Iowa criminal charge
Presentence investigation in Iowa
Presentence investigation is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 901.2. 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 § 901.2.
What is the penalty for presentence investigation in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | Class "A" felony — no presentence investigation — The court shall not order a presentence investigation when the offense is a class "A" felony.; 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 (Class "D" felony — mandatory presentence investigation — The court shall order, and cannot waive, a presentence investigation when the offense is a class "D" felony.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Class "D" felony — mandatory presentence investigation — The court shall order, and cannot waive, a presentence investigation when the offense is a class "D" felony.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Aggravated misdemeanor — discretionary presentence investigation — The court may order a presentence investigation when the offense is an aggravated misdemeanor.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Aggravated misdemeanor — discretionary presentence investigation — The court may order a presentence investigation when the offense is an aggravated misdemeanor.; 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 (Serious misdemeanor — presentence investigation only upon exceptional circumstances — The court may order a presentence investigation when the offense is a serious misdemeanor only upon a finding of exceptional circumstances, with the report limited to specified information.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Serious misdemeanor — presentence investigation only upon exceptional circumstances — The court may order a presentence investigation when the offense is a serious misdemeanor only upon a finding of exceptional circumstances, with the report limited to specified information.; 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 presentence investigation classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class "A" felony — no presentence investigation | Class “A” Felony | The court shall not order a presentence investigation when the offense is a class "A" felony. | Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(a) |
| Class "D" felony — mandatory presentence investigation | Class “D” Felony | The court shall order, and cannot waive, a presentence investigation when the offense is a class "D" felony. | Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(b) |
| Aggravated misdemeanor — discretionary presentence investigation | Aggravated Misdemeanor | The court may order a presentence investigation when the offense is an aggravated misdemeanor. | Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(c) |
| Serious misdemeanor — presentence investigation only upon exceptional circumstances | Serious Misdemeanor | The court may order a presentence investigation when the offense is a serious misdemeanor only upon a finding of exceptional circumstances, with the report limited to specified information. | Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(d) |
Common questions about presentence investigation in Iowa
Is presentence investigation a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: presentence investigation ranges from a Serious Misdemeanor to a Class “A” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 901.2.
Class "A" felony — no presentence investigation: Class “A” Felony (Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(a)) · Class "D" felony — mandatory presentence investigation: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(b)) · Aggravated misdemeanor — discretionary presentence investigation: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(c)) · Serious misdemeanor — presentence investigation only upon exceptional circumstances: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 901.2(2)(d))
What are the penalties for presentence investigation in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers presentence investigation?
Presentence investigation is governed by Iowa Code § 901.2 (Presentence investigation).
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.