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Dubuque Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Dubuque, Iowa?

Arrest records in Dubuque, Iowa are considered public information pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 22, commonly known as the Iowa Open Records Law. This statute establishes that government records, including those pertaining to arrests made by law enforcement agencies, shall be accessible to members of the public with certain statutory exceptions. The Iowa Open Records Law operates under the presumption that government records should remain transparent to promote accountability in governmental operations and to ensure public oversight of law enforcement activities.

The Dubuque Police Department and Dubuque County Sheriff's Office maintain arrest records as part of their official duties. These records become public documents upon creation and are subject to disclosure requirements under Iowa Code § 22.2, which states that "every person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained in a public record."

Certain information within arrest records may be redacted or withheld if it falls under specific exemptions outlined in Iowa Code § 22.7, such as information that would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or compromise personal privacy beyond the scope of public interest.

How to Look Up Dubuque Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking to access arrest records in Dubuque County have multiple methods available through official channels. The Dubuque County Sheriff's Office and Dubuque Police Department maintain systems for public record retrieval in accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 22. Individuals may utilize the following procedures to obtain arrest information:

In-Person Requests: Citizens may submit requests directly at the Dubuque Law Enforcement Center. Proper identification must be presented, and applicable fees may apply for document reproduction.
Online Access Portal: The Dubuque County Sheriff's Office maintains a Police to Citizen (P2C) portal where recent arrest information, incident reports, and jail inmate rosters are available for public viewing.
Written Requests: Formal written requests may be submitted to the Records Division of either the Dubuque Police Department or Dubuque County Sheriff's Office. Requests must specify the information sought with reasonable particularity as required by Iowa Code § 22.3.
County Clerk of Court: Court records related to arrests and subsequent proceedings are maintained by the Dubuque County Clerk of Court, located within the Dubuque County Courthouse.

Dubuque Law Enforcement Center
770 Iowa Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: (563) 589-4410
Official Website

Dubuque County Courthouse
720 Central Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: (563) 589-4460
Official Website

Contents of a Dubuque Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by Dubuque County law enforcement agencies contain standardized information as prescribed by Iowa Administrative Code 661-8. These official documents typically include the following elements:

Biographical Information: Full legal name of the arrested individual, date of birth, physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color), and residential address.
Arrest Details: Date, time, and location of the arrest; name and badge number of the arresting officer; and the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest.
Criminal Charges: Specific Iowa Code violations alleged, including both the statutory citation and narrative description of each offense.
Booking Information: Unique booking identification number, fingerprint classification data, and photographic identification (commonly referred to as a "mugshot").
Custody Status: Information regarding pretrial detention, bond amount if applicable, and the detention facility where the individual is being held.
Case Disposition: Current status of the case within the judicial system, including scheduled court appearances and preliminary outcomes.

Pursuant to Iowa Code § 22.7(5), certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including confidential informant identities, investigative techniques, and information that could jeopardize ongoing investigations if disclosed.

Legal Restrictions on Arrest Record Access

While arrest records in Dubuque are generally public, Iowa law establishes specific limitations on access and use. The following restrictions apply to arrest record dissemination:

Juvenile Records: Pursuant to Iowa Code § 232.147, records pertaining to juvenile arrests are confidential and not available for public inspection except by court order or as otherwise provided by statute.
Expunged Records: Records that have been legally expunged under Iowa Code § 901C.2 are removed from public access and treated as if the arrest or conviction did not occur.
Sealed Records: Certain records may be sealed by court order, restricting public access while maintaining the records for law enforcement and judicial purposes.
Deferred Judgments: After successful completion of probation under a deferred judgment pursuant to Iowa Code § 907.3, records may be removed from public access upon petition to the court.
Confidential Informants: Information that could reveal the identity of confidential informants is protected from disclosure under Iowa Code § 22.7(5).

Law enforcement agencies and the Dubuque County Clerk of Court are required to comply with these statutory restrictions when processing public records requests. Unauthorized disclosure of protected information may result in civil penalties under Iowa Code § 22.10.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Dubuque

The expungement process in Dubuque County operates under the provisions of Iowa Code § 901C.2, which provides a legal mechanism for the removal of certain arrest records from public access. Individuals seeking expungement must meet specific statutory criteria and follow prescribed procedures.

Eligibility requirements for expungement in Dubuque County include:

The case resulted in an acquittal or dismissal of all charges
All court costs, fees, and financial obligations have been paid in full
At least 180 days have passed since the date of the acquittal or dismissal
The case was not dismissed due to the defendant being found incompetent to stand trial
The defendant was not found not guilty by reason of insanity

The expungement petition process requires:

Filing a verified petition with the Dubuque County Clerk of Court
Payment of applicable filing fees
Service of the petition on the Dubuque County Attorney's Office
Attendance at a scheduled hearing before a District Court Judge
Issuance of an expungement order if the petition is granted

Upon issuance of an expungement order, the Dubuque County Clerk of Court, Dubuque Police Department, and Dubuque County Sheriff's Office are required to remove the records from public access systems and mark them as expunged in internal databases. However, pursuant to Iowa Code § 901C.2(6), expunged records remain available to law enforcement agencies and the judicial department.

Dubuque County Attorney's Office
Dubuque County Courthouse
720 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone: (563) 589-4470
Official Website