Full question:
I was charged with and arrested for assault. However, I was acquitted of all charges. Can I get my arrest records expunged in Iowa?
- Category: Criminal
- Subcategory: Expungement of Criminal Records
- Date:
- State: Iowa
Answer:
Yes, in Iowa, if you were acquitted or if your case was dismissed, you can apply to have your arrest records expunged. However, expungement does not mean the records will disappear entirely; they will not be available to the public but may still be accessible to the court, prosecutors, and law enforcement.
According to Iowa Code § 901C.1, the court can expunge your record if:
- You were acquitted of all charges or the charges were dismissed.
- You have paid all court costs, fees, and financial obligations.
- At least one hundred eighty days have passed since the acquittal or dismissal, unless there are valid reasons to waive this requirement.
- Your case was not dismissed due to a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity.
- You were not found incompetent to stand trial.
The court will also ensure that all parties involved have had the opportunity to object to the expungement. Once expunged, your record will be confidential and not publicly accessible, but you can request access to it.
This law applies to all relevant criminal cases, regardless of when they occurred.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.