Under Iowa law, when a record is expunged, it is sealed from public view. Under Iowa laws (Iowa Code ?§?§ 907.3 and 907.9), the only available option for expunging a criminal record is for the convicted person to obtain a deferred judgment at the time of the conviction. If a deferred judgment is not obtained at the time of the conviction, it may never be available for the defendant at a later date (consult with a criminal law attorney regarding any criminal charge before entering your plea).
For most Felony and Misdemeanor offenses, Iowa Courts can defer judgment, and place a defendant on probation,replica watches rather than sentence the defendant. Upon successful completion of probation, the defendant is discharged, and no conviction is recorded. The defendant may then petition the court for Expungement AFTER a period of at least two years has passed, and only IF your record is completely clean during that two-year period.
If your Iowa criminal record contains errors, you may have it corrected by contacting the Division of Criminal Investigation. To learn more, read the DCI’s online FAQ.