Iowa legal term
Physical harm in Iowa Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
In Iowa criminal law, “Physical harm” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Iowa criminal code.
What does “Physical harm” mean in Iowa criminal law?
“Physical harm” means bodily injury, bodily pain, impairment, or disease. k. “Psychological harm” means an injury to the intellectual functioning or emotional state of an older individual as evidenced by an observable or measurable reduction in the older adult’s ability to function within that individual’s customary range of performance and that individual’s behavior. l. “Serious injury” means the same as defined in section 702.18. m. “Sexual exploitation” means any sexual contact against an older individual’s will. (Iowa Code § 726.24)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.