Search Johnson County public records for free through local agencies and find information about others or yourself.
Public records in Iowa are widely accessible due to the transparency and openness guaranteed under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Iowa Open Records Law.
Through this resource, interested parties can acquire information about marriages, divorces, active warrants, arrests, criminal history, prisoners, probationers and parolees, property records and taxes, background check reports and court proceedings either online or via other means.
How To Find Johnson County Arrest Records & Mugshots for Free
It’s important to find information quickly when an incident happens, and someone close is arrested. Johnson County offers tools so inmates can be located, making it convenient for family and friends to uncover the details about what happened.
The sheriff’s office, along with the local police departments and the local jail, are good, reliable sources of information. Those looking to check public records in Johnson County for free can use online tools or contact those agencies directly.
Use the Johnson County Jail’s Arrest Log & Mugshot Search
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office constantly displays on its website updated jail records, letting citizens know who’s currently incarcerated. People who want to perform a quick, free criminal record check or find someone’s mugshot can check the jail roster.1
The roster shows all recent arrests and includes details about each occurrence, such as mugshots, release date (when available), and offense details. However, according to the page’s disclaimer, the roster may fail to be a comprehensive list – and when that happens, concerned citizens should contact the sheriff’s office for more information.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office offers support to the general population and keeps records of all incidents that happen within county lines. They can be contacted using the following information:
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
P.O. Box 2540, 511 S. Capitol St.
Iowa City, IA 52244
Phone: 319.356.6020
In fact, Johnson County arrest records can be checked with the sheriff’s office anytime someone wishes to obtain more information about an incident. The sheriff’s office has a Records Division available to assist the population in obtaining those records.3
There are two different ways to check criminal cases and charges in Johnson County, with the help of the Records Division. For instance, citizens may request a records check, which will lead to information about the arrested inmate, including charges, the agency responsible for the arrest, etc. A record check costs $5, and those making the request won’t get copies of the records.
Whenever copies are needed, citizens can place a records request for Johnson County criminal records or arrest information. The uncovered records will likely include the same information found on a records check – only on paper, as a proper copy that can be taken home. Each page printed per a citizen’s request costs $0.50.
Both requests can be made in person or via mail. When mailing out a request, individuals should include a stamped envelope for return and the payment by check for the records. The Records Division only accepts payments by cash or check (no credit or debit cards are accepted).
Access Police Reports & Arrest Details via Law Enforcement Agencies Within Johnson County
Local police departments can be very helpful in obtaining information about Johnson County bookings, especially regarding incidents that took place under their jurisdiction or arrests that they have performed.
Johnson County has quite a few municipal law enforcement agencies that citizens can reach out to whenever they need information and support in the area. This is the information to contact each of them:
| Department | Address | Phone number |
| Iowa City Police Department | 410 E Washington St Iowa City, IA 52240 |
319.356.5275 |
| Bellevue Police Department | 106 North 3rd St Bellevue, IA 52031 |
563.872.4094 |
| Sabula Police Department | 411 Broad St Sabula, IA 52070 |
563.687.2420 |
| Preston Police Department | 1 W. Gilet St. Preston, IA 52069 |
563.689.6868 |
For those interested in incidents that happened in Iowa City, the police department accepts records requests via email. Interested citizens who need to make a request should write to [email protected] and wait to hear back with instructions on how to proceed.
How To See Criminal Cases in Johnson County Iowa
Although citizens need no particular reason to search and find information about anyone, whatever information comes to light should never be used to commit crimes or engage in criminal activities. Everyone should use information with care and respect for the search target’s privacy and dignity.
When searching Johnson County public records, individuals can take advantage of both online and in-person tools to perform a case search and look up someone’s criminal record. Those tools are presented in this resource.
If someone is looking for information about criminal cases or an individual’s criminal history, they can utilize a variety of sources in Johnson County. The Clerk of Courts offers tools to uncover all sorts of judicial cases (criminal among them), while the county sheriff’s office may be able to help with active warrants.
Likewise, it’s possible to find out if someone is on probation and even perform background checks using tools provided by different agencies. All a citizen needs is to know where to look.
Track Down Criminal Case Information Using the Johnson County Clerk of Court Search Tool
Court records, including criminal case information in Johnson County, are kept by the Clerk of Court of the Judicial District 6.4
While the state court has an online search tool that is linked below, the county doesn’t offer an online resource, and instead, this information is available to the public in person, via phone, or fax. This is their contact information:
Judicial District 6
Clerk of Court
417 S Clinton St
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319.356.6060
Fax: 319.356.6032
For citizens who prefer to search online, the Iowa Courts Online Search allows interested individuals to look up cases for free. The page indicates which searches can be done free of cost and which ones require registration (and, consequently, payment).
Trial court searches, as well as Appellate Court searches, can be made for free. That includes advanced searches for the Appellate court. Citizens should feel free to take advantage of those tools.
This system also allows citizens to schedule searches in Johnson County specifically. However, this service is only available to those who register for a fee. Users can apply and register online for a subscription service that costs $25 per month.
How To Search for Arrest Warrants in Johnson County Iowa
In Iowa, initial arrest warrants are considered confidential until served. This may make it more difficult to find out if an individual has an active warrant against them.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office advises people to come and check in person for Johnson County warrants.6 In other words, if someone thinks there’s an open warrant for their arrest, they should contact the sheriff’s office in person. This, obviously, would lead to the individual’s arrest on the spot if there really is an active warrant.
Instead of doing that, anyone concerned about warrants should hire an attorney and seek legal advice before taking any other action.
If, for whatever reason, the individual still thinks that going straight to the sheriff’s office is a good idea, or whenever someone is seeking information about a third party, this is where they should go:
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
511 S. Capitol St.
Iowa City, IA 52244
Phone: 319.356.6020
After the initial arrest warrant is served, information about it can be found on Iowa Courts Online Search. The same goes for warrants related to existing court cases (contempt, failure to appear, etc.), which can be found using the same online tool.
You can also check out either the Johnson County warrant lookup tutorial or view the steps for finding information on wanted individuals throughout Iowa for more local or state-level guidance.
How To Perform a Johnson County Probation Record Search
The Iowa Department of Corrections (IDC) Sixth District is responsible for many services to the community, including probation supervision for Johnson County.7 They also work with the following counties: Benton, Iowa, Jones, Linn, and Tama.
Concerned citizens can use the Offender Search tool on the IDC website to look up and find individuals currently on probation and parole. This tool is a public index of all offenders currently registered in the system, so the results may show different inmate statuses.
Searches can be performed simply by using an offender’s name (partial names will work, too), and users can narrow the search by including more information, such as the offense or the county where it was committed, among other details.
If the searched inmate is on probation, the results will indicate it and show details of their sentence, including their offense and how long they’re expected to remain under supervision.
If more information is needed, or if anyone prefers to try and reach out to the IDC Sixth District directly, this is their contact information:
Iowa Department of Corrections
Sixth District
William G. Faches Center
951 29th Ave SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone: 319.398.3675
How To Get a Background Check Done in Johnson County Iowa
Professional background checks can be performed in Johnson County with the help of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
Personal background checks can be conducted using the tool presented in this resource, which citizens can access at their convenience to view or obtain various Johnson County public records.
Background checks are an important tool in many life situations. For example, someone may worry about a new neighbor or acquaintance and decide to learn more about them. Professionally, a background check can be important in assessing if someone is eligible for a job position or to obtain a business license.
Whenever a background check is run for official reasons or, in other words, when the results of that check may affect an outcome for the target of the search, some rules must be followed.
First and foremost, the person being checked needs to provide consent, agreeing with the background check. It’s important that they’re aware of it. Second, they’re entitled to a copy of the report – and, not only that, they’re allowed to dispute any incorrect information.
Background checks run using only an individual’s name are known as a level 1 check. Background checks run using someone’s fingerprints tend to be more accurate and are known as level 2 checks.
If someone believes that they have been abused or discriminated against after a background check is run, they can (and should) file a complaint. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) can assist when bad situations happen, and more about them can be found at the end of this resource.
Background checks for Johnson County citizens are run by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and cost $15 per searched last name.9 Interested individuals can make a request in person or by mail, fax or email. Requests over the phone aren’t accepted.
Having the target authorize the search is unnecessary, but the information obtained without their consent might be limited. For a full report that will contain the full information about the target’s past, it’s important to have them sign a release (which encompasses their rights to be aware of the search when it’s used for official purposes).
Criminal record checks can be requested by just providing an individual’s name (first and last) and date of birth. However, the more information is provided, the more accurate the result will be. In other words, adding gender, social security number, and middle name isn’t required for the check to be run, but it can be helpful to include it if any of those are available.
To order a criminal record check online, users must fill out a Criminal History Records Check Billing Form that includes the payment method information. If more than one name is being checked, the advice is to fill out one form for each name to ensure every search is properly processed.
For in-person, mail, email, or fax orders, this is where citizens should reach out to with the target’s information:
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Support Operations Bureau – Dissemination Unit
215 E 7th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Fax: 515.725.6080
Email: [email protected]
Keep in mind that every request may take a few days to be fulfilled, except the searcher is making a request about their personal history, even if the order is placed in person.
How To Look Up Criminal Records in Iowa via State & Federal Agencies
There are many tools that citizens can use to check criminal records throughout Iowa and uncover information about anyone. From online search tools, like the Iowa Courts Online Search Tool, to sex offender registries (both at the state and federal levels), those searching for information can find it using the resources presented here.
The Iowa Courts Online Search tool provides citizens with information about all court cases in the state, including Johnson County judicial records. Some searches are free, while others may require the payment of a fee.
Three searches are available to the public for free: the Trial search, the Appellate Courts search, and the Advanced Case search. Those searches include civil, family, and probate cases, and users can look up an individual’s name, case number, and type of case, among other options.
There’s a different Advanced Case Search and a Scheduled Search that isn’t for free. Users must create an account with their personal information and pay a monthly subscription fee of $25 to access those records.
The paid Advanced Search seems to be updated more frequently than the free one, while the Scheduled Search involves working directly with each county’s court for records information.
When searching specifically for sex offenders, concerned citizens can utilize the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. This registry is a free tool that allows citizens to search for registered offenders by name (when the user is looking for a particular individual) and by map (so users can learn about the sex offender in their area).
Users should remember that, sometimes, sex offenders fail to provide their correct address or any other information. This means that those registries are flawed, and users should take this into consideration.
Nationally, the Department of Justice has a National Sex Offender Public Website (also known as NSOPW).12 This is another free online platform that citizens can utilize to uncover information about sex offenders throughout the country.
Concerned citizens can search federal court cases using PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). This is a useful online platform that allows users to search for $0.10 per page, maxed out at $3. It requires that users create an account to access services, but everyone should feel safe using it whenever information is needed.
Another useful tool at the federal level is the free inmate locator sponsored by the BOP (Federal Bureau of Prisons). This platform allows people to search for information about current and former federal inmates. The inmate locator covers all 50 states and provides relevant information about those in their system.
Users can perform searches by name, and it’s quite a simple tool to use.
How To Execute a Johnson County Court Case Search
Johnson County court records can be obtained at the Clerk’s Office for the Judicial District 6. They can be reached in person, by phone, or via fax, and citizens shouldn’t hesitate to contact them whenever information about a case is needed.
This is the information to reach out to the Clerk’s Office:
Judicial District 6
Clerk of Court
417 S Clinton St
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319.356.6060
Fax: 319.356.6032
For online searches, citizens are referred to the Iowa Courts Online Search tool, an online directory containing information about all court cases in the state. There are free searches that citizens can take advantage of, running Iowa public records searches conveniently and without cost.
This tool is simple to use and allows for searches to be performed using only names – and even partial names when the information at the user’s hands is incomplete. By clicking on the case they’re interested in, it’s possible to see details such as judgments, court dates, etc.
How To Search Johnson County Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death Records
Vital records are documents that confirm important events in a person’s life. Birth and death certificates, as well as marriage and eventual divorce documents, are examples of vital records.
In the state of Iowa, there are some restrictions regarding who can access a person’s vital records – this is so because it’s a way to protect people from fraud and identity theft.
Although some of those records aren’t considered public in Iowa, it’s possible that third-party providers would be able to provide information about someone’s vital records. For citizens looking to retrieve information with the help of government agencies, it’s important to remember that only entitled individuals can access those records.
In Johnson County, citizens can obtain vital records with the help of the Recorder’s Office and, in some cases, the Iowa Department of Public Health. In some instances, the Clerk’s Office can also be of assistance.
Find Out if Someone Is Married or Divorced in Johnson County Iowa via the Vital Records Division
Interested parties should work with the Recorder’s Office to check if someone is married in Johnson County.
In Iowa, marriage records are available only to individuals connected to the event: the couple, parents, siblings, grandparents, children, etc. In order to obtain a copy of those records, the person making the request must show proof of entitlement.
Although this rule doesn’t make it simple to find out if someone is married, the process is quite simple when the person making the request is eligible.
Requests for Johnson County marriage records can be made by mail or phone. By mail, the request must be sent with a completed application for an Iowa vital record (that must be notarized) along with a copy of an ID and payment for the services.14 Marriage records cost $15 each.
This is the information to mail out a request with the Recorder’s Office Vital Records Division:
Johnson County Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
913 S Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240-4273
Phone: 866.809.0290
According to the Record’s Office, marriage records are available from 1839, as follows:
- Records from 1954 until the present day may be requested in any county in Iowa;
- Records from 1839 until 1953 must be requested at the county where the marriage took place;
- Records between 1921 and 1942 must be requested from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Whenever a marriage record must be requested from the Iowa Department of Public Health, citizens can reach out to them using the online contact form, by phone at 515.281.4944, or by email at [email protected].
For Johnson County divorce records, interested parties should contact the Judicial Circuit 6 Clerk Office. They are the Johnson County public records repository for all court cases — divorce cases among them. Requests for records and inquiries can be made in person, by phone or by fax using the following contact information:
Judicial District 6
Clerk of Court
417 S Clinton St
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319.356.6060
Fax: 319.356.6032
Request Death & Birth Records via the Johnson County Recorder’s Office
In order to request a death or birth certificate in Johnson County, interested citizens must work with the Recorder’s Office. The process is the same for requesting any of the records, a certificate of death or a certificate of birth.
First, it’s important to know that only entitled individuals can make those requests in Iowa. For birth records, the registrant, their parents, grandparents, guardians, etc., are entitled to make a request. Parents, children, spouses, funeral homes, etc., are allowed to request a death certificate.
When in doubt, individuals should reach out to the Recorder’s Office and double-check whether they’re entitled to ask for a record.
Requests can be made by mail or over the phone. To make a request by mail, individuals must send a notarized vital record application with proof of eligibility (usually a copy of a valid ID) and payment to the following address:
Johnson County Recorder
Attn: Vital Records
913 S Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240-4273
Phone: 866.809.0290
Birth and death records are available from 1880, as follows:
- Birth records from 1986 to the present day can be requested at any county in Iowa;
- Death records from 1954 to the present day can also be requested at any county;
- Birth records between 1880 and 1985 must be requested at the county where the event took place;
- Death records between 1880 and 1953, likewise, must be requested at the county in Iowa where the event took place;
- Any records between 1921 and 1941 (birth and death alike) must be requested with the Iowa Department of Public Health.
For records between 1921 and 1941 (that require citizens to contact the Iowa Department of Public Health), this is what they can do: use the online contact form to send them a message, reach out to them by phone at 515.281.4944, or by email at [email protected] to place a request for the record they need.15
How To Check Property Records & Taxes in Johnson County Iowa (Free)
All property information is public records in Johnson County, and citizens can find information about any real estate property in the county by using the Real Estate Search on the county’s website.
Users can perform searches using different criteria, depending on the information they have available about a property: owner’s name, parcel ID, etc. The results will display detailed information about any property, including whether their taxes are up-to-date.
The department responsible for keeping track of the real estate properties in Johnson County is the County Assessor.17 For that reason, whenever more information is needed or in cases when the information available on the search isn’t enough (or accurate), citizens can reach out to them directly for assistance and support.
This is the Department of County Assessor’s contact information:
Johnson County Assessor’s Office
Johnson County Administration Building
913 S Dubuque St. – Suite 205
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319.356.6078
A Summary of Utilizing Johnson County Public Records Responsibly & Understanding Citizens’ Rights
There’s value in public records and being able to access information. People should always appreciate the power of being able to readily obtain public records when needed. Still, at the same time, people should understand that information must be used responsibly, respectfully, and for a good reason.
Citizens of Johnson County can search public records for no particular reason and without providing any explanation. They’re entitled to it. Sometimes, public records are needed for personal reasons, others for professional reasons.
And in any case, as long as they’re used legally, people don’t have to tell anyone about it.
Still, it is important to consider that the use of public records has rules. First, people’s privacy must always be respected, even when the uncovered information doesn’t look good. Nobody should ever be exposed, embarrassed, stalked, or harassed due to public records information about them.
Another thing people should know is that they must provide consent every time they’re being checked to determine their creditworthiness, or whenever a decision is being made about an employment offer, or they’re being evaluated as a tenant, or any other business affair. People have the right to know they’re being checked and are entitled to agree to it.
Also, the person being checked is allowed a copy of any reports about them. They’re also allowed to dispute any incorrect information (as long as they have proof of their claims).
All professional background checks must follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rules.18 If any of those rules are broken, citizens can file a complaint. If someone believes they’ve been wrongfully checked or have witnessed it happen to someone else, they should report it through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Likewise, if anyone thinks they’ve been discriminated against due to the content of a background check while participating in a job selection, they, too, should file a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).19
Last but not least, FOIA (the Freedom of Information Act) creates a path for individuals to request agencies to fully disclose the information they have on them. For example, local agencies in Johnson County – like the sheriff’s office – should be contacted for a FOIA request whenever clarification is needed. Those are people’s rights.
With this information in mind, most Johnson County public records can be found by anyone and at any time–as long as this information is used with respect to privacy and consideration of local and federal laws; citizens can also look up statewide Iowa public information for free.
References
1Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Johnson County Iowa Jail Roster Disclaimer. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://ww1.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/Sheriff/JailRoster/index>
2Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Johnson County Iowa Jail Roster. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://ww1.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/Sheriff/jailroster/list>
3Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Records Division. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/sheriff/records-division>
4Iowa Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Judicial District: 6. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.iowacourts.gov/iowa-courts/district-court/judicial-district-6/district/6/county/johnson>
5Iowa Courts. (n.d.). Appellate Court – Advanced. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/AppelAdvFrame>
6Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Sheriff’s Department FAQs. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/department-of-sheriff/faqs>
7Iowa Department of Corrections. (n.d.). Sixth District. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://doc.iowa.gov/find-facility/sixth-district>
8Iowa Department of Corrections. (2024). Search Offenders. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from <https://doc-search.iowa.gov/Offender/Search>
9Iowa Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Criminal History Record Check Information. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from <https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions-iowa-department-public-safety/iowa-division-criminal-investigation/criminal-history-record-check-information>
10Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. (2021, September 22). Criminal History Record Check Billing Form. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://stateofiowa.seamlessdocs.com/f/DPS_DCI_Criminal_History_Billing_and_Request_Form>
11Iowa Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Simple Search Results. Iowa Sex Offender Registry. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.iowasexoffender.gov/simplesearch/?type=simple&lastname=smith&firstname=JOhn&alias=1&action=Submit%20Search>
12U.S. Department of Justice. (n.d.). National Sex Offender Public Website. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.nsopw.gov/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1>
13Iowa Courts. (n.d.). Appellate Court Case Details. Iowa Courts Online. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/AIndexFrm>
14Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, January). Application for an Iowa Vital Record. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from <https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/3054/download?inline=>
15Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Vital Records. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from <https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/vital-records>
16Johnson County, Iowa Recorder. (n.d.). Property Check. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://recorder.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/External/LandRecords/protected/SrchQuickName.aspx>
17Johnson County, Iowa Government. (n.d.). County Assessor. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/department-of-county-assessor>
18Federal Trade Commission. (n.d.). Fair Credit Reporting Act. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act>
19U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Filing A Charge of Discrimination. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from <https://www.eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination>