Iowa statute
Iowa Code § 664A.7 — Violation of no-contact order or protective order — contempt or simple misdemeanor penalties
Current through 2026 Iowa Code (enactments effective on or before 2026-01-01, through the 2025 Regular Session, 91st G.A.)
Part of Chapter 664A: No-contact Orders — Enforcement of Protective Orders, Iowa Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Iowa Code § 664A.7
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. Violation of a no-contact order issued under this chapter or a protective order issued pursuant to chapter 232, 235F, 236, 236A, or 598, including a modified no-contact order, is punishable by summary contempt proceedings.
2. A hearing in a contempt proceeding brought pursuant to this section shall be held not less than five and not more than fifteen days after the issuance of a rule to show cause, as determined by the court.
3. If convicted of or held in contempt for a violation of a no-contact order or a modified no-contact order for a public offense referred to in section 664A.2, subsection 1, or held in contempt of a no-contact order issued during a contempt proceeding brought pursuant to section 236.11 or 236A.12, the person shall be confined in the county jail for a minimum of seven days. A jail sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection shall be served on consecutive days. No portion of the mandatory minimum term of confinement imposed by this subsection shall be deferred or suspended. A deferred judgment, deferred sentence, or suspended sentence shall not be entered for a violation of a no-contact order, modified no-contact order, or protective order and the court shall not impose a fine in lieu of the minimum sentence, although a fine may be imposed in addition to the minimum sentence.
4. If convicted or held in contempt for a violation of a civil protective order referred to in section 664A.2, the person shall serve a jail sentence. A jail sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection shall be served on consecutive days. A person who is convicted of or held in contempt for a violation of a protective order referred to in section 664A.2 may be ordered by the court to pay the plaintiff’s attorney’s fees and court costs.
5. Violation of a no-contact order entered for the offense or alleged offense of domestic abuse assault in violation of section 708.2A or for the offense or alleged offense of older individual assault in violation of section 708.2D, or a violation of a protective order issued pursuant to chapter 232, 235F, 236, 236A, 598, or 915 constitutes a public offense and is punishable as a simple misdemeanor. Alternatively, the court may hold a person in contempt of court for such a violation, as provided in subsection 3.
6. A person shall not be held in contempt or convicted of violations under multiple no-contact orders, protective orders, or consent agreements, for the same set of facts and circumstances that constitute a single violation.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
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