Expungement of acquittals and dismissals (Iowa Code 901C.2) in Iowa: which records can be cleared
What Iowa law lets you clear, record by record.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
In Iowa it is called expungement: an expunged court record is moved to a secure, confidential file that the public cannot see; it is not destroyed. Some misdemeanor convictions may be cleared, and Iowa also clears some records automatically.
- Main remedy
- Expungement of acquittals and dismissals (Iowa Code 901C.2)
- What it covers
- Criminal cases in which you were acquitted of all charges or all charges were dismissed (any public offense, including simple misdemeanors).
- Ways to clear a record
- 4
- Automatic relief
- Yes
Which records can be cleared in Iowa
Expungement — In Iowa, an expunged court record is moved to a secure, confidential file that the public cannot see; it is not destroyed. Certain courts and agencies can still see it, and after a misdemeanor expungement the conviction is also removed from the state criminal history files kept by the Department of Public Safety.
Iowa has 4 ways to clear a record. Each covers different records and has its own waiting period.
Expungement of acquittals and dismissals (Iowa Code 901C.2)
Criminal cases in which you were acquitted of all charges or all charges were dismissed (any public offense, including simple misdemeanors).
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Acquittal or dismissal of all charges | See the rule At least 180 days must pass after the acquittal or dismissal, unless the court finds good cause (for example, identity theft or mistaken identity). | The judgment of acquittal or order of dismissal |
- Not eligible
- Cases dismissed because you were found not guilty by reason of insanity; cases where you were found incompetent to stand trial; dismissals after a deferred judgment. You must have paid all court costs, fees and other court-ordered financial obligations in the case.
Law: Iowa Code 901C.2; Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.86
Source: Official text
Misdemeanor expungement (Iowa Code 901C.3)
Most simple, serious and aggravated misdemeanor convictions.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Misdemeanor conviction | 8 years More than 8 years must have passed since the conviction. | The date of conviction |
- Not eligible
- Public intoxication; certain underage alcohol offenses; driving while barred, suspended or revoked; OWI; sex offenses; involuntary manslaughter; certain assaults; domestic abuse assault; harassment; stalking; removing an officer's communication device; certain trespass; offenses under chapters 717C, 719, 720, 724 (weapons), 726, 728 and 901A; 721.2, 721.10, 723.1; commercial-driver disqualifying offenses; comparable prior-law offenses. You must have no pending charges, must not have previously received two deferred judgments, and must have paid all fines, costs, fees and restitution.
- Limits
- Only once in your lifetime. One application can cover several misdemeanors only if they arose from the same transaction or occurrence.
Law: Iowa Code 901C.3; Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.86; 123.46; 321.218, 321A.32, 321J.21; 708.2(3); 708.2A
Source: Official text
Expungement of public intoxication, underage alcohol possession and juvenile prostitution convictions (Iowa Code 123.46(6), 123.47(9), 725.1(1)(c))
A conviction for public intoxication or related public-drinking offenses; a conviction for possession of alcohol under the legal age; a prostitution conviction for an offense committed when you were under 18.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Public intoxication, underage possession, or prostitution under 18 | 2 years After 2 years from the conviction, the court must expunge it if you had no other criminal convictions in those 2 years, other than local traffic violations or simple misdemeanor traffic offenses under chapter 321. | The date of conviction |
- Not eligible
- Any other criminal conviction during the 2-year period (other than local traffic violations or simple misdemeanor violations of chapter 321).
Law: Iowa Code 123.46(6), 123.47(9), 725.1(1)(c); Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.86; 123.47(3); 725.1(1)(a)
Source: Official text
Deferred judgment expungement (Iowa Code 907.9)
Cases where the court deferred judgment and you completed probation, plus counts dismissed in that case.
| Kind of case | Waiting period | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
Deferred judgment, probation completed | No waiting period The court record is expunged when you are discharged from probation, once you have paid restitution, costs and fees in the case. | Discharge from probation |
- Not eligible
- Dismissed counts are not expunged if another count in the case led to a conviction that was not expunged.
Law: Iowa Code 907.9(4)
Source: Official text
Juvenile records in Iowa
After a delinquency adjudication, the juvenile court schedules a sealing hearing on its own 2 years after the last official action or at age 18, whichever is later. It seals the records if you have no later felony or serious or aggravated misdemeanor conviction or adjudication and nothing is pending; OWI adjudications and certain youthful offender cases cannot be sealed, and for acts that would be felonies or aggravated misdemeanors the court must also find sealing is in your and the public's best interest. Records of complaints that did not lead to adjudication can be sealed on application. Sealed records are treated as if they do not exist.
Law: Iowa Code 232.150
What you can say afterwards
An expunged record becomes confidential and exempt from public access under Iowa Code 22.7. After a misdemeanor expungement, the conviction is removed from the Department of Public Safety criminal history files. Expunged dismissal and deferred-judgment records remain available without a court order to you and to agencies with access to the deferred judgment docket; expunged misdemeanor records are available only by court order.
Law: Iowa Code 901C.2(2), 901C.3(4)-(5), 907.9(4)(b)
Records Iowa clears on its own
- Law
- Deferred judgment expungement on discharge
- What is cleared
- When you complete probation on a deferred judgment and have paid the financial obligations in that case, the court's record of the deferred judgment and the dismissed counts is expunged without a separate petition. Iowa has no automatic expungement of convictions.
- Started
- Long-standing; payment condition applies to deferred judgments not expunged before July 1, 2012.
Law: Iowa Code 907.9(4)(b)-(f)
Pardons in Iowa
- Who decides
- The Governor, usually after review and recommendation by the Iowa Board of Parole
- How
- Submit the joint Application for Pardon and/or Restoration of Firearm Rights to the Iowa Board of Parole; it may be sent to the DCI for investigation, then to the Governor. The Governor's general policy is to require 10 years after you discharge your sentence before granting a pardon. A pardon restores rights but does not erase the record. Deferred judgments cannot be pardoned.
Law: Iowa Code ch. 914
In nearby states
Steps to clear a record in Iowa
Start with your record
Find out exactly what your record shows: every arrest, charge and outcome. Iowa Judicial Branch: Instructions for Application to Expunge Misdemeanor Court Records and Iowa Judicial Branch: court forms (e-signing and filing).
Check the waiting period
Waiting periods differ by case and remedy. Waiting periods.
Start the case
You file the request in the court that handled the case. How to file.
Ask for free help
Free help: Iowa Legal Aid.
Free help in Iowa
Questions about clearing a record in Iowa
What is clearing a record called in Iowa?
Expungement. In Iowa, an expunged court record is moved to a secure, confidential file that the public cannot see; it is not destroyed. Certain courts and agencies can still see it, and after a misdemeanor expungement the conviction is also removed from the state criminal history files kept by the Department of Public Safety.
Which records can be cleared in Iowa?
Expungement of acquittals and dismissals: Criminal cases in which you were acquitted of all charges or all charges were dismissed (any public offense, including simple misdemeanors). Misdemeanor expungement: Most simple, serious and aggravated misdemeanor convictions. Expungement of public intoxication, underage alcohol possession and juvenile prostitution convictions: A conviction for public intoxication or related public-drinking offenses; a conviction for possession of alcohol under the legal age; a prostitution conviction for an offense committed when you were under 18. Deferred judgment expungement: Cases where the court deferred judgment and you completed probation, plus counts dismissed in that case.
Is there a Clean Slate law in Iowa?
When you complete probation on a deferred judgment and have paid the financial obligations in that case, the court's record of the deferred judgment and the dismissed counts is expunged without a separate petition. Iowa has no automatic expungement of convictions.
Are juvenile records sealed in Iowa?
After a delinquency adjudication, the juvenile court schedules a sealing hearing on its own 2 years after the last official action or at age 18, whichever is later. It seals the records if you have no later felony or serious or aggravated misdemeanor conviction or adjudication and nothing is pending; OWI adjudications and certain youthful offender cases cannot be sealed, and for acts that would be felonies or aggravated misdemeanors the court must also find sealing is in your and the public's best interest. Records of complaints that did not lead to adjudication can be sealed on application. Sealed records are treated as if they do not exist.
What can I say after my record is cleared in Iowa?
An expunged record becomes confidential and exempt from public access under Iowa Code 22.7. After a misdemeanor expungement, the conviction is removed from the Department of Public Safety criminal history files. Expunged dismissal and deferred-judgment records remain available without a court order to you and to agencies with access to the deferred judgment docket; expunged misdemeanor records are available only by court order.