Iowa Charge Code Lookup

Type a Iowa charge code from a booking sheet, jail roster or ticket and see which law book and section it points to, with a link to the official text. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

Enter a code to see which law book it comes from and open the official text.

Iowa criminal code books and abbreviations

Iowa offenses are cited to one main law book:

  • Iowa Code (Iowa Code). Sections are written as chapter.section (708.2, 321J.2), for example 708.2, 124.401, 321J.2. See section 708.2

After an arrest in Iowa: the first court appearance

After a warrantless arrest, the person must be taken without unnecessary delay before the nearest or most accessible magistrate in the judicial district. (Iowa Code § 804.22(1))

When an arrest is made without a warrant, the person arrested shall, without unnecessary delay, be taken before the nearest or most accessible magistrate in the judicial district in which such arrest was made or before a magistrate in an approved judicial district

Iowa courts call this hearing the initial appearance.

What this page does not do

  • It does not look up a person, a booking or a case.
  • It does not say what a charge will lead to; the prosecutor decides what is filed.
  • It collects nothing; what you type stays in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read a Iowa charge code?

Find the number and the abbreviation. Iowa Code is the Iowa Code. A section is written as chapter.section (708.2, 321J.2). The lookup above links the official text.

How long can you be held in Iowa before seeing a judge?

After a warrantless arrest, the person must be taken without unnecessary delay before the nearest or most accessible magistrate in the judicial district. (Iowa Code § 804.22(1)).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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