Iowa is extremely tough on those it labels as sex offenders. Anyone convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony relating to sex crimes can be forced to add their name to the Iowa sex offender. Worst of all, there’s no differentiation between degrees of crimes. Someone fined for public urination faces the same penalties and social stigmas as someone convicted of rape. This leaves many wondering whether there’s any way to get off the Iowa sex offender registry.
Contact our Sex Crime Lawyers!
Iowa Sex Offender Registry Limitations
In Iowa, the minimum length for sex offender registration is 10-years. While on the list, registrants must notify police any time they create a new account online. It’s difficult to know that neighbors will be notified whenever they move to a new place, but they won’t know the actual charge.
Nobody is safe from Iowa’s sex offender registry. Juveniles must register as well. The youngest sex offender registrants in Iowa were just 13 years old at the time of the arrest and those records will follow them until they are at least 23, possibly older. Even a lenient judge does not have the power to prevent registration because the requirement is based on conviction.
Expungement
Expungement is a legal process that allows low-risk non-violent offenders to remove charges from their criminal records. This process is exceptionally useful for giving people a second chance or clearing up sentencing misconceptions. In most states, expungement makes it as though the crime never happened.
Similarly, many states allow low-risk sex offenders an opportunity to get off the registry with proper counseling. In Iowa, an expungement does not remove the sex offender registry status. Even if the crime itself is expunged, those convicted of sexual crimes must add themselves to the sex offender registry.
In Iowa, the best thing someone can do is avoid getting on the registry in the first place. An experienced criminal defense attorney can gather all the evidence and argue the case. An attorney is a skilled negotiator whose goal is to help their client obtain justice.
If you were accused of a sex crime, you might want legal representation. If you’d like an experienced Iowa city criminal defense attorney from Keegan, Tindal & Jaeger to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (319) 499-5524.