Iowa Code § 232.148 (2026)

1. Except as provided in this section, a child shall not be fingerprinted or photographed by a criminal or juvenile justice agency after the child is taken into custody.

2. Fingerprints of a child who has been taken into custody shall be taken and filed by a criminal or juvenile justice agency investigating the commission of a public offense other than a simple misdemeanor. In addition, photographs of a child who has been taken into custody may be taken and filed by a criminal or juvenile justice agency investigating the commission of a public offense other than a simple misdemeanor. The criminal or juvenile justice agency shall forward the fingerprints to the department of public safety for inclusion in the automated fingerprint identification system and may also retain a copy of the fingerprint card for comparison with latent fingerprints and the identification of repeat offenders.

3. If a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that latent fingerprints found during the investigation of the commission of a public offense are those of a particular child, fingerprints of the child may be taken for immediate comparison with the latent fingerprints regardless of the nature of the offense. If the comparison is negative the fingerprint card and other copies of the fingerprints taken shall be immediately destroyed. If the comparison is positive, the fingerprint card and other copies of the fingerprints taken shall be delivered to the division of criminal investigation of the department of public safety in the manner and on the forms prescribed by the commissioner of public safety within two working days after the fingerprints are taken. After notification by the child or the child’s representative that the child has not had a delinquency petition filed against the child or has not entered into an informal adjustment agreement, the fingerprint card and copies of the fingerprints shall be immediately destroyed.

4. Fingerprint and photograph files of children may be inspected by peace officers when necessary for the discharge of their official duties. The juvenile court may authorize other inspections of such files in individual cases upon a showing that inspection is necessary in the public interest.

5. Fingerprints and photographs of a child shall be removed from the file and destroyed upon notification by the child’s guardian ad litem or legal counsel to the department of public safety that either of the following situations apply:

a. A petition alleging the child to be delinquent is not filed and the child has not entered into an informal adjustment, admitting involvement in a delinquent act alleged in the complaint.

b. After a petition is filed, the petition is dismissed or the proceedings are suspended and the child has not entered into a consent decree and has not been adjudicated delinquent on the basis of a delinquent act other than one alleged in the petition in question, or the child has not been placed on youthful offender status. [C79, 81, §232.148; 82 Acts, ch 1209, §17] 94 Acts, ch 1172, §25; 95 Acts, ch 67, §17; 95 Acts, ch 191, §16, 17; 96 Acts, ch 1034, §11; 97 Acts, ch 126, §32, 33; 98 Acts, ch 1100, §26; 99 Acts, ch 37, §1 Referred to in §13B.4A, 216A.136, 232.91, 232.151, 232C.4, 692.15, 692A.121, 726.23 Other provisions relating to fingerprints and photographs, see §690.2 and 690.4\n\nTue Dec 09 22:21:33 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 232 (92, 1) 105 JUVENILE JUSTICE, §232.149A \n