Des Moines County Public Records / Des Moines County Arrest Records

Des Moines County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Des Moines County

Arrest records in Des Moines County are generally considered public records under Iowa law. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 22.1, all government records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Law enforcement records, including arrest logs, booking data, and incident reports, fall within this open-records framework, meaning members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of such documents upon request.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law. Under Iowa law, an individual may have an arrest record without any corresponding conviction if charges were dismissed, reduced, or never filed. The Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains statewide criminal history data and provides guidance on the distinction between these two categories of records.

Certain exemptions may limit access to specific arrest records. For example, records involving juveniles, ongoing investigations, or information that could compromise witness safety may be withheld pursuant to Iowa Code § 22.7, which enumerates categories of confidential government records. Outside of these enumerated exceptions, arrest records maintained by the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies remain accessible to the public.

What's in Des Moines County Arrest Records

Des Moines County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the custodial process. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an arrest record.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical descriptors including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Des Moines County Sheriff's Office, Burlington Police Department)
Narrative description of circumstances leading to arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including Iowa Code section references
Classification of each charge (felony, aggravated misdemeanor, serious misdemeanor, simple misdemeanor)
Whether charges were filed by the arresting agency or referred to the county attorney

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant, or fugitive warrant)

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the jail facility
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual was booked
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court or pretrial services
Bond conditions imposed

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the Iowa District Court
Scheduled arraignment or initial appearance date
Presiding court and judicial district

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history references
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Notation of any medical or mental health screening conducted at booking

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Des Moines County in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records from Des Moines County may submit requests through several official channels. The primary custodian of local arrest records is the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office, which processes public records requests in accordance with Iowa Code § 22.1 et seq.

The following steps outline the standard process for obtaining arrest records:

Identify the correct agency. Determine whether the arrest was made by the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office, the Burlington Police Department, or another municipal law enforcement agency. Each agency maintains its own records.
Prepare identifying information. Gather the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or booking numbers to facilitate the search.
Submit a written request. Complete the official records request form available through the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office records request page. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically as directed by the office.
Pay applicable fees. The Sheriff's Office may assess fees for research time, copying, and certification of records. Fee schedules are posted on the official records request page.
Await processing. Under Iowa law, the custodial agency must respond to a public records request promptly. Agencies are expected to fulfill requests within a reasonable time, and any denial must cite a specific statutory exemption.

Des Moines County Sheriff's Office 211 N. Gear Ave., West Burlington, IA 52655 (319) 753-4511 Des Moines County Sheriff's Office

Public counter hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. Members of the public are encouraged to call ahead to confirm current hours before visiting in person.

How To Find Des Moines County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to arrest and offender information relevant to Des Moines County residents and researchers.

Iowa Offender Search: The Iowa Department of Corrections operates a statewide Iowa Offender Search portal. Offender records are public information pursuant to § 904.601(1) of the Iowa Code, and the database allows users to search by name, offender number, or facility. This tool is particularly useful for locating individuals currently incarcerated or under supervision within the Iowa correctional system.
Iowa Courts Online: The Iowa Judicial Branch maintains a public case search system at iowacourts.state.ia.us, where members of the public may search criminal case records by name or case number. This system reflects court filings and dispositions associated with arrests.
Des Moines County Sheriff's Office Jail Information: Current inmate information and jail-related data may be accessed through the Des Moines County jail page, which provides details on facility operations, inmate communication options, and related services.
Iowa Department of Public Safety: The Iowa Department of Public Safety provides access to sex offender registry information and other statewide law enforcement data through its official web portal.

How To Search Des Moines County Arrest Records for Free?

Several no-cost methods are available for members of the public seeking arrest record information in Des Moines County.

Iowa Courts Online (Free Search): The Iowa Judicial Branch's public case search tool allows free name-based searches of criminal court records, including case numbers, charges, and disposition information.
Iowa Offender Search Portal: The state-operated Iowa Offender Search is available at no charge and provides current and historical offender data maintained by the Iowa Department of Corrections.
In-Person Inspection at the Sheriff's Office: Under Iowa Code § 22.2, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no charge. Visiting the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office during public counter hours allows individuals to review records without incurring copying fees, provided they do not request physical copies.
Iowa Sex Offender Registry: The Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains a free, publicly searchable sex offender registry accessible through its official website.
County Courthouse Records Room: The Des Moines County Courthouse houses the Clerk of Court's office, where criminal case files may be reviewed in person at no cost during regular business hours.

Des Moines County Courthouse – Clerk of Court 513 N. Main St., Burlington, IA 52601 (319) 753-8262 Iowa Judicial Branch – Des Moines County

How To Delete Arrest Records in Des Moines County

Iowa law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement and deferred judgment dismissal. These remedies are distinct in their scope and eligibility requirements.

Expungement refers to the legal erasure or destruction of an arrest record, effectively removing it from public access. Under Iowa Code § 901C.1, individuals who were arrested but not convicted may petition the court for expungement of the arrest record. Eligibility generally requires that the charges were dismissed, the individual was acquitted, or the case was otherwise resolved without a conviction. Once expunged, the record is no longer accessible through standard public records channels.

Sealing restricts public access to a record without physically destroying it. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement and certain government agencies but are not available to the general public or most employers.

The following steps outline the general process for pursuing expungement in Iowa:

Confirm eligibility. Review Iowa Code § 901C.1 to determine whether the arrest qualifies for expungement based on case outcome and the time elapsed since disposition.
Obtain case records. Gather all relevant court and arrest records to document the basis for the petition.
File a petition with the district court. Submit the expungement petition to the Iowa District Court in Des Moines County, located at the courthouse address listed above. Filing fees may apply.
Serve notice on the county attorney. Iowa law requires that the county attorney's office receive notice of the petition and be afforded an opportunity to respond.
Attend the hearing. The court will schedule a hearing to review the petition. If granted, the court issues an order directing all relevant agencies to expunge or seal the record.

Individuals with deferred judgments that have been discharged may also be eligible to have those records expunged under separate provisions of Iowa law. Consulting with a licensed Iowa attorney is advisable when navigating the expungement process.

What Happens After Arrest in Des Moines County?

The criminal justice process in Des Moines County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Des Moines County Jail, where booking procedures are completed. Booking includes fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal and charge information.
Initial Appearance: Within a short period following booking, the arrested individual appears before a magistrate or judge for an initial appearance. At this stage, the court informs the individual of the charges, addresses bond, and schedules further proceedings.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury: For felony charges, the case proceeds to a preliminary hearing or grand jury review to determine whether probable cause exists to proceed to trial.
Arraignment: The defendant formally enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest before the district court.
Pretrial Proceedings: Both the prosecution and defense engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations.
Trial or Plea: If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a bench or jury trial. A verdict of not guilty results in release; a guilty verdict proceeds to sentencing.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Iowa's criminal sentencing statutes.
Appeals: The convicted individual retains the right to appeal the conviction or sentence to the Iowa Court of Appeals or Iowa Supreme Court.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Des Moines County?

Arrest records in Des Moines County are subject to retention schedules established under Iowa administrative rules and state law. The Iowa State Archives and the Iowa Records Management Program set minimum retention periods for law enforcement records maintained by county agencies.

Under current Iowa administrative guidance, arrest records and associated booking documentation are generally retained for a minimum of five to seven years following the date of arrest, depending on the nature of the charge and the outcome of the case. Records associated with felony arrests may be retained for longer periods, and records tied to unsolved crimes or ongoing investigations may be kept indefinitely.

Different agencies within Des Moines County maintain separate retention schedules:

The Des Moines County Sheriff's Office retains arrest and booking records in accordance with the Iowa County Officers Records Manual.
The Iowa District Court Clerk's Office retains criminal case files pursuant to the Iowa Judicial Branch records retention schedule.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains criminal history records at the state level, which may be retained for the lifetime of the subject.

Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. Members of the public seeking information about specific retention periods may submit inquiries directly to the custodial agency.

How to Find Mugshots in Des Moines County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are captured as part of the routine booking process and serve as an official identification record associated with a specific arrest.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots taken in Des Moines County are maintained by the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office as part of the booking record. The Iowa Department of Public Safety also retains photographic records as part of statewide criminal history files.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through the official records request process administered by the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office. Requests must identify the subject by name and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online At present, the Des Moines County Sheriff's Office does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some third-party websites aggregate booking photographs from public records, but the accuracy and currency of such sources cannot be verified by official agencies.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a mugshot through official channels, members of the public should submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office, specifying the subject's name, date of birth, and date of arrest. Applicable copying fees may apply.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with juvenile arrests are confidential under Iowa law and are not subject to public disclosure. Additionally, if an arrest record has been expunged pursuant to Iowa Code § 901C.1, the associated mugshot is likewise removed from public access.