Iowa Code » Chapter 803 — JURISDICTION OF PUBLIC OFFENSES
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 803.5 (2026)

Transfer of jurisdiction

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. An adult who is alleged to have committed a criminal offense prior to having reached the age of eighteen may be transferred to juvenile court for adjudication and disposition as a juvenile, provided that the taking of that person into custody for the alleged act or the filing of a complaint, information, or indictment alleging the act, occurs within the time periods and under the conditions specified in chapter 802 and further provided that the juvenile court has not already waived its jurisdiction over the person and the alleged offense.

2. The defendant or the county attorney may file a motion for the transfer any time within ten days of the initial appearance.

3. The court shall hold a transfer hearing on all such motions. A notice of the time and place of the transfer hearing shall be given to all parties to the hearing.

4. Prior to the transfer hearing, the juvenile probation officer, or other person or agency designated by the court, shall conduct an investigation for the purpose of collecting information relevant to the court’s decision to waive its jurisdiction over the defendant for the alleged commission of the public offense and shall submit a report concerning the investigation to the court. The report shall include any recommendations made concerning transfer. Prior to the hearing the court shall provide the defendant’s counsel and the county attorney with access to the report and to all written material to be considered by the court.

5. After the hearing, the court may transfer jurisdiction to the juvenile court if the court determines that there is probable cause to believe that the adult committed an offense while still a juvenile, and waiver to the criminal court would be inappropriate under the criteria set forth in section 232.45, subsection 6, paragraph “c”, and section 232.45, subsection 8, if the adult were still a child.

6. If after the hearing the court transfers jurisdiction over the adult to the juvenile court for the alleged commission of the public offense, the court shall forward the transfer order together with all papers, documents, and a transcript of all testimony filed or admitted into evidence in connection with the case to the clerk of the juvenile court in the same manner as provided in section 232.8, subsection 2. 88 Acts, ch 1167, §5 Referred to in §232.8, 803.1 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1992–2024 · leading case: State of Iowa v. Eddie Tipton, 897 N.W.2d 653 (Iowa 2017).
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State of Iowa v. Eddie Tipton, 897 N.W.2d 653 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 2× “The court first determined the tampering charge had an element of fraud and thus the provisions of Iowa Code section 803.5 were applicable. The court found the State did not have any knowledge the crime of tampering had occurred until October 2014 when Tipton was identified from…”
State v. Duncan, 841 N.W.2d 604 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 20× “” See Iowa Code § 803.5 (5). *610 The State argues even assuming the district court erred in its interpretation of section 282.”
State of Iowa v. Matthew Linden Noehl (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 12× “” Iowa Code § 803.5 (2), (3). Noehl also points to section 232.”
State v. DeAlegandro, 492 N.W.2d 450 (Iowa Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 8× “Iowa Code § 803.5 (1991). At trial, the defendant unsuccessfully renewed his motion to dismiss.”
In the Interest of A.N. (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “concerning an adult who is alleged to have committed a delinquent act prior to having become an adult, and who has been transferred to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to an order under section 803.”
State of Iowa v. Christopher Lee Roby Jr. (Iowa 2020). “§ 803.5. This avoided the need for a waiver hearing in juvenile court pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.”
State of Iowa v. Iowa Juv. Court for Plymouth Cnty. (Iowa 2023). “§ 803.5(1). Transfer is specifically prohibited if the juvenile court previously waived jurisdiction to the district court, as had occurred here.”
— Iowa Code § 803.5(1) — 3 cases
State v. Duncan, 841 N.W.2d 604 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013). “” See Iowa Code § 803.5 (5). *610 The State argues even assuming the district court erred in its interpretation of section 282.”
State of Iowa v. Matthew Linden Noehl (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “” Iowa Code § 803.5 (2), (3). Noehl also points to section 232.”
State of Iowa v. Iowa Juv. Court for Plymouth Cnty. (Iowa 2023). “§ 803.5(1). Transfer is specifically prohibited if the juvenile court previously waived jurisdiction to the district court, as had occurred here.”
— Iowa Code § 803.5(5) — 1 case
State v. Duncan, 841 N.W.2d 604 (Iowa Ct. App. 2013). “” See Iowa Code § 803.5 (5). *610 The State argues even assuming the district court erred in its interpretation of section 282.”
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