Iowa Felonies
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.