Iowa Code » Chapter 902 — FELONIES
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 902.12 (2026)

Minimum sentence for certain felonies — eligibility for parole or work release

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. A person serving a sentence for conviction of the following felonies, including a person serving a sentence for conviction of the following felonies prior to July 1, 2003, shall be denied parole or work release unless the person has served at least seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence: a. Murder in the second degree in violation of section 707.3. b. Attempted murder in violation of section 707.11, except as provided in section 707.11, subsection 5. c. Sexual abuse in the second degree in violation of section 709.3. d. Kidnapping in the second degree in violation of section 710.3. e. Robbery in the second degree in violation of section 711.3, except as determined in subsection 4. f. Vehicular homicide in violation of section 707.6A, subsection 1 or 2, if the person was also convicted under section 321.261, subsection 4, based on the same facts or event that resulted in the conviction under section 707.6A, subsection 1 or 2. g. Continuous sexual abuse of a child in violation of section 709.23. 2. A person serving a sentence for a conviction of child endangerment as defined in section 726.6, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, that is described and punishable under section 726.6, subsection 5, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between three-tenths and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 2. 3. A person serving a sentence for a conviction for robbery in the first degree in violation of section 711.2 for a conviction that occurs on or after July 1, 2018, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 3. 4. A person serving a sentence for a conviction for robbery in the second degree in violation of section 711.3 for a conviction that occurs on or after July 1, 2016, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 4. 5. A person serving a sentence for a conviction for arson in the first degree in violation of section 712.2 that occurs on or after July 1, 2019, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 5. 6. A person serving a sentence for a conviction of sexual exploitation of a minor in violation of section 728.12, subsection 1, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 6. 7. A person serving a sentence for a conviction of human trafficking punishable as a class “B” felony in violation of section 710A.2, subsection 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 7. 96 Acts, ch 1151, §3; 98 Acts, ch 1007, §1, 2; 98 Acts, ch 1088, §3; 2003 Acts, ch 156, §11, 12; 2004 Acts, ch 1150, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1082, §3; 2016 Acts, ch 1104, §8; 2017 Acts, ch 122, §17; 2019 Acts, ch 140, §7, 8, 39; 2023 Acts, ch 32, §2; 2023 Acts, ch 74, §5; 2024 Acts, ch 1175, §2 Referred to in §901.11, 903A.2, 904.301B, 904.911, 906.4, 906.15\n\n 902.13 Minimum sentence for certain domestic abuse assault offenses. 1. A person who has been convicted of a third or subsequent offense of domestic abuse\n\nTue Dec 09 21:52:26 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 902 (35, 0) 7 FELONIES, §902.14\n\nassault under section 708.2A, subsection 4, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-fifth of the maximum term and the maximum term of the person’s sentence as provided in subsection 2. 2. The sentencing court shall determine, after receiving and examining all pertinent information referred to in section 901.5, the minimum term of confinement, within the parameters set forth in subsection 1, required to be served before a person may be paroled or placed on work release. 2017 Acts, ch 83, §5 Referred to in §708.2A, 903A.2, 907.3

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 176 cases (30 in the last 5 years), 1998–2026 · leading case: State v. Ceaser, 585 N.W.2d 192 (Iowa 1998).
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State v. Ceaser, 585 N.W.2d 192 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 86× “Ceaser appeals his conviction and sentence, contending (1) the trial court erroneously refused to instruct the jury on his claim of self-defense, and (2) Iowa Code section 902.12, which requires that he serve 100% of the maximum sentence without the possibility of parole or work…”
Shannon Breeden & Laura Hochmuth v. Iowa Dep't of Corr., 887 N.W.2d 602 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 71× “Sentences subject to a mandatory minimum under Iowa Code section 902.12 (2015) accrue earned-time credit at a slower rate under section 903A.”
State v. Lyle, 854 N.W.2d 378 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 13× “Ultimately, we hold a mandatory minimum sentencing schema, like the one contained in section 902.12, violates article I, section 17 of the Iowa Constitution when applied in cases involving conduct committed by youthful offenders.”
State v. Iowa Dist. Court for Black Hawk Cnty., 616 N.W.2d 575 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 31× “8(l)(c) (1999) precludes imposition of the mandatory minimum sentence required by Iowa Code sections 902.12 and 903A.2(1)(6), commonly known as th'e 85% rule.”
State v. Carpenter, 616 N.W.2d 540 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 37× “Iowa Code § 902.12 ; see also Iowa Code § 903A.”
State v. Ross, 729 N.W.2d 806 (Iowa 2007). · cites it 30× “Iowa Code § 902.12 (5) (Supp.2003). We must interpret these statutes to determine whether section 902.”
State v. Cronkhite, 613 N.W.2d 664 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 27× “§ 902.12. This requirement is qualified by section 903A.”
State v. Phillips, 610 N.W.2d 840 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 27× “Following Phillips’ plea of guilty, she was sentenced under Iowa Code section 902.12 (Supp.1996). Under that section, a defendant convicted of second-degree robbery is required to serve 100% of the term (subject to possible reduction for good time, up to fifteen percent).”
State of Iowa v. Andre Letroy Antwan Harrington, 893 N.W.2d 36 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 8× “2d 806, 812 (Iowa 2007) (“[T]he mandatory minimum sentences prescribed in section 902.12 apply to habitual offenders.”
State v. Ramirez, 597 N.W.2d 795 (Iowa 1999). · cites it 34× “See Iowa Code §§ 902.12 (requiring person serving sentence for certain forcible felonies, including first-degree robbery, to serve 100% of maximum term), 903A.”
State v. Hochmuth, 585 N.W.2d 234 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 23× “She next argues Iowa Code section 902.12, which requires that she serve 100% of the maximum sentence without the possibility of parole or work release, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the federal and state constitutions.”
Phillips v. Iowa, 185 F. Supp. 2d 992 (N.D. Iowa 2002). · cites it 128× “” See Iowa Code §§ 902.12 , 903A.2 (collectively known as “the eighty-five percent rule”).”
Show all 176 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 902.12(1) — 9 cases
State of Iowa v. Denem Anthony Null, 836 N.W.2d 41 (Iowa 2013).
State of Iowa v. Kent Anthony Tyler III, 873 N.W.2d 741 (Iowa 2016).
Shannon Breeden & Laura Hochmuth v. Iowa Dep't of Corr., 887 N.W.2d 602 (Iowa 2016). “Sentences subject to a mandatory minimum under Iowa Code section 902.12 (2015) accrue earned-time credit at a slower rate under section 903A.”
Michael Thomas Goodwin v. Iowa Dist. Court for Davis Cnty. (Iowa 2019).
Amended January 31, 2017 Shannon Breeden & Laura Hochmuth v. Iowa Dep't of Corr. (Iowa 2016).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(1)(e) — 2 cases
State of Iowa v. Trevion Dupri Smith-Toles (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
State of Iowa v. Gary R. Wise, 919 N.W.2d 637 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(1)(f) — 1 case
Victor Rivera, Applicant-Appellant v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(2) — 6 cases
State of Iowa v. Christopher Clay McNeal, 897 N.W.2d 697 (Iowa 2017).
State of Iowa v. Craig Anthony Finney, 834 N.W.2d 46 (Iowa 2013).
State of Iowa v. Joseph D. Ceretti, 871 N.W.2d 88 (Iowa 2015).
Amended January 12, 2016 State of Iowa v. Joseph D. Ceretti (Iowa 2015).
State of Iowa v. Shannon Elizabeth Lee Breeden (Iowa 2017).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(2A) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Demetrias Martin (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(3) — 22 cases
State of Iowa v. Donald Lyle Clark, 814 N.W.2d 551 (Iowa 2012).
State of Iowa v. K'von Henderson (Iowa Ct. App. 2019).
Lamont Carl Monroe v. State of Iowa, 919 N.W.2d 637 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018).
State of Iowa v. Stewart Droste (Iowa Ct. App. 2016).
State of Iowa v. Deonte Thompson, 918 N.W.2d 501 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(4) — 3 cases
Domnick Demetris Hogan v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
State of Iowa v. Jordan Garrett Mckim Crawford (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
State of Iowa v. Ryan Matthew Allen (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(5) — 15 cases
State v. Lyle, 854 N.W.2d 378 (Iowa 2014). “Ultimately, we hold a mandatory minimum sentencing schema, like the one contained in section 902.12, violates article I, section 17 of the Iowa Constitution when applied in cases involving conduct committed by youthful offenders.”
State v. Ross, 729 N.W.2d 806 (Iowa 2007). “Iowa Code § 902.12 (5) (Supp.2003). We must interpret these statutes to determine whether section 902.”
State of Iowa v. Khasif Rasheed White, 903 N.W.2d 331 (Iowa 2017).
State of Iowa v. Barbara Lee Pasa (Iowa Ct. App. 2021).
State of Iowa v. Andre Jerome Lyle Jr. (Iowa 2014).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(6) — 1 case
Victor Rivera, Applicant-Appellant v. State of Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(8) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Donald Lyle Clark, 814 N.W.2d 551 (Iowa 2012).
— Iowa Code § 902.12(e) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Gary R. Wise, 919 N.W.2d 637 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.