You can obtain Iowa criminal history data, which includes arrest warrants, through the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The state maintains a criminal history check website and allows you to request arrest data by mail, fax or in person. The depth of the criminal record depends on whether you're looking for your own arrest warrants or are searching on behalf of someone else. It may also depend on the nature of the case because access to certain criminal records are restricted by Iowa law.
Free Vs. for a Fee
Warrant information is generally a matter of public record and can be obtained for a fee of $15 with the Iowa Department of Public Safety's Division of Criminal Investigation, or DCI. The fee applies to each last name you inquire about. To find free warrant information for a particular Iowa town or city, contact or search the website of the court or law enforcement agency within the town or city jurisdiction.
Iowa Criminal History Record Checks Website
The official website of the DCI allows you to query criminal history data, including arrest warrants, to the extent that the warrant information can be legally released to the public. For example, an arrest warrant issued in relation to divorce cases, juveniles or domestic violence cases may not be a matter of public record and so would not be available through the website. In some cases, you may need to provide a waiver signed by the subject of your request to retrieve complete arrest warrant information. You must accept the terms of the DCI's user agreement to place an order for a criminal history records check.
Request in Writing
Download the DCI's request form and a billing form in PDF or Word format from the website. You must complete a separate request form for each last name, but one billing form covers multiple requests, although the fee is charged per name. The DCI will only mail or fax results to you within the U.S. Send the forms, along with payment, to the DCI address or fax number provided on the request form.
Walk-in Requests
Visit the DCI with your driver's license or passport in hand if you're trying to find warrant information on someone else. When you are not the subject of the inquiry, you must leave the request forms and payment with the office for processing, rather than obtaining an immediate record. Beware that requesting arrest warrant information for yourself in person is risky – you may be arrested if you have outstanding warrants. The DCI office is located at 215 East 7th St., Des Moines, Iowa.
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Writer Bio
Karina C. Hernandez is a licensed real estate agent since 2004 in San Diego. She has written legal articles pertaining to housing and real estate for multiple internet channels over the past 10 years. She has a B.A. in English from UCLA.