What Are Dallas County Public Records?
As defined by the Iowa Government Code Chapter 22, Dallas public records include all records, documents, or any other form of information, maintained or preserved by and for a state, county, city, township government agency, and any of its affiliates. Iowa's public record law allows people to examine and make copies of a public record unless deemed confidential by state law or court order. Confidential information includes hospital records, medical records, personal records regarding juveniles, trade secrets, and any record that may compromise an attorney's work.
Dallas County Crime Statistics
The Federal Bureau of Investigation provides annual Uniform Crime Reporting data for Dallas County. According to its latest publication, the Dallas County Sheriff's Office reported a total of 137 index crimes, 34 violent crimes, and 103 property crimes. The breakdown of the statistics reveals a murder, five rape counts, three robberies, 25 aggravated assaults, 37 burglaries, 56 larceny-thefts, ten motor vehicle thefts, and two arsons. Dallas county's estimated crime rate in 2017 was 157.09 crimes per 100,000 population, a 21.7% drop from the previous year. Likewise, the county's crime count dropped by 18.9%.
Are Dallas County Criminal Records Public?
Dallas County criminal records are open for public inspection, as provided by the Iowa Open Records Law. The state code gives every person the right to inspect, copy, and disseminate a Dallas criminal record unless exempted by Iowa Government Code Ch. 22.7 or another law. By this provision, the Iowa Department of Public Safety can provide criminal background reports to third-parties upon request. Exempted records include juvenile records, criminal identification files of state and local law enforcement, government reports and financial information which, if released, would serve no public interest or give an edge to competitors, and confidential personnel records.
How to Obtain Dallas County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Dallas County arrest records and police reports are open to the public. Local law enforcement maintains and issues copies of Dallas arrest records in compliance with state laws. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office can provide police reports to requesters. Interested individuals can call the Records Department on (515) 993-4771 or submit requests online. For online submissions, record seekers will need to complete a form and indicate if they wish to obtain copies via email or pick-ups (pick-up charges may apply). They will also need to describe the information they seek in clear and specific terms. The Records Division can also accept mail requests at:
Administrative Office
28985 Thin Blue Line Lane
P.O. Box 187
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4771
Fax: (515) 993-6966
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Dallas County
The Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains a statewide Sex Offender Registry under Chapter 692A of the Iowa Code. The public can search for offenders in Dallas County by name, address, or county and conduct an advanced search. The registry is updated continually during regular business hours and is open for public access. Iowa's Department of Public Safety also provides a Notification and Registrant Watch System that allows residents to get notified through email, a phone call, or text when registered offenders update their profile. Interested parties will need to create an account using a valid email address.
How to Find Dallas County Inmate Records
The Dallas County Sheriff provides a public search tool for accessing the data of inmates detained in the county jail. Record seekers may utilize the County Inmate Inquiry tool to lookup inmates by name, subject number, booking date and booking number. They can also search for previously incarcerated inmates on the website.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Dallas County Jail?
The Dallas County Sheriff's Office allows inmates to receive visitors. However, a person needs to be on the inmate's approved sheet before visiting. Intending visitors may contact the jail facility to verify if their name appears on the list before scheduling a visit. The Jail Captain will only permit visitors that have successfully scheduled a visit 24 hours in advance. Each visitor aged 18 years and above will need to provide a valid government I.D. Visitors can also send mail to incarcerated inmates:
28985 Thin Blue Line Lane
P.O. Box 187
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5815
Fax: (515) 993-6974
Court Records
Iowa's trial court system consists of one supreme court, one court of appeals, and one district court for each county in the state. The Dallas County District Court is responsible for nearly all cases in the county.
Dallas County District Court
801 Court Street
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5816
Fax: (515) 993-6991
Are Dallas County Court Records Public?
Dallas County court records are open to the public according to the Iowa Open Records Act. In the State of Iowa, people can inspect and make copies of a court record unless otherwise stated in the state statute or restricted by a court order. Generally, confidential sections of a document are not open to the public. Only eligible individuals, such as the parties involved and their attorneys, can access them. Examples of restricted Dallas court records include documents that contain information on most juvenile delinquencies and non-delinquencies, search warrants, investigative filings, adoption records, witnesses information form, substance abuse assessments, and mental health records. The Dallas County Clerk of Court is the principal custodian of public court records and will provide these documents upon request.
How to Obtain Dallas County Civil Court Case Records
Dallas County civil court case records are available on the Iowa Court Case Search website. Interested individuals can search civil court files by selecting "civil" and "Dallas" on the Case Type and County drop-down menu, respectively. The record seeker can conduct a name search by providing details about the record, such as the party name and alias, or search for documents by Citation Number or Case Number. Copies of a Dallas County civil court case record are also available at the Clerk of Court's office. Interested parties can contact the Clerk on (515) 993-5816 or visit the office at:
Dallas County Courthouse
801 Court Street
Adel, IA 50003
How to Obtain Dallas County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records are within the Dallas County Clerk of Court's purview. Interested individuals may search and obtain copies of a criminal court record via phone or in person at:
Dallas County Courthouse
801 Court Street
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5816
It is also possible to obtain criminal court records from the Iowa Court Case Search service. Interested persons should select "Dallas" under the county option and "Criminal" from the Case Type drop-down menu. They can also search for criminal cases by conducting a Name, Case Number, or Citation Number search.
What are Dallas County Vital Records?
Dallas County vital records are official documents that provide information on life happenings like birth, death, marriage, and divorce. Generally, most vital records are not open to the public in Iowa until after some time or under certain circumstances. Interested individuals can contact the Iowa Department of Public Health for marriage, birth, and death certificates. The Dallas County Clerk of Court issues copies of divorce records at the county level. Likewise, the Dallas County Recorder is the primary custodian of marriage records.
Where and How to Obtain Dallas County Divorce Records
Interested individuals can write to the Dallas County Clerk of Court to access and purchase copies of a divorce record. Dallas County divorce records are confidential information until the court issues a decree. Even at that, some sections of the document may not be available. These usually include sensitive information like financial agreements or settlements and bank statements. All requests to the county clerk must consist of:
- The full name of the first party in the divorce;
- The full name of the second party in the divorce;
- The month, day, and year when the court finalized the divorce.
Requesters can visit the Clerk of Court at:
801 Court Street
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5816
Where and How to Get Public Dallas County Marriage Records
Dallas County marriage records become public after 75 years. Third-parties may contact the Dallas County Recorder by mail or in-person to obtain copies of a public marriage record for $15 each. The Dallas County Recorder’s office is located at:
Dallas County Courthouse
801 Court Street
Rm 203
Adel, IA 50003
The recorder’s mailing address is:
Dallas County Recorder
P.O. Box 38
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5804
Fax: (515) 993-5970
If the document is not available at the recorder's office, the requesting party may call the Iowa Vital Records office on (515) 281-4944 to try and track down the record. Requesters may also reach the recorder’s office by mail or in-person at:
Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building - 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
The Iowa Genealogy Society and the State Historical Society of Iowa are also useful resources for accessing public marriage records.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Dallas County
Dallas County marriage records from 1951 to the present are obtainable from the Iowa Department of Public Health or the Dallas County Recorder's office. The County Recorder can provide certified copies of Dallas County marriage certificates for $15 each. The requester may send a completed Vital Records Request Form through mail or visit the office in person at:
Dallas County Courthouse
801 Court Street
Rm 203
Adel, IA 50003
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 38
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5804
Fax: (515) 993-5970
Requesters have to provide the record’s subjects’ full name, date of marriage, and the place where the event occurred.
Dallas County marriage records that are less than 75 years old are only available to the following eligible requesters.
- The registered parties on the record;
- Any individual who can establish a familial relationship with the record’s subjects;
- Any biological or adopted sibling of the record’s subject;
- Any of the grandparents of the record’s subjects;
- Any biological or adopted child of the record’s subjects;
- Any legal ward of the record’s subjects;
- Any legal representatives of any of the registrants or any eligible relatives;
- Anyone in possession of a court order issued by a court of sufficient jurisdiction.
The Iowa Department of Public Health can provide marriage records for $15 per copy. However, the state office cannot issue certified copies of a marriage certificate, requesters who want one must contact the Dallas County Recorder. They will need to submit a current valid I.D., a check or money order, and a completed Application for Copy of a Vital Record form to:
Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building - 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Where and How to Find Dallas County Birth Records
Dallas County birth certificates are available at the Iowa Department of Public Health. A birth record costs $15 per certified copy. The requesting party will need to submit a completed Application for Copy of a Vital Record and a copy of a valid photo I.D. by mail or in-person to:
Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building - 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Dallas County birth records are confidential information, and they become public after 75 years of filing. Eligible requesters who can successfully request a copy of Dallas County birth certificates include:
- The record’s subject;
- Any individual who can establish a familial relationship with the record’s subject;
- The spouse of the record’s subject;
- Any biological or adopted sibling of the record’s subject;
- Any maternal grandparent of the record’s subject;
- Any paternal grandparent of the record’s subject, if the father’s name is on record;
- Any biological or adopted child of the record’s subject;
- Any legal guardian of the record’s subject;
- Any legal representative of any eligible relative;
- Legal representatives of the registrant’s estate empowered by qualified court order;
- Anyone in possession of a court order issued by a court of sufficient jurisdiction.
Requesters will need to include the following details to access the documents.
- The subject’s full name at the time of birth
- The birth date of the subject
- The county of birth
- The name of the subject’s parents and the mother’s maiden name
- The relationship of the subject to the requester
The Dallas County Recorder's Office has birth records of events from 1880 to 1920 and July 1, 1941, to the present. Applicants can request certified copies of a Dallas County birth certificate by downloading and completing a Vital Records Request Form and submitting a valid photo I.D. together with a $15 cash, check, or money order directed to the Dallas County Recorder. The Recorder will accept card transactions if the requester wishes to purchase copies of a record in person.
The Dallas County Recorder’s Office is located at:
Dallas County Courthouse
801 Court Street
Rm 203
Adel, IA 50003
Mail-in requests should go to:
Dallas County Recorder
P.O. Box 38
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5804
Fax: (515) 993-5970
Some Dallas County birth certificates are obtainable from the Iowa Genealogy Society and the State Historical Society of Iowa in multi-volume microfilm, including indexes and dates. From July 1, 1904, until June 30, 1906, Dallas County did not record any of her residents’ births. Only the state recorded births, so these birth records are not available on Dallas County Records Microfilm. The Iowa State Archives staff produced a statewide index of births for the period and published them online to make the certificates readily available. Interested parties may request copies of these indexed records online for $7.50.
Where and How to Find Dallas County Death Records
Dallas County death records are within the purview of the Iowa Department of Public Health. Certified copies of a death record are available for $15 each. In Iowa, death records become public after 75 years. Closed death records are only available to the deceased's parents, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Eligible requesters who can successfully request a copy of Dallas County death certificates include:
- Any individual who can establish a familial relationship with the deceased;
- The decedent’s spouse;
- Any biological or adopted sibling of the deceased;
- Any maternal grandparent of the decedent;
- Any paternal grandparent of the decedent, if the father’s name is on record;
- Any biological or adopted child of the deceased;
- Any legal guardian of the deceased;
- Any legal representative of any eligible relative;
- Legal representatives of the decedent’s estate empowered by a qualified court order;
- Anyone in possession of a court order issued by a court of sufficient jurisdiction;
- Any party who was a joint tenant or co-owner on personal or real property of the decedent;
- Any person listed in the decedent’s will and final testament;
- Any person listed as a beneficiary on the decedent’s insurance policy;
The requester will need to have the following details to obtain access to the records:
- The decedent’s name;
- The place of death;
- The day of death;
- The degree of relation the requester has to the deceased.
To obtain a copy, the eligible party will need to submit a completed Application for Copy of a Vital Record, a copy of a valid government-issued I.D., and the required fees. They can send these documents by mail or visit the office for pick-ups at:
Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Statistics
Lucas State Office Building - 1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
The Dallas County Recorder's Office can also provide death records from 1880 to 1920 and July 1, 1941, to the present. Interested individuals will need to submit a Vital Records Request Form, a valid photo I.D., and a $15 cash, check, or money order payable to the Dallas County Recorder. The requester may also pay via debit or credit card if applying in person, although service charges may apply. The Clerk's contact information is:
Dallas County Courthouse
801 Court Street
Rm 203
Adel, IA 50003
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 38
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5804
Fax: (515) 993-5970
Older death records are available at the Iowa Genealogy Society and the State Historical Society of Iowa. Both offices keep these records for genealogical and research purposes. The State Historical Society of Iowa publishes a microfilm guide for Dallas County, including indexes and dates. A microfiche containing an index to state death certificates issued from 1904 until 1916 is available at the Reference Desk in the research centers located at:
Permanent Site:
State Historical Building
600 E. Locust Street.
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-6200
Temporary Site:
Centennial Building
402 Iowa Ave.
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 335-3916
The Iowa State Archives staff produced a statewide index of deaths from 1880 to 1937 and published them online to make the certificates readily available. Interested parties may request copies of these indexed records online for $7.50.
