The Jury Systems Improvement Act is a federal Act that is in place for employers and employees in states across the country, including the state of Iowa. The Act is in place in order to ensure that when an employee is called to serve on a jury duty , the ... continue reading

According to Iowa misdemeanor laws, any person who is armed with a handgun, or any loaded firearm, whether concealed or not, within the limits of any city is criminally liable for an aggravated misdemeanor. This prohibition does not apply to the possession of a firearm in a dwelling or place ... continue reading

The Iowa sex offender laws have two main parts that are meant to help protect victims during the criminal proceedings and to help protect the general public by giving them the information they need to stay informed about convicted sex offenders living in their communities.

The first part of ... continue reading

According to the Iowa public criminal records laws, anyone in the state of Iowa should be able to perform a criminal background check on another person. The public criminal records should be maintained so that you can obtain the information that you may need about a person when you are ... continue reading

Iowa sex offender registry laws require any person released from jail – who committed a crime that is sexual in nature – to register with the state. Every state has a similar law, with the goal of providing information that allows the public to exercise caution when living near a ... continue reading

It may be best to start talking about Employee Drug Testing Laws in Iowa by looking at an individual case that goes directly to the heart of the matter.  Just a few months ago, the Iowa Supreme Court determined that a woman was wrongfully discharged from her job after testing ... continue reading

Unlike a civil jury trial, the jury in a criminal case must return a unanimous verdict. In most cases, the verdict is either guilty or not guilty. The jury may also find the defendant guilty of a lesser charge, if that lesser charge was submitted in the jury instructions. If ... continue reading

I have been doing a lot of investigation into insurance fraud laws, and I’d like to talk a little today about the fraud laws in the state of Iowa. Most people don’t think much about insurance fraud because, to them, the insurance company  is just an entity that is “out ... continue reading

The state of Iowa recently extended the statute of limitations for sex crimes.

Under the Iowa criminal statute of limitations laws, minors who are victims of sexual abuse have up to 10 years after they turn 18 to report the crimes.  The statute of limitations for rape and other ... continue reading

The state of Iowa does not have a separate probate court to handle issues related to probate in particular. The Iowa probate court instead is the District Court. The District court has just one judge that handles issues related to probate. However, when the probate issue is dealing with a ... continue reading

Statutory rape is a term that applies to the criminal act of engaging in sexual relations with a minor as defined by a particular state. Most states have a law that declares this to be a criminal act. The word “rape” is most often associated with a violent sexual crime, ... continue reading

Besides law enforcement officers and government officials who else needs to search criminal records? The answer: Everyone who has a business and hired employees to run it. Bookstores, shop-owners, drycleaners, check cashing establishments, Veterinarians, Dentists, and Doctors, these are a few of the business professionals, which need to in sure ... continue reading

The state of Iowa has recently revamped its identity theft laws, and I would like to go over those changes today so that everyone can understand what they mean. Like a couple of other states, Iowa has gone with the “identity theft passport” concept. That means that, if you are ... continue reading

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said today that an Ohio company must change its tactics when it provides ads and promotions to dealers in Iowa and other states for used-car “sales events.”

The company’s previous ad campaigns were in violation of Iowa fraud laws. “We alleged that G&A Marketing ... continue reading

Recently, a few people have asked me to write about Iowa felony laws.  Under Iowa law, gambling for less than $100 becomes a felony on the third conviction. This apparently includes online gambling and friendly poker games. Three seems to be the magic number in Iowa. Since April of 2003, ... continue reading

Iowa criminal laws are laws that pertain to public behavior in the state of Iowa. A criminal law is also known as a penal law. These are laws that are invented and outlined by the state to protect the rights of all citizens. In addition to outlining and defining the ... continue reading

Iowa has some of the most restrictive workplace drug testing laws in the nation.  Under Iowa law, only certain occupations such as law enforcement officers may legally be subject to drug screening. Under Iowa law, random drug testing is prohibited. An employer may require pre-employment drug tests for peace officers ... continue reading

The Iowa criminal background check laws make it possible for an employer or potential landlord to perform a comprehensive criminal background check on a job or placement candidate. The criminal background check will generally be very thorough and will encompass all sets of criminal activity. The search will include the ... continue reading

Let’s discuss Iowa alcohol laws. Iowa’s laws on alcoholic beverages are more restrictive than many other Midwestern states.

In Iowa, spirits are sold in state-owned stores, sometimes called ABC or Package stores. Beer and wine may be sold in retail establishments. All beer with an alcoholic content higher than ... continue reading

On or after July 1, 1995, an individual who has been convicted or adjudicated of a criminal offense against a minor, sexual exploitation, or a sexually violent crime or who was on probation, parole, or work release status, or who was incarcerated on or after July 1, 1995 is required ... continue reading