Iowa statute
Iowa Code § 915.44 — Polygraph examinations of victims or witnesses — limitations
Current through 2026 Iowa Code (enactments effective on or before 2026-01-01, through the 2025 Regular Session, 91st G.A.)
Part of Subchapter V: Victims of Sexual Assault, Iowa Code.
Full text of Iowa Code § 915.44
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 criminal or juvenile justice agency shall not require a person claiming to be a victim of sexual assault or claiming to be a witness regarding the sexual assault of another person to submit to a polygraph or similar examination as a precondition to the agency conducting an investigation into the matter.
2. An agency wishing to perform a polygraph examination of a person claiming to be a victim or witness of sexual assault shall inform the person of the following:
a. That taking the polygraph examination is voluntary.
b. That the results of the examination are not admissible in court.
c. That the person’s decision to submit or refuse a polygraph examination will not be the sole basis for a decision by the agency not to investigate the matter.
3. An agency which declines to investigate an alleged case of sexual assault following a decision by a person claiming to be a victim not to submit to a polygraph examination shall provide to that person, in writing, the reasons why the agency did not pursue the investigation at the request of the person.
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