Iowa criminal charge
Criminal penalties in Iowa
Criminal penalties is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 692.7. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 692.7.
What is the penalty for criminal penalties in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Criminal history data misuse — A person willfully requests, obtains, or seeks criminal history data under false pretenses, willfully communicates or seeks to communicate such data outside the chapter's provisions, or a person connected with an authorized research program willfully falsifies criminal history data or related records.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Criminal history data misuse — A person willfully requests, obtains, or seeks criminal history data under false pretenses, willfully communicates or seeks to communicate such data outside the chapter's provisions, or a person connected with an authorized research program willfully falsifies criminal history data or related records.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Intelligence data misuse — willful — A person willfully requests, obtains, or seeks to obtain intelligence data under false pretenses, or willfully communicates or seeks to communicate intelligence data except in accordance with the chapter.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Intelligence data misuse — willful — A person willfully requests, obtains, or seeks to obtain intelligence data under false pretenses, or willfully communicates or seeks to communicate intelligence data except in accordance with the chapter.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Intelligence data misuse — knowing but non-criminal purpose — A person knowingly, but without criminal purpose, communicates or seeks to communicate intelligence data except in accordance with the chapter.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Intelligence data misuse — knowing but non-criminal purpose — A person knowingly, but without criminal purpose, communicates or seeks to communicate intelligence data except in accordance with the chapter.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
Applies to current (2026 Iowa Code; fine levels per 2020 Acts ch 1074).
How is criminal penalties classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal history data misuse | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A person willfully requests, obtains, or seeks criminal history data under false pretenses, willfully communicates or seeks to communicate such data outside the chapter's provisions, or a person connected with an authorized research program willfully falsifies criminal history data or related records. | Iowa Code § 692.7(1) |
| Intelligence data misuse — willful | Class “D” Felony | A person willfully requests, obtains, or seeks to obtain intelligence data under false pretenses, or willfully communicates or seeks to communicate intelligence data except in accordance with the chapter. | Iowa Code § 692.7(2) |
| Intelligence data misuse — knowing but non-criminal purpose | Serious Misdemeanor | A person knowingly, but without criminal purpose, communicates or seeks to communicate intelligence data except in accordance with the chapter. | Iowa Code § 692.7(2) |
Common questions about criminal penalties in Iowa
Is criminal penalties a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: criminal penalties ranges from a Serious Misdemeanor to a Class “D” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 692.7.
Criminal history data misuse: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 692.7(1)) · Intelligence data misuse — willful: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 692.7(2)) · Intelligence data misuse — knowing but non-criminal purpose: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 692.7(2))
What are the penalties for criminal penalties in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers criminal penalties?
Criminal penalties is governed by Iowa Code § 692.7 (Criminal penalties).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.