Iowa criminal charge
Nonconsensual termination in Iowa
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
Nonconsensual termination is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 707.8. 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 § 707.8.
What is the penalty for nonconsensual termination in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 25 years (Termination during forcible felony — A person terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's consent during the commission of a forcible felony.; 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 | up to 10 years (Termination during felony or felonious assault — A person terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's consent during the commission of a felony or felonious assault.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (Termination during felony or felonious assault — A person terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's consent during the commission of a felony or felonious assault.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Intentional termination without knowledge and consent — A person intentionally terminates a human pregnancy without the knowledge and voluntary consent of the pregnant person.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (Intentional termination without knowledge and consent — A person intentionally terminates a human pregnancy without the knowledge and voluntary consent of the pregnant person.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Attempted intentional termination without knowledge and consent — A person attempts to intentionally terminate a human pregnancy without the knowledge and voluntary consent of the pregnant person.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Attempted intentional termination without knowledge and consent — A person attempts to intentionally terminate a human pregnancy without the knowledge and voluntary consent of the pregnant person.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Unintentional termination by means under 707.6A(1) — A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy by any of the means described in section 707.6A, subsection 1.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (Unintentional termination by means under 707.6A(1) — A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy by any of the means described in section 707.6A, subsection 1.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Termination consent procured by force or intimidation — A person procures the pregnant person's consent to termination of a human pregnancy through force or intimidation.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (Termination consent procured by force or intimidation — A person procures the pregnant person's consent to termination of a human pregnancy through force or intimidation.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Unintentional termination while drag racing — A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy while drag racing in violation of section 321.278.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Unintentional termination while drag racing — A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy while drag racing in violation of section 321.278.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Unintentional termination without knowledge/consent by likely-harm act — A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's knowledge and voluntary consent by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Unintentional termination without knowledge/consent by likely-harm act — A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's knowledge and voluntary consent by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy.; 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 2 years (Intentional serious injury to pregnancy by likely-harm act — A person intentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Intentional serious injury to pregnancy by likely-harm act — A person intentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy.; 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 2 years (Unintentional serious injury by means under 707.6A(1) — A person unintentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by any of the means described in section 707.6A, subsection 1.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Unintentional serious injury by means under 707.6A(1) — A person unintentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by any of the means described in section 707.6A, subsection 1.; 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 1 years (Unintentional serious injury by likely-harm act — A person unintentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Unintentional serious injury by likely-harm act — A person unintentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy.; 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).
How is nonconsensual termination classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Termination during forcible felony | Class “B” Felony | A person terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's consent during the commission of a forcible felony. | Iowa Code § 707.8(1) |
| Termination during felony or felonious assault | Class “C” Felony | A person terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's consent during the commission of a felony or felonious assault. | Iowa Code § 707.8(2) |
| Intentional termination without knowledge and consent | Class “C” Felony | A person intentionally terminates a human pregnancy without the knowledge and voluntary consent of the pregnant person. | Iowa Code § 707.8(3)(a) |
| Attempted intentional termination without knowledge and consent | Class “D” Felony | A person attempts to intentionally terminate a human pregnancy without the knowledge and voluntary consent of the pregnant person. | Iowa Code § 707.8(3)(b) |
| Unintentional termination by means under 707.6A(1) | Class “C” Felony | A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy by any of the means described in section 707.6A, subsection 1. | Iowa Code § 707.8(4) |
| Termination consent procured by force or intimidation | Class “C” Felony | A person procures the pregnant person's consent to termination of a human pregnancy through force or intimidation. | Iowa Code § 707.8(5) |
| Unintentional termination while drag racing | Class “D” Felony | A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy while drag racing in violation of section 321.278. | Iowa Code § 707.8(6) |
| Unintentional termination without knowledge/consent by likely-harm act | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A person unintentionally terminates a human pregnancy without the pregnant person's knowledge and voluntary consent by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy. | Iowa Code § 707.8(7) |
| Intentional serious injury to pregnancy by likely-harm act | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A person intentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy. | Iowa Code § 707.8(8) |
| Unintentional serious injury by means under 707.6A(1) | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A person unintentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by any of the means described in section 707.6A, subsection 1. | Iowa Code § 707.8(9) |
| Unintentional serious injury by likely-harm act | Serious Misdemeanor | A person unintentionally causes serious injury to a human pregnancy by committing an act in a manner likely to cause termination or serious injury to the pregnancy. | Iowa Code § 707.8(10) |
Common questions about nonconsensual termination in Iowa
Is nonconsensual termination a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: nonconsensual termination ranges from a Serious Misdemeanor to a Class “B” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 707.8.
Termination during forcible felony: Class “B” Felony (Iowa Code § 707.8(1)) · Termination during felony or felonious assault: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 707.8(2)) · Intentional termination without knowledge and consent: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 707.8(3)(a)) · Attempted intentional termination without knowledge and consent: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 707.8(3)(b)) · Unintentional termination by means under 707.6A(1): Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 707.8(4)) · Termination consent procured by force or intimidation: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 707.8(5)) · Unintentional termination while drag racing: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 707.8(6)) · Unintentional termination without knowledge/consent by likely-harm act: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 707.8(7)) · Intentional serious injury to pregnancy by likely-harm act: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 707.8(8)) · Unintentional serious injury by means under 707.6A(1): Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 707.8(9)) · Unintentional serious injury by likely-harm act: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 707.8(10))
What are the penalties for nonconsensual termination in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers nonconsensual termination?
Nonconsensual termination is governed by Iowa Code § 707.8 (Nonconsensual termination — serious injury to a human pregnancy).
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.