A single misdemeanor conviction may be expunged by the court if at least eight years have passed since conviction and the person has no other convictions or pending criminal charges, has not previously been granted more than one deferred judgment, and has paid all financial obligations ordered by the court, including indigent counsel fees. A lengthy list of ineligible crimes includes weapons offenses, misuse of public office, livestock abuse, and a variety of violent or sexual offenses. A person may be granted only one expungement in a lifetime. There is no statutory authority to seal or expunge felony convictions or pardoned convictions. Deferred adjudication, followed by expungement of records, is available for first offenses; however, it may be used to enhance punishment for a subsequent offense. Records of acquittals and dismissed charges (excluding deferred adjudication) may be expunged after 180 days, but only if all court debt has been paid. Juvenile records are presumptively confidential if they do not involve a forcible felony offense, but forcible felony records may be made confidential upon petition; juvenile records may be sealed upon petition after a two-year waiting period if the juvenile is at least age 18 and has no subsequent offenses.
Administrative Certificate: Upon release, the Iowa Board of Parole automatically issues a Certificate of Employability to any eligible individual who received parole, work release, or early discharge, and who successfully completed requisite vocational programs while incarcerated. Certificates must be given effect in determining the rehabilitation of a candidate for an occupational or professional licensing.
