the last 5 years since 2011 from 6,364 to 7,399. In 2016 violent crimes in IA was 15.44% lower than the national rate. Your chances of being a victim of violent crimes in Iowa is 0.397%.

Property Crimes

Property crime rate in Iowa increased by 0.3% from 2015 and decreased by 7.24% in the last 5 years since 2011 from 58,677 to 54,429. In 2016 property crimes in IA was 2.7% lower than the national average. Your chances of being a victim of a property crime is 2.919%.

How Iowa stands up against other states

Iowa vs. Utah

You’ll be safer in Iowa compared to Utah. Utah had an 1.61% higher crime rate than Iowa. Arkansas scored the highest with a 50.46% higher crime rate according to the FBI. Robbery rates of 59 per 100,000 people is lower than national of 136 per 100,000 people and higher than average 56 in Utah. Larceny rates of 2,090 per 100,000 people is higher than national of 2,054 per 100,000 people and lower than average 2,373 in Utah.

Iowa vs. Arkansas

You’ll be safer in Iowa compared to Arkansas. Arkansas had an 50.46% higher crime rate than Iowa. Nevada scored the highest with a 3.84% higher crime rate according to the FBI. Murder rates of 3 per 100,000 people is lower than national of 6 per 100,000 people and lower than average 9 in Arkansas. Motor Vehicle Theft rates of 215 per 100,000 people is lower than national of 286 per 100,000 people and lower than average 291 in Arkansas.

Names with the most arrests in Iowa

Crime rate by age group, gender, and race

The most crimes, that's 26.18% of all records in state are committed by the people aged between 31-40. Felonies are committed more by men. Misdemeanor records are popular among white population of the state.

DID you know?

  • The overall crime rate in Iowa is 0.53% lower than the national average.
  • For every 100,000 people, there are 9.09 daily crimes that occur in Iowa.
  • Iowa is safer than Utah.
  • In Iowa you have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of any crime.
  • Year over year crimes in Iowa have increased by 0.47%.

Iowa Police Arrest Records by Counties