Iowa statute
Iowa Code § 232.35 — Filing of petition
Current through 2026 Iowa Code (enactments effective on or before 2026-01-01, through the 2025 Regular Session, 91st G.A.)
Part of Subchapter II: Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings, Iowa Code.
Full text of Iowa Code § 232.35
Statutory text current through the 2026 Iowa Code (enactments effective on or before 2026-01-01, through the 2025 Regular Session, 91st G.A.). This publication reproduces the statutory text of the official 2026 Iowa Code (Legislative Services Agency); it is not the official publication of the State of Iowa.
1. A formal judicial proceeding to determine whether a child has committed a delinquent act shall be initiated by the filing by the county attorney of a petition alleging that a child has committed a delinquent act. After a petition has been filed, service of a summons requiring the child to appear before the court or service of a notice shall be made as provided in section 232.37.
2. If the intake officer determines that a complaint is legally sufficient for the filing of a petition alleging that a child has committed a delinquent act and that the filing of a petition would be in the best interests of the child and the community, the officer shall submit a written request for the filing of a petition to the county attorney. The county attorney may grant or deny the request of the intake officer for the filing of a petition. A determination by the county attorney that a petition should not be filed shall be final.
3. If the intake officer determines that a complaint is not legally sufficient for the filing of a petition or that the filing of a petition would not be in the best interests of the child and the community, the officer shall notify the complainant of the officer’s determination and the reasons for such determination, and shall advise the complainant that the complainant may submit the complaint to the county attorney for review. Upon receiving a request for review, the county attorney shall consider the facts presented by the complainant, consult with the intake officer and make the final determination as to whether a petition should be filed. In the absence of a request by the complainant for a review of the intake officer’s determination that a petition should not be filed, the officer’s determination shall be final, and the intake officer shall inform the county attorney of this decision concerning complaints involving allegations of acts which, if committed by an adult, would constitute an aggravated misdemeanor or a felony.
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