Iowa criminal charge
Human trafficking in Iowa
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
Human trafficking is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 710A.2. 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 § 710A.2.
What is the penalty for human trafficking in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Human trafficking, general — A person knowingly engages in human trafficking, victim is 18 or older.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | Human trafficking, general — minor victim — A person knowingly engages in human trafficking and the victim is under eighteen.; life imprisonment; no deferred judgment, suspension, or parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (§902.1(1)); offenders under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under §902.1(2) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.1 |
| Jail / prison | Human trafficking by causing or threatening serious physical injury — Human trafficking accomplished by causing or threatening to cause serious physical injury to another person.; life imprisonment; no deferred judgment, suspension, or parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (§902.1(1)); offenders under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under §902.1(2) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Human trafficking by physical restraint — Human trafficking accomplished by physically restraining or threatening to physically restrain another person, victim 18 or older.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | Human trafficking by physical restraint — minor victim — Human trafficking accomplished by physically restraining or threatening to physically restrain another person under eighteen.; life imprisonment; no deferred judgment, suspension, or parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (§902.1(1)); offenders under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under §902.1(2) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Human trafficking by soliciting or benefiting from services — Human trafficking accomplished by soliciting services or benefiting from the services of a victim 18 or older.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | Human trafficking by soliciting or benefiting from services — minor victim — Human trafficking accomplished by soliciting services or benefiting from the services of a victim under eighteen.; life imprisonment; no deferred judgment, suspension, or parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (§902.1(1)); offenders under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under §902.1(2) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Human trafficking by abuse of law or legal process — Human trafficking accomplished by abusing or threatening to abuse the law or legal process against a victim 18 or older.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | Human trafficking by abuse of law or legal process — minor victim — Human trafficking accomplished by abusing or threatening to abuse the law or legal process against a victim under eighteen.; life imprisonment; no deferred judgment, suspension, or parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (§902.1(1)); offenders under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under §902.1(2) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Human trafficking by confiscating identification — Human trafficking accomplished by destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing another person's government identification, victim 18 or older.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | Human trafficking by confiscating identification — minor victim — Human trafficking accomplished by destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing government identification of a victim under eighteen.; life imprisonment; no deferred judgment, suspension, or parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (§902.1(1)); offenders under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under §902.1(2) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Benefiting financially from human trafficking — A person benefits financially or receives anything of value from knowing participation in human trafficking of a victim 18 or older.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | Benefiting financially from human trafficking — minor victim — A person benefits financially or receives anything of value from knowing participation in human trafficking of a victim under eighteen.; life imprisonment; no deferred judgment, suspension, or parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (§902.1(1)); offenders under 18 at the time of the offense are sentenced under §902.1(2) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Human trafficking by providing fraudulent license or identification — Human trafficking accomplished by providing or facilitating a forged, altered, or fraudulent license or government identification to force, coerce, or facilitate labor or services by a person 18 or older.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Human trafficking by providing fraudulent license or identification — Human trafficking accomplished by providing or facilitating a forged, altered, or fraudulent license or government identification to force, coerce, or facilitate labor or services by a person 18 or older.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Human trafficking by providing fraudulent license or identification — minor victim — Human trafficking accomplished by providing or facilitating a forged, altered, or fraudulent license or government identification to force, coerce, or facilitate labor or services by a person under eighteen.; indeterminate term (§902.3): the statute sets only the maximum; release is determined by the board of parole. No fine for a class “B” felony under §902.9) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
Applies to current (2026 Iowa Code).
How is human trafficking classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human trafficking, general | Class “B” Felony | A person knowingly engages in human trafficking, victim is 18 or older. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(1) |
| Human trafficking, general — minor victim | Class “A” Felony | A person knowingly engages in human trafficking and the victim is under eighteen. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(1) |
| Human trafficking by causing or threatening serious physical injury | Class “A” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by causing or threatening to cause serious physical injury to another person. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(2) |
| Human trafficking by physical restraint | Class “B” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by physically restraining or threatening to physically restrain another person, victim 18 or older. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(3) |
| Human trafficking by physical restraint — minor victim | Class “A” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by physically restraining or threatening to physically restrain another person under eighteen. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(3) |
| Human trafficking by soliciting or benefiting from services | Class “B” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by soliciting services or benefiting from the services of a victim 18 or older. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(4) |
| Human trafficking by soliciting or benefiting from services — minor victim | Class “A” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by soliciting services or benefiting from the services of a victim under eighteen. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(4) |
| Human trafficking by abuse of law or legal process | Class “B” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by abusing or threatening to abuse the law or legal process against a victim 18 or older. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(5) |
| Human trafficking by abuse of law or legal process — minor victim | Class “A” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by abusing or threatening to abuse the law or legal process against a victim under eighteen. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(5) |
| Human trafficking by confiscating identification | Class “B” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing another person's government identification, victim 18 or older. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(6) |
| Human trafficking by confiscating identification — minor victim | Class “A” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing government identification of a victim under eighteen. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(6) |
| Benefiting financially from human trafficking | Class “B” Felony | A person benefits financially or receives anything of value from knowing participation in human trafficking of a victim 18 or older. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(7) |
| Benefiting financially from human trafficking — minor victim | Class “A” Felony | A person benefits financially or receives anything of value from knowing participation in human trafficking of a victim under eighteen. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(7) |
| Human trafficking by providing fraudulent license or identification | Class “D” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by providing or facilitating a forged, altered, or fraudulent license or government identification to force, coerce, or facilitate labor or services by a person 18 or older. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(8) |
| Human trafficking by providing fraudulent license or identification — minor victim | Class “B” Felony | Human trafficking accomplished by providing or facilitating a forged, altered, or fraudulent license or government identification to force, coerce, or facilitate labor or services by a person under eighteen. | Iowa Code § 710A.2(8) |
Common questions about human trafficking in Iowa
Is human trafficking a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: human trafficking ranges from a Class “D” Felony to a Class “A” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 710A.2.
Human trafficking, general: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(1)) · Human trafficking, general — minor victim: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(1)) · Human trafficking by causing or threatening serious physical injury: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(2)) · Human trafficking by physical restraint: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(3)) · Human trafficking by physical restraint — minor victim: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(3)) · Human trafficking by soliciting or benefiting from services: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(4)) · Human trafficking by soliciting or benefiting from services — minor victim: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(4)) · Human trafficking by abuse of law or legal process: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(5)) · Human trafficking by abuse of law or legal process — minor victim: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(5)) · Human trafficking by confiscating identification: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(6)) · Human trafficking by confiscating identification — minor victim: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(6)) · Benefiting financially from human trafficking: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(7)) · Benefiting financially from human trafficking — minor victim: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(7)) · Human trafficking by providing fraudulent license or identification: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(8)) · Human trafficking by providing fraudulent license or identification — minor victim: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 710A.2(8))
What are the penalties for human trafficking in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers human trafficking?
Human trafficking is governed by Iowa Code § 710A.2 (Human trafficking).
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.