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  1. Story County Court
  2. Story County Arrest Records

Story County, Iowa Arrest Records

In Story County, arrest records document individuals taken into custody for alleged crimes or due to arrest warrants. Arrest records are administrative entry data created during booking, not after case resolutions. Story County's arrest records are created and maintained by its local law enforcement agencies, including the Story County Sheriff's Office, the Ames Police Department, and the Nevada Police Department.

Under Iowa law, the purpose of arrest records is to ensure transparency and public oversight guaranteed by the Iowa Open Records Law. However, separate rules apply to criminal offender records information. Chapter 692 of the Iowa Code governs how the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) under the Iowa Department of Public Safety collects, maintains, and disseminates criminal history and intelligence data.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Story, Iowa?

Yes, basic details of arrests are public information in Story County. Chapter 22, Section 2.1 of the Iowa Code grants individuals the right to examine and copy government records, including Story County's arrest records, unless there are statutory exemptions or judicial restrictions.

Under Iowa law, viewing Story County's public records does not require an ID, and requesters do not need to reside in the county to access its arrest records. However, custodians of public records charge nominal fees for physical copies of these documents.

What Do Public Story County Arrest Records Contain?

Story County's arrest records provide information about arrests within the county. These documents contain the identifying details of the arrested persons, explain the reasons for the arrests, and outline the terms for their release. A typical Story County arrest record displays:

  • The full name, age, physical description, mugshot, and the city of residence of the arrested person
  • The exact time, date, and location of the arrest
  • The arresting agency
  • The specific charges, Iowa Code allegedly violated, and charge severity
  • Booking date and time
  • Bail/bond details
  • A basic summary of the circumstances leading to the arrest.

While basic arrest details are public information under Iowa law, the state exempts certain records for privacy and safety reasons and to ensure the integrity of active investigations. Consequently, Chapter 22, Section 7(5) of the Iowa Code restricts public access to investigative files and officers' personal notes. Additionally, individuals cannot access:

  • Sealed or redacted materials
  • Juvenile offender records
  • Non-disposition rap sheets older than 18 months
  • Victims and confidential informants identifying information
  • Criminal intelligence data and surveillance information
  • Protected personal identifiers and medical evaluations.

Story County, Iowa Arrest Search

Information seekers can search for arrest records in Story County without using local resources. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, which is the state's central criminal history records database, provides access to arrest records through official criminal background checks. Individuals seeking access to arrest details can request criminal history record checks through the Iowa Record Check Online portal. Alternatively, download and complete the Criminal History Billing and Request Forms and submit by mail, fax, or in person to:

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation

Oran Pape Street Office Building

215 East 7th Street,

Des Moines,

IA 50319

Phone: (515) 725-6066

Fax: (515) 725-6080

Email: dcirecordchecks@dps.state.ia.us.

Individuals can also use PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) to search for information about arrests in Story County linked to federal trials. PACER is the official access tool for case files created by the U.S. federal courts. Additionally, individuals seeking access to their rap sheets can request FBI Identity History Summary Checks.

Story County Inmate Locator

Inmate locators provide information about individuals incarcerated at detention facilities. In Story County, the Sheriff's Office Jail Division operates the local jail. Inquirers can access the arrest records of current inmates of the Story County Jail through the Central Iowa Police-to-Citizen (P2C) portal.

To use the Story County inmate locator to find arrest records:

  • Visit the Story County Sheriff's Office website.
  • Scroll down, locate, and click the "Current Inmate Roster" link.
  • On the new page, click "Inmate Inquiry" to access Story County's jail roster.

For offline access to Story County inmate records, contact the Story County Sheriff's Office Jail Division at:

1315 South B Avenue,

Nevada,

IA 50201

Phone: (515) 382-7464

Fax: (515) 382-7479 (administration/support services).

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Story County

For free access to Story County arrest records, log in to the Story County Sheriff's Office Central Iowa Police-to-Citizen portal. This route provides free real-time access to the arrest records of the current inmates at the Story County Jail. The P2C portal provides free access to information such as mugshots, pending charges, bond amounts, and arrest dates. Additionally, inquirers can obtain free arrest details through the Ames Police Department Monthly Activity Reports.

For free access to arrest information through criminal case records, log in to the Iowa Courts Online Electronic Docket Record Search. Interested parties can use this search tool to access Story County arrests that resulted in formal charges.

Accessing Story County's arrest records through free websites does not require an ID. However, inquirers should note their practical limitations. Free-tier logs provide access to recent records. For instance, the Central Iowa P2C portal provides access to the arrest records of the current inmates at the Story County Jail. Additionally, information seekers cannot access redacted materials on free websites, and users must provide relevant search data to obtain accurate results.

Story County Arrest Report

Story County's arrest reports differ from arrest records. These documents provide more comprehensive information about arrests than arrest records. Generally, an arrest report is a firsthand written narrative prepared by the arresting or responding officer immediately after the arrest. A Story County arrest report provides the arresting officer's view of the arrest. In addition to the suspect's identifying details and booking information, Story County's arrest reports also contain:

  • Victim and witness statements
  • Evidence logs
  • Probable cause statement
  • Suspect's interview
  • The arresting officer's firsthand observations at the scene.

Story County's arrest reports serve several functions across the criminal justice system and public domain. They typically:

  • Document probable cause and legal justification for arrests
  • Support prosecutorial and judicial decisions
  • Are legal discovery tools for criminal defense
  • Ensure public transparency.

Under Iowa law, arrest reports are partially public. According to Sections 22.7(5) and 22.7(9) of the Iowa Code, while initial arrest summary facts are public information, investigative narratives written by arresting officers, including witness interviews, the arresting officer's notes and observations, and evidence logs are confidential.

Unlike arrest records, which are accessible online, access to an arrest report in Story County requires a formal request to the arresting law enforcement agency.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Story County

Iowa terms the legal mechanism for removing criminal records as expungement. However, the process does not physically destroy these documents. Rather, it seals and hides them from the public while they remain in law enforcement internal criminal history files.

Under Iowa law, a Story County arrest record qualifies for expungement if it resulted in a dismissal or acquittal (Iowa Code § 901C.2), or the subject completes probation for an eligible misdemeanor after a deferred judgment (Iowa Code § 907.9). In addition, the subject of the arrest record must observe the applicable waiting period and pay all court costs, filing fees, and financial assessments ordered by the court.

A Story County arrest record is not eligible for expungement if it results in a dismissal by reason of insanity or the subject is incompetent to stand trial.

To expunge a Story County arrest record:

  • Confirm eligibility for expungement through the Story County Clerk of District Court.
  • Pay all court costs and fees related to the case.
  • Download the specific Application to Expunge Court Record Form relevant to the petition from the Iowa Judicial Branch's Court Form page.
  • Complete and submit the expungement form through the Iowa Courts Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), or print it out and send it directly to the Story County Clerk of District Court.
  • The Story County Attorney's Office will review the petition to ensure that it meets the requirements.
  • If the court approves the application, the clerk will seal the court record and send notice to the Iowa Department of Public Safety to update their database.

How Do You Remove Story County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Expunging a Story County arrest record removes it from official databases. However, the record may still appear on third-party platforms. To ensure that the record is no longer accessible online, the subject must, in addition to expunction, request its removal from private online publishers of the arrest information. Furthermore, the individual should request de-indexing of the arrest record from search engines to ensure it no longer appears on search results.