Compendium of State Privacy and Security Legislation: 1997 Overview - Iowa; Iowa Code Annotated

• NCJ Number: 170051
• Date Published: May 1997
• Publication Type: Publication

Annotation

This is a 1997 overview of Iowa law pertinent to the privacy and security of criminal justice information.

Abstract

A chapter of the Iowa code on the examination of public records gives every person the right to examine and copy public records and to publish or otherwise disseminate public records or the information contained therein. Some public records, however, are to be kept confidential, unless otherwise ordered by a court or by a person duly authorized to release such information. Twenty-three types of records are specified as confidential records. A chapter on the Bureau of Criminal Identification specifies requirements for the collection of criminal identification data, namely, fingerprints and photographs. Provisions for criminal history and intelligence data are contained in another chapter of the code. They encompass the collection, management, and dissemination of such data. A chapter on the examination of public records defines "public records," mandates a citizen's right to examine such records, requires supervision for such examination, and specifies records that are to be considered confidential. Another chapter presents regulations for the Identification Section of the Division of Criminal Investigation. Provisions pertain to the release of information; the right of notice, access, and challenge; record review; inaccuracies in criminal history; fingerprint files and crime reports; the taking of fingerprints; the destruction of fingerprints; the release of information to youth service agencies; and the scope of record checks for youth service agencies.