Felonies in Iowa
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Iowa felony classifications range from Class A Felonies through Class D Felony. Unlike misdemeanor offenses, all felony offenses are served in state prisons where misdemeanors are usually served in local or county jails. An individual can be charged with more than one felony at a time, such as sexual assault and murder. In these cases the two sentences will follow one another.
Class A Felonies are the most serious offenses and carry the most serious of punishments. The offenses in this classification of felony can have life in prison without the possibility of parole as the most serious punishment. The possibility of a death sentence for a Class A Felony is not possible as Iowa is one of the thirteen Unites States that does not have the death penalty. Crimes that fall into the Class A Felony category can include murder, kidnapping, rape, manslaughter, and arson.
The next section of felonies is the Class B Felony category. Class B Felonies can include manslaughter, drug crimes, kidnapping, sexual crimes, larceny, and robbery. The state of Iowa states that the maximum punishment for Class B Felonies is up to twenty-five years in a state prison.
Class C Felonies can include burglary, theft in the first degree, human trafficking where the victim is under the age of eighteen, driving under the influence, and criminal gang participation. Punishments for Class C Felonies include up to ten years of imprisonment in a state prison with or without a fine anywhere between one thousand dollars and ten thousand dollars.
The final category of felonies is the Class D Felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison with or without a fine between seven hundred fifty dollars and seventy-five hundred dollars. Crimes that fall under the Class D Felony can include driving under the influence, theft in the second degree, felonious driving, incest, and burglary in the third degree.
Iowa Expungement
The state of Iowa does not permit the expungement of any felony record. Statutes as set by Iowa law include no time limit for murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree; ten years for sexual abuse in the first degree, sexual abuse in the second degree, sexual abuse in the third degree, and sexual exploitation from a therapist or counselor unless the victim is under the age of eighteen and ten more years after the victim is over the age of eighteen; within ten years for sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree, sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree, and incest with a minor under the age of eighteen; and three years for all other offenses.
Expungement is available for those who have been acquitted of criminal charges or who have had criminal charges dismissed. If there has been dismissal or acquittal due to mental illness, no expungement is available. Juveniles who have reached the age of twenty-one may apply for expungement, unless the charges included an aggravated misdemeanor or felony. After an individual has been discharge from probation or where two years have passed since a public intoxication charge, expungement is possible if no other offenses exist.
