Lee County Criminal Records
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Lee County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Lee County, Iowa may access publicly available information through official government channels, court systems, and authorized online tools. LeeIARecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may relate to criminal history records maintained by county and state agencies. Records accessible through official sources may include the following categories:
- Arrest and booking records
- Court case filings and dispositions
- Felony and misdemeanor conviction records
- Warrant information
- Sex offender registration data
- Jail and inmate records
- Probation and sentencing information
Records can be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods outline the primary access points currently available to the public.
1. County Court Records
Lee County is served by the Iowa District Court for the 8th Judicial District, which maintains two courthouse locations due to the county's unique dual-county-seat structure.
Lee County District Court – Fort Madison (Lee North)
933 Avenue H
Fort Madison, IA 52627
Phone: (319) 372-3523
Lee North | Judicial District 8 – Iowa Judicial Branch
Lee County District Court – Keokuk (Lee South)
25 North 7th Street
Keokuk, IA 52632
Phone: (319) 524-1440
Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the clerk of court's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Requestors should provide the full name of the subject and, where available, a date of birth or case number. Government-issued photo identification may be requested by staff. Public access terminals are available at both courthouse locations, allowing members of the public to view district court case documents on-site.
2. Sheriff's Office
The Lee County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and jail inmate information.
Lee County Sheriff's Office
2714 Avenue H
Fort Madison, IA 52627
Phone: (319) 372-2525
Lee County Sheriff's Office
Members of the public may submit written requests for arrest records and booking information directly to the Sheriff's Office. Fees for copies of records are assessed in accordance with Iowa Code § 22.3, which governs the reproduction of public records. Current inmate and booking information may be available through the office's public inquiry process.
3. Online Court Search
The Iowa Judicial Branch provides a statewide electronic docket search tool through Iowa Courts Online. Members of the public may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The system returns case type, filing date, charges, and disposition information for district court cases statewide, including Lee County. Searches are available without registration. Note that not all historical records are digitized, and sealed or expunged cases do not appear in online results.
4. State Criminal History Repository
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), a division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, maintains the state's central criminal history repository. Formal background check requests require submission of the subject's full name, date of birth, and, for fingerprint-based checks, a completed fingerprint card. Processing times and fees vary by request type. Members of the public may initiate a criminal history background check request through the DCI's official portal.
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 725-6066
Criminal History Record Check Information – Iowa DPS
5. Written/Mail Requests
Members of the public may submit written requests for criminal records by mail to the Lee County Clerk of Court or the Iowa DCI. Requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the specific records sought. Under Iowa Code § 22.8, agencies are required to respond to public records requests promptly, with a reasonable timeframe not to exceed 20 business days for complex requests.
What Is Lee County Criminal Record
A criminal record in Lee County is an official compilation of documented interactions between an individual and the criminal justice system, maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, and state repositories. Under Iowa law, criminal records encompass a broad range of documentation generated at each stage of the criminal justice process.
The distinction between record types is significant. An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody but does not indicate guilt or conviction. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt, whether through a guilty plea, no-contest plea, or trial verdict. Felony records involve offenses classified under Iowa Code § 902.9 as Class A, B, C, or D felonies, while misdemeanor records cover simple, serious, and aggravated misdemeanor classifications. Juvenile records are treated separately under Iowa law and are subject to confidentiality protections; at present, juvenile adjudications are not equivalent to adult criminal convictions and are sealed from general public access.
Active warrants represent current court orders for an individual's arrest and are distinct from historical records of past criminal activity. The following agencies maintain criminal records relevant to Lee County:
- Lee County Sheriff's Office – arrest records, jail records, booking information
- Iowa District Court, 8th Judicial District – court case files, charges, dispositions, sentencing orders
- Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation – statewide criminal history repository
- Fort Madison Police Department and Keokuk Police Department – local arrest and incident records
Records are created at the point of arrest, updated through each stage of prosecution, and finalized upon disposition. A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment information, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, fines, restitution orders, probation or parole conditions, and appeals.
Are Criminal Records Public In Lee County
Criminal records in Lee County are public records under Iowa law. Iowa Code § 22.1, the Iowa Open Records Act, establishes that "every person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained therein." Adult conviction records, court proceedings, and case dispositions are accessible to members of the public pursuant to this statute.
Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure. These include:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are confidential under Iowa Code Chapter 232
- Sealed or expunged records, which are removed from public access by court order
- Records subject to active law enforcement investigation
- Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
- Mental health and substance abuse evaluation records incorporated into court files
As the Iowa Attorney General's Office notes, the Open Records Act reflects a legislative policy that "openness in government is the rule and confidentiality is the exception." Federal records maintained by agencies such as the FBI operate under separate federal statutes and are not subject to Iowa's open records framework. Pardoned convictions may remain in the public record but will reflect the pardon status.
How To Find Criminal Records in Lee County Online
Official County Resources
The Iowa Judicial Branch's Iowa Courts Online search tool provides public access to district court docket records, including Lee County criminal cases. The portal allows searches by party name, case number, and filing date range. No registration is required for basic searches. The system displays case type, charges, filing dates, and disposition information. In-person public access terminals at both Lee County courthouses provide access to the same system and may display additional case documents not available remotely.
State-Level Resources
The Iowa DCI's criminal history background check system provides name-based and fingerprint-based searches of the statewide criminal history repository. Name-based searches are available to the public for a fee; fingerprint-based searches are required for certain employment and licensing purposes. The Iowa DPS criminal history record check portal outlines current procedures and fee schedules.
Search Tips
- Search using the subject's full legal name as well as known aliases
- Case number searches return the most precise results
- Cross-reference results across the court portal and the DCI repository
- Note that online records reflect data as of the most recent system update and may not reflect same-day filings
Limitations
Online databases reflect a data lag of hours to days. Records predating electronic filing systems may not be digitized and require in-person requests. Sealed and expunged records do not appear in any public online search. Online results do not constitute an official certified background check for employment or licensing purposes.
Can You Search Lee County Criminal Records for Free
Free Options
1. In-Person Inspection: Iowa Code § 22.2 mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Physical inspection of criminal court records at the Lee County District Court clerk's office is available without fee during regular business hours. Copying fees apply to reproduced documents.
2. Free Online Databases: The Iowa Courts Online portal provides free name-based and case-number-based searches of district court records, including criminal case dockets for Lee County. No account or payment is required for basic docket searches.
3. Sheriff's Logs: The Lee County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest and booking logs that may be inspected in person at no charge pursuant to the Iowa Open Records Act.
What Costs Money
| Record Type | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of court document | $1.00 per page (plus certification fee) |
| State name-based background check (DCI) | $15.00 per request |
| Fingerprint-based background check (DCI) | $44.00 per request |
| Staff-assisted record searches | Variable |
| Expedited processing | Variable |
Fee schedules are established under Iowa Code § 22.3, which authorizes agencies to charge the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances as determined by the custodial agency.
What's Included in a Lee County Criminal Record
Identifying Information
A Lee County criminal record at present includes the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, State Identification Number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information
Arrest records document the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond information, and the jail facility where the individual was held.
Court Case Information
Court records maintained by the Iowa District Court include the case number, court jurisdiction, filing date, statutory charges with felony or misdemeanor classification, plea entered, and attorney of record information.
Disposition
Disposition records reflect the verdict or outcome, conviction date where applicable, sentencing details including incarceration length, fines, restitution, probation or parole conditions, and any appeals filed or resolved.
Additional Record Elements
- Outstanding warrants
- Protective or no-contact orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/OWI convictions
- Pending charges
NOT Included in Public Records
- Juvenile adjudication records
- Expunged or sealed records
- Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
- Completed pretrial diversion program records (where expungement has been granted)
Accuracy Note
Members of the public who identify errors in their own criminal records may submit a challenge to the Iowa DCI pursuant to the procedures outlined on the criminal history record check information page. Accurate and complete records are essential for employment, licensing, and legal proceedings.
How Long Does Lee County Keep Criminal Records
Legal Requirements
Iowa court records retention is governed by the Iowa Supreme Court's records retention schedule, which establishes minimum retention periods for all court record types. The Iowa State Archives and the Iowa Judicial Branch jointly administer records management for district court files.
Retention by Record Type
| Record Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Felony convictions | Permanent |
| Misdemeanor convictions | Permanent |
| Arrest records (no conviction) | Retained; may be subject to expungement |
| Dismissed or acquitted cases | Permanent (disposition noted in record) |
| Juvenile records | Sealed at age 18; subject to destruction per Iowa Code Chapter 232 |
| Pending cases | Retained until final resolution |
Agency Differences
Iowa District Court records are retained permanently in accordance with the Iowa Supreme Court's records retention schedule. The Lee County Sheriff's Office retains jail and booking records for a period determined by county policy, at minimum consistent with state retention requirements. The Iowa DCI retains conviction records permanently in the statewide repository.
Physical vs. Electronic Records
Electronic records are retained indefinitely in state and court databases. Physical paper records may be destroyed after scanning and digitization, with the electronic version serving as the official record of retention.
Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement
Destruction permanently eliminates a record. Sealing restricts public access while preserving the record for law enforcement use. Expungement, available under Iowa Code § 901C.1 for certain first-offense acquittals and deferred judgments, removes the record from public access and, in qualifying cases, from law enforcement databases. Expungement eligibility is limited and subject to court approval. Even where a county destroys physical records, electronic copies may exist in state databases unless the record has been legally expunged.
Federal Records
Records submitted to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) are maintained separately under federal retention rules and are not subject to Iowa expungement orders unless the FBI is separately notified and complies.
Practical Implications
Felony and misdemeanor convictions remain accessible on background checks indefinitely under Iowa law. Employment background screening services at present report convictions without a statutory time limit, though the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act limits certain consumer report disclosures to seven years for non-conviction records. Professional licensing boards in Iowa may require full disclosure of all criminal history regardless of age.