Iowa Code » Chapter 232 — JUVENILE JUSTICE
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 232.71D (2026)

Founded child abuse — central registry

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. The requirements of this section shall apply to child abuse information relating to a report of child abuse and to a child abuse assessment performed in accordance with section 232.71B.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 3 and 4, and section 235A.19, subsection 3, if the department issues a finding that the alleged child abuse meets the definition of child abuse under section 232.68, subsection 2, the names of the child and the alleged perpetrator of the alleged child abuse and any other child abuse information shall be placed in the central registry as a case of founded child abuse.

3. a. Unless any of the circumstances listed in paragraph “b” are applicable, cases to which any of the following circumstances apply shall not be placed in the central registry:

(1) A finding of physical abuse in which the department has determined the injury resulting from the abuse was minor, isolated, and unlikely to reoccur.

(2) A finding of abuse by failure to provide adequate supervision or by failure to provide adequate clothing, in which the department has determined the risk from the abuse to the child’s health and welfare was minor, isolated, and unlikely to reoccur.

b. If any of the following circumstances apply in addition to those listed in paragraph “a”, the names of the child and the alleged perpetrator of the alleged child abuse and any other child abuse information shall be placed in the central registry as a case of founded child abuse:

(1) The case was referred for juvenile or criminal court action as a result of the acts or omissions of the alleged perpetrator or a criminal or juvenile court action was initiated by the county attorney or juvenile court within twelve months of the date of the department’s report concerning the case, in which the alleged perpetrator was convicted of a crime involving the child or there was a delinquency or child in need of assistance adjudication.

(2) The department determines the acts or omissions of the alleged perpetrator meet the definition of child abuse and the department has previously determined within the five-year period preceding the issuance of the department’s report that the acts or omissions of the alleged perpetrator in a prior case met the definition of child abuse.

(3) The department determines the alleged perpetrator of the child abuse will continue to pose a danger to the child who is the subject of the report of child abuse or to another child with whom the alleged perpetrator may come into contact.

4. Cases of alleged child abuse to which any of the following circumstances apply shall be placed in the central registry as follows:

a. A finding of sexual abuse in which the alleged perpetrator of the abuse is age thirteen or younger. However, the name of the alleged perpetrator shall be withheld from the registry.

b. A finding of sexual abuse in which the alleged perpetrator of the abuse is age fourteen through seventeen and the court has found there is good cause for the name of the alleged\n\nTue Dec 09 22:21:33 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 232 (92, 1) §232.71D, JUVENILE JUSTICE 58\n\nperpetrator to be removed from the central registry. Only the name of the alleged perpetrator shall be removed from the registry.

5. If report data and disposition data are placed in the central registry in accordance with this section, the department shall make periodic follow-up reports in a manner prescribed by the registry so that the registry is kept up-to-date and fully informed concerning the case.

6. a. The confidentiality of all of the following shall be maintained in accordance with section 217.30:

(1) Assessment data.

(2) Information pertaining to an allegation of child abuse for which there was no assessment performed.

(3) Information pertaining to a report of suspected child abuse for which there was an assessment performed but no determination was made as to whether the definition of child abuse was met.

(4) Information pertaining to an allegation of child abuse which was determined to not meet the definition of child abuse. Individuals identified in section 235A.15, subsection 4, are authorized to have access to such information under section 217.30.

(5) Report data and disposition data pertaining to an allegation of child abuse determined to meet the definition of child abuse which is not subject to placement in the central registry. Individuals identified in section 235A.15, subsection 3, are authorized to have access to such data under section 217.30.

b. The confidentiality of report data and disposition data pertaining to an allegation of child abuse determined to meet the definition of child abuse which is subject to placement in the central registry, shall be maintained as provided in chapter 235A. 97 Acts, ch 176, §5, 25, 26, 43; 99 Acts, ch 192, §33; 2004 Acts, ch 1086, §43; 2005 Acts, ch 121, §3; 2011 Acts, ch 28, §3, 4; 2011 Acts, ch 131, §57, 158; 2012 Acts, ch 1082, §1; 2013 Acts, ch 115, §6 – 8, 19, 20 Referred to in §232.68, 235A.14, 235A.15, 235A.17, 235A.18, 235A.19, 237A.5 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2006–2026 · leading case: Doe v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 786 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 2010).
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Doe v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 786 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 2010). · cites it 55× “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
Grant v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 722 N.W.2d 169 (Iowa 2006). · cites it 2× “§ 232.71D(3) (stating founded child abuse reports shall be placed on the central registry).”
Michael Taylor v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 870 N.W.2d 262 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “” In a prior child abuse registry case interpreting Iowa Code section 232.71D, our supreme court explained: The purpose of statutory interpretation is to determine the legislature’s intent.”
Jane Doe Vs. Iowa Dep't Of Human Servs. (Iowa 2010). · cites it 45× “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
Brian Sydnes v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs. (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “The ALJ sustained the founded child abuse assessment and Brian’s placement on the central abuse registry under Iowa Code section 232.71D. Brian appealed, and the DHS director’s December 24 final decision adopted the ALJ’s proposed decision, stating: “A reasonable and prudent…”
N.H., on behalf of R.W. & A.W., Minor Child. (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “(3)(b) The department shall provide a person named in a child abuse report as having abused a child, who has been adversely affected by a founded child abuse disposition, notwithstanding the placement of the report data in the central registry pursuant to section 232.71D, with…”
Sean P. Huffman v. aIowa Dep't of Health & Human Servs. (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “In August 2022, the Department moved for summary judgment in the administrative proceedings, citing: (1) Huffman’s sexual abuse conviction; (2) Iowa Code section 232.71D(3)(b)(1), which requires that a perpetrator’s name be “placed in the central registry as a case of founded…”
Amanda Cooke v. Iowa Dep't of Health & Human Servs. (Iowa 2026). · cites it 2× “We have previously recognized that the general assembly gave HHS “interpretive power with the binding force of law over the elaboration of Iowa Code section 232.71D,” concerning the founded child abuse central registry.”
Dana Peterson v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs. (Iowa Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “68(2)(a)(4)(b), and because the risk was not minor, isolated, and unlikely to reoccur—the test used to determine registry placement—the DHS placed the incident on the abuse registry under Iowa Code section 232.71D(3)(b)(3). In addition to placing the 2 King was not an approved…”
Robert James Grant Vs. Iowa Dep't Of Human Servs. (Iowa 2006). · cites it 2× “§ 232.71D(3) (stating founded child abuse reports shall be placed on the central registry).”
In the Interest of J.C., Minor Child, D.C. (Iowa Ct. App. 2014). “§ 232.71D (providing the name of the child and alleged perpetrator shall be placed on the registry if the department determines the conduct meets the definition of “child abuse”).”
— Iowa Code § 232.71D(2) — 2 cases
Doe v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 786 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 2010). “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
Jane Doe Vs. Iowa Dep't Of Human Servs. (Iowa 2010). “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
— Iowa Code § 232.71D(3) — 4 cases
Doe v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 786 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 2010). “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
Grant v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 722 N.W.2d 169 (Iowa 2006). “§ 232.71D(3) (stating founded child abuse reports shall be placed on the central registry).”
Jane Doe Vs. Iowa Dep't Of Human Servs. (Iowa 2010). “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
Robert James Grant Vs. Iowa Dep't Of Human Servs. (Iowa 2006). “§ 232.71D(3) (stating founded child abuse reports shall be placed on the central registry).”
— Iowa Code § 232.71D(3)(b)(1) — 1 case
Sean P. Huffman v. aIowa Dep't of Health & Human Servs. (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “In August 2022, the Department moved for summary judgment in the administrative proceedings, citing: (1) Huffman’s sexual abuse conviction; (2) Iowa Code section 232.71D(3)(b)(1), which requires that a perpetrator’s name be “placed in the central registry as a case of founded…”
— Iowa Code § 232.71D(3)(b)(3) — 1 case
Dana Peterson v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs. (Iowa Ct. App. 2014). “68(2)(a)(4)(b), and because the risk was not minor, isolated, and unlikely to reoccur—the test used to determine registry placement—the DHS placed the incident on the abuse registry under Iowa Code section 232.71D(3)(b)(3). In addition to placing the 2 King was not an approved…”
— Iowa Code § 232.71D(3)(f) — 2 cases
Doe v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 786 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 2010). “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
Jane Doe Vs. Iowa Dep't Of Human Servs. (Iowa 2010). “Finally, we must consider DHS’s rule interpreting the meaning of section 232.71D stating: Reports of child abuse where abuse has been confirmed shall be placed on the central abuse registry as founded child abuse for ten years under any of the circumstances specified by Iowa…”
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