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Council Bluffs Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

Yes, arrest records are public in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This accessibility is governed by the Iowa Public Records Law (Iowa Code Chapter 22), which establishes that all government records, unless specifically exempted by statute, shall be open for public inspection and copying. Arrest records, maintained as part of the official documentation of law enforcement activities, fall under this provision. The public nature of these records serves to promote transparency in governmental operations and maintains accountability within the criminal justice system pursuant to Iowa Code § 22.2.

How to Look Up Council Bluffs Arrest Records in 2025

To obtain arrest records in Council Bluffs, several methods are available to members of the public. In 2025, individuals seeking these records may utilize the following resources:

Online Databases: The Records Management Section of the Council Bluffs Police Department maintains digital records that may be accessed through their official portal. Users must comply with identification verification procedures established by Iowa Code § 22.7.
Local Police Department: The Council Bluffs Police Department provides in-person access to arrest records at their headquarters. Requestors must complete standardized forms and present valid government-issued identification.

Council Bluffs Police Department
227 South 6th Street
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-4701
Council Bluffs Police Department

County Courthouse: The Pottawattamie County Courthouse maintains comprehensive arrest and legal records. Individuals may request access by appearing in person during regular business hours.

Pottawattamie County Courthouse
227 South 6th Street
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-5623

Iowa Courts Online: The Iowa Judicial Branch provides a centralized database for court records, including information related to arrests and subsequent court proceedings.
Mail Requests: Pursuant to Iowa Code § 22.3, governmental bodies shall provide reasonable access to public records by mail. Requestors must submit a formal written request including all necessary identifying information and a copy of valid identification.

Contents of a Council Bluffs Arrest Record

A Council Bluffs arrest record typically contains the following information as mandated by Iowa Administrative Code 661-8:

Full legal name and documented aliases of the arrested individual
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Statutory citation and description of the alleged offense
Arresting agency information and badge numbers of arresting officers
Booking photographs (mugshots)
Biometric data including fingerprints and, where applicable, DNA samples
Demographic information including date of birth, residential address, and physical descriptors
Case disposition information, where available
Bail or bond information
Court docket numbers and scheduled appearance dates

Certain information may be redacted in accordance with Iowa Code § 22.7, which provides for confidentiality of specific personal identifiers and information related to ongoing investigations.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The legal foundation for public access to arrest records in Council Bluffs is established through multiple statutory provisions. Iowa Code Chapter 22, known as the Iowa Open Records Law, creates the presumption that all government records shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted.

Under Iowa Code § 22.2(1), "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." This statutory right extends to arrest records maintained by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office.

The Iowa Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access these records, most notably in Des Moines Register & Tribune Co. v. Dwyer, where the court affirmed that arrest records constitute public records subject to disclosure. However, certain limitations exist:

Records pertaining to ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld under Iowa Code § 22.7(5)
Juvenile arrest records are subject to confidentiality provisions under Iowa Code § 232.147
Information that would jeopardize public safety or compromise law enforcement techniques may be redacted

Governmental bodies may charge reasonable fees for record retrieval and copying pursuant to Iowa Code § 22.3, but such fees must not exceed the actual cost of providing the service.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Council Bluffs

In Council Bluffs, the expungement of arrest records is governed by Iowa Code Chapter 901C. Individuals who have been arrested but not convicted, or who have fulfilled the terms of their sentence for eligible offenses, may petition for expungement under specific conditions:

For arrests not resulting in conviction, Iowa Code § 901C.2 permits expungement if all charges were dismissed or the individual was acquitted
For certain misdemeanor convictions, Iowa Code § 901C.3 allows expungement after a waiting period of eight years with no subsequent criminal convictions
Deferred judgments may qualify for expungement after successful completion of probation pursuant to Iowa Code § 907.9

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Pottawattamie County District Court. This petition must demonstrate that the individual meets all statutory criteria for expungement. Upon review, the court may issue an order sealing the arrest record from public view. However, expunged records remain accessible to law enforcement agencies and may be considered in subsequent criminal proceedings.

Pottawattamie County District Court
227 South 6th Street
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-5623

Limitations on Use of Arrest Record Information

Iowa law imposes significant restrictions on how arrest record information may be utilized, particularly in employment contexts. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 715.8, employers are prohibited from making adverse employment decisions based solely on arrest records that did not result in conviction. Additionally, the Iowa Civil Rights Act (Iowa Code Chapter 216) provides protections against discrimination based on criminal history that is not directly related to the position sought.

The Submit or Obtain a Report service provided by the Council Bluffs Police Department includes disclaimers regarding the permissible uses of arrest record information. Commercial vendors and private individuals who misuse arrest record information may face civil liability under Iowa's privacy protection statutes.

Government agencies utilizing arrest record information must comply with the federal Privacy Act of 1974 and corresponding state provisions that mandate:

Information must be relevant to the purpose for which it is collected
Reasonable security safeguards must be implemented
Individuals must be provided access to records pertaining to them
Correction procedures must be established for inaccurate information