Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SSB 1096: A bill for an act relating to the criminal offense of grooming and the sex offender registry, and making penalties applicable.

This bill (SSB 1096) criminalizes "grooming" as a class D felony under Iowa Code section 709.8A, directly affecting individuals convicted of this offense. It requires those convicted to register as Tier I sex offenders for 10 years and mandates a 10-year prison term with parole eligibility, in addition to standard sentencing. The law also requires registration during probation, parole, or release from incarceration. These provisions apply specifically to the criminal offense of grooming, defined as conduct that targets minors for sexual abuse.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 4, 2025

HF 732: A bill for an act relating to inmates, including requiring inmates to be paid the minimum wage for labor performed in or while under the custody of an institution under the control of the department of corrections, and the automatic restoration of the right to vote.

HF 732 requires Iowa correctional facilities to pay incarcerated individuals the state minimum wage for labor performed while under custody, replacing current allowance payments. It also automatically restores voting rights to people convicted of felonies upon their release from prison, parole, or work release, without requiring a separate application. The bill establishes an inmate savings fund to hold wages and other funds until release, with interest earned used for inmate benefits. This directly affects all inmates in Iowa's correctional system and changes how they are compensated and regain civic rights after incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole Minimum Wage

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 28, 2025

HF 17: A bill for an act relating to surgical castration for certain sex offenses.

HF 17 would require courts to order surgical castration for individuals convicted of specific severe sex offenses against children under age 12, as defined in Iowa law. This applies to offenses like sexual abuse in the first degree, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and similar crimes where the victim was a minor. The court must first obtain a medical expert’s determination that the procedure is appropriate, and the castration must occur before release on probation or parole (within one week of release if confined). The bill covers only cases where the victim was under 12 at the time of the offense, with no effect on other sex offense convictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SF 126: A bill for an act relating to parole eligibility for a person under the age of twenty convicted of a class “A” felony and making penalties applicable.

SF 126 modifies Iowa's sentencing rules for young people convicted of serious crimes. It raises the age limit for parole eligibility from 18 to 20 years for individuals convicted of a class "A" felony (including first-degree murder), meaning those under 20 at the time of offense qualify for the same parole options as current law provides for under-18 offenders. The bill does not change the sentencing options themselves - only who qualifies for them - allowing those under 20 convicted of these offenses to be considered for parole after a court-determined minimum sentence. This affects young people aged 18-19 convicted of class "A" felonies in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole Sentencing

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2025

HF 285: A bill for an act relating to prostitution involving a victim of human trafficking, and providing penalties.

HF 285 makes it a class C felony to buy sex from someone identified as a victim of human trafficking, directly affecting individuals who purchase sexual services from trafficking victims. The bill removes ignorance of the victim status as a defense, imposes a mandatory $50,000 fine, and requires convicted individuals to register as tier III sex offenders. It also sets a 10-year statute of limitations for prosecution and denies parole or work release until at least 70% of the sentence is served. These provisions aim to strengthen penalties for exploiting trafficking victims in prostitution.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Probation & Parole

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 18, 2025

SJR 5: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa eliminating involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.

This bill proposes amending Iowa's constitution to eliminate involuntary servitude as a legal punishment for crime. It replaces the current constitutional language by stating there shall be "no slavery, nor involuntary servitude" and allows courts or probation agencies to order community service or other alternatives to incarceration as part of sentencing. The change directly affects individuals convicted of crimes in Iowa, shifting sentencing options away from forced labor. If approved by voters, this constitutional amendment would take effect after the required election process.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Probation & Parole Sentencing

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2025

HSB 140: A bill for an act relating to probation, including discharge credits, educational credits, and workforce credits, and including effective date provisions.

HB 140 (Iowa) creates three credit systems to reduce probation terms for eligible defendants. Defendants can earn: - **Discharge credits** (14 days/month) for monthly compliance, - **Educational credits** (90 days) for completing diplomas or certified training, and - **Workforce credits** (30 days/6 months) for verified employment (30+ hrs/week). Credits apply after July 1, 2026, with a 40% maximum reduction cap, requiring payment of fees/debt before early termination. The Department of Corrections must report annual credit usage starting in 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2025

HF 570: A bill for an act relating to probation, including discharge credits, educational credits, and workforce credits, and including effective date provisions.

HF 570 creates a new credit system for Iowa defendants on probation, allowing them to reduce their probation time based on compliance, education, or employment. It provides a 14-day reduction per full compliant month (discharge credit), 90 days for earning a diploma or vocational certification (educational credit), and 30 days for six months of verifiable employment (30+ hours/week, workforce credit). These credits can reduce probation by up to 40% and must be verified by probation officers using documents like pay stubs or certificates. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and requires annual reporting on credit usage, though it excludes specialized courts unless they adopt the provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

passed · Iowa · House Apr 22, 2025

HF 792: A bill for an act establishing a cause of action for murder in the first degree by causing the death of another by delivering, dispensing, or providing fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance, and making penalties applicable.

HF 792 establishes a new cause of action for first-degree murder related to fentanyl. The bill states that a person commits first-degree murder if they unlawfully deliver, dispense, or provide fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance that proximately causes another person's death through injection, inhalation, absorption, or ingestion. It clarifies that it is not a defense if the deceased person contributed to their own death by willingly taking the substance. This offense is classified as a Class "A" felony, punishable by life imprisonment without parole.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole

All criminal justice bills