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Iowa Criminal Laws

Learn about your state’s laws by using the links below.

By Susan Buckner, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last updated
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Iowa’s Code of Criminal Laws and Procedures contains all the state laws on prohibited conduct and judicial procedures before and after arrest. Criminal laws describe the specific conduct, and rules of criminal procedure explain law enforcement processes and court rules.

Iowa Criminal Law

Iowa’s criminal code sections cover all types of criminal conduct, from homicide and related crimes (Iowa code § 707.1 et seq.) to illegal animal contests (§ 717D.1). Each code section contains a definition of the offense, penalties, and possible defenses.

Iowa divides criminal offenses into felonies, punishable by more than five years in prison, and misdemeanors, which can result in up to two years in jail. Violations are minor offenses that only require a citation and a fine.

  • Class D felonies include assault and simple theft
  • Class C felonies can include first-degree theft, first offenses for sexual abuse or burglary, and sexual assault
  • Class B felonies include first-degree burglary, second-degree sexual abuse, and some controlled substance crimes
  • Class A felonies are punishable by a life sentence and include first-degree murder, second and subsequent offenses for methamphetamine manufacture, and sexual assault with serious bodily injury

All other crimes are misdemeanors.

Simple misdemeanors include trespassing, simple assault, and first-time domestic violence.

Serious misdemeanors have a possible jail sentence of up to 365 days. They include first-time DUIs and first-time drug possession, repeat domestic violence charges, and minor assault.

Aggravated misdemeanors can get up to two years in jail. Second offenses for DUI and drug possession, assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury, and lower-level sex crimes are aggravated misdemeanors.

Iowa courts have a special sentence provision for juvenile offenders based on the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in Graham v. Florida and Miller v. Alabama. Judges must review juvenile cases for eligibility for Class A sentencing, and juveniles are not eligible for life without parole or mandatory minimums.

Get Legal Advice from an Iowa Criminal Defense Attorney

Contact an Iowa criminal defense attorney if you have criminal charges and need help understanding Iowa’s criminal codes. Your criminal case needs someone who can explain court rules and laws and help you protect your rights.

Learn About Iowa Criminal Laws

  • Iowa Capital Punishment Laws

    This is a brief history of the death penalty in Iowa, which was first abolished in 1872, revived several years later, and then abolished again in 1965.

  • Iowa Gun Control Laws

    This is a brief overview of Iowa’s gun control laws, which do not require a waiting period to buy a firearm but restrict gun ownership to those without felony convictions.

  • Iowa Child Abuse Laws

    A summary of Iowa’s child abuse law, which, besides charging offenders with serious crimes, requires adults in positions of authority to report suspected instances of child abuse.

  • Iowa Computer Crime Laws

    A summary of the various statutes banning computer crimes in the state of Iowa, including violations such as theft of computer data and unauthorized computer network access.

  • Iowa Marijuana Laws

    Information about Iowa’s relatively severe laws prohibiting the possession, cultivation, and sale of marijuana. It includes a summary of the state’s limited medical marijuana law.

  • Iowa Stalking Laws

    What you need to know about the crime of stalking, which is not one single act but rather a pattern of malicious behavior, and how to get a restraining order.

Iowa Criminal Law Articles

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