WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC RECORDS

Warren County Arrest, Court, and Public Records

Warren County complies with Iowa's Open Records Law and makes available the public records in its possession to its residents on request. Warren County public records consist of all documents, records, and any other material containing information about a government agency, bureau, agency, department, or commission.

Per Iowa's Open Records Law, accessible Warren County public records include court, criminal, sex offender information, inmate, police reports, and vital records. However, the law also prohibits access to public records such as juvenile records, trade secrets, law enforcement officer investigation reports, adoption records, sealed court records, mental health records, Social Security numbers, and library records.

Warren County Crime Statistics

The Code of Iowa mandates all law enforcement agencies to record and report crime and arrest to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Department of Public Safety. According to the 2020 crime report, Warren County reported 423 drug/narcotics cases, 412 assaults, 383 larceny thefts, 106 burglaries, 101 frauds, 55 motor vehicle thefts, 35 sex-related offenses, 5 arson, 4 robberies, and 1 homicide.

In the 2019 crime report, the county recorded 374 drug/narcotic crimes, 425 assaults, 459 larceny thefts, 121 burglaries, 87 frauds, 47 motor vehicle thefts, 62 sexual-related crimes, 13 arson, and 2 robberies. In comparison, larceny-theft decreased by 16.6%, burglaries by 12.4%, and arson by 61.5%. On the other hand, crime levels for drugs/narcotics, motor vehicle thefts, and robberies increased by 13.1%, 17%, and 100%, respectively. Overall the crime levels in the county decreased by 7.2%.

Are Warren County Criminal Records Public?

Warren County criminal records are available to the public on request at the county Sheriff's Office in person during business hours. Alternatively, obtain criminal records from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in person, online, or by mail.

The cost of obtaining criminal records depends on the record custodian. Generally, the Division of Criminal Investigation charges $15 per name-based search. Contact the Sheriff’s Office for information on the cost of obtaining a criminal record. Either way, all requesters must provide the necessary details required to retrieve the criminal record, including the subject’s full name and date of birth.

How to Obtain Warren County Police Reports and Arrest Records?

Local law enforcement in Warren County maintains arrest records and police reports. Interested parties can obtain Warren County arrest records and Warren County police reports from the Sheriff's Office in person during business hours. Alternatively, send a request letter by mail - the letter must sufficiently describe the record sought.

A police report is a written representation of facts and findings during an arrest. It contains details such as the time, date, contact information, witnesses, and place of the incident. Arrest records contain information about the offenses a person is suspected of committing or for which law enforcement took the individual into custody.

Warren County Sheriff’s Office
1801 West 2nd Avenue
Suite 2
P.O. Box 337
Indianola, IA 50125

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Warren County

Persons interested in looking up a sex offender in Warren County may search the Iowa Sex Offenders’ Registry (IASOR). To access information from the webpage, parties must have details about the sex offender such as the full name, postal code, phone number, address, email ID or internet name, or plate number of the sex offender.

Parties can also conduct an advanced search using details such as weight, height, race, gender, hair and eye color, and age of the sex offender. Record seekers must ensure they choose Warren County when searching. Parties can register to receive information when a sex offender's condition changes.

How to Find Warren County Inmate Records

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office operates the county jail under the direct supervision of the Sheriff, the jail administration, and support staff. Parties interested in getting inmate records can send an email to the county jail at sjail@warrencountyia.org or contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Jail in person from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Monday through Friday at:

Warren County Sheriff’s Office
1801 West 2nd Avenue
Suite 2
P.O. Box 337
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1104
Fax: (515) 961-1078

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Warren County Jail?

The Sheriff's Office approves friends and families to visit inmates in its county jail. Family and friends can conduct video visitation remotely or on-site at the jail lobby. All visitors must schedule visits before the proposed visitation day. The visitation schedule for on-site visits is on Thursday and Sunday from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

Remote visitation is available Monday to Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. All inmates' visit duration is 20 minutes weekly. Visitors under 18 must be the inmate's family members and should be in the company of a parent or legal guardian. All visitors must tender a valid photo ID before visitation. The jail staff will search all on-site visitors. Visitors who pose an immediate threat or harm to the safety and security of the facility will have their visitation rights suspended.

Warren County Court Records

Warren County court records are records generated during a legal process in court. These records include civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, mental health, and probate court records. Warren County District Court has authority over all criminal and civil cases. The court has a division for Small Claims, Juvenile Court, and Probate Court. The Small Claims Court oversees dispute cases with limited amounts; the Juvenile Court handles juvenile delinquencies, adoptions, foster care placements, and termination of parental rights cases. Lastly, the Probate Court holds and maintains records relating to the estate of a deceased, wills, trust and trustees, and conservatorship and guardianship. Warren Court records are accessible at the District Courthouse located at:

Warren County District Court
2205 West 2nd Avenue
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1033
Fax: (515) 961-1071

Are Warren County Court Records Public?

Yes. Warren County court records are available to the public on request for a fee unless restricted by law or court order. State laws and courts typically restrict access to court records when the documents contain sensitive information. In such cases, only the litigants and authorized persons may obtain copies of the court records. Examples of restricted court records include:

• Adoption records
• Records exempted by a court order
• Medical records
• Personal identifying information such as Credit card number, Social Security number, and drivers' license number
• Juvenile records
• Records of an ongoing investigation
• Substance or drug abuse records
• Sealed court records

How to Obtain Warren County Civil Court Case Records

A civil case is a non-criminal lawsuit brought by one party against another to settle a private dispute, usually between individuals or businesses. The District Court Clerk manages the court files and makes Warren County Civil Court case records available to interested parties. Record seekers can obtain the record at the following address:

Warren County Clerk of Court
2205 West 2nd Avenue
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1033
Fax: (515) 961-1071

Alternatively, interested parties can access Warren County civil court case records using the Iowa Courts Online Search. Either way, record seekers must have the full name, citation number, or case ID to obtain the record.

How to Obtain Warren County Criminal Court Records

A criminal court case occurs when an individual commits an offense deemed illegal in the state. Interested parties can obtain Warren County criminal court records at the Clerk's Office located at:

Warren County Clerk of Court
2205 West 2nd Avenue
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1033
Fax: (515) 961-1071

The state provides an online court search tool for parties interested in obtaining criminal court records. Searchers must have the case number, full name, or citation number; also, parties must limit the search to Warren County.

What are Warren County Vital Records?

Warren County vital records is a government record of important life events such as birth, marriage, divorce, and death records. Record seekers must have a direct relationship with the record holder to obtain vital records. Warren County vital records are available at the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Warren County Recorder's Office.

Where and How to Obtain Warren County Divorce Records

A divorce decree is a document issued by the court stating the terms and conditions to end a marriage formally. Generally, only the divorcees, their immediate family members, and authorized representatives may obtain certified copies of divorce records at the Clerk of District Court’s Office. The Clerk charges a fee for this service, and requesters must demonstrate their eligibility to receive the divorce records.

Warren County District Court Clerk of Court
2205 West 2nd Avenue
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1033
Fax: (515) 961-1071

Where and How to Get Public Warren County Marriage Records

The County government issues marriage records to verify the union between two individuals. To obtain a Warren County marriage record, the applicant must be the record holder, the parents, current spouse, children, grandparents, legal representative, or legal guardian. Interested parties can obtain the application form from the Recorder's Office and fill out the application and return same with a valid government-issued photo ID and the fees to:

Warren County Recorder’s Office
301 North Buxton
Suite 109
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1089
Fax: (515) 961-1146

Alternatively, submit a marriage certificate application form to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). The IDPH charges $15.00 to access the marriage records, and requesters must pay using a money order or check, although in-person requesters can pay with cash. Mail requesters must notarize their signature, while in-person requesters should sign the application form before a vital records staff. Requesters can send the form, fees, and valid ID to the following address:

Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
1st Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Warren County

All marriages registered in Iowa are public marriages. Therefore, there are no records of confidential marriage records in Warren County.

Where and How to Find Warren County Birth Records

Warren County birth records are available to the record holder, the parents, the siblings, the spouse, grandparents and children, legal guardian, and legal representatives of the record holder. All parties besides the record holder must tender proof of their relationship with the record holder to access the birth record. Warren County birth certificates are available at the County Recorder's Officer for $15.00. The address of the Recorder's Office is:

Warren County Recorder’s Office
301 North Buxton
Suite 109
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1089
Fax: (515) 961-1146

The IDPH also makes available birth records within Iowa, and parties can obtain Warren County birth certificates by filling out the Iowa Vital Record form. Requesters can mail in or drop off the request for birth records. Record seekers must pay a fee of $15.00 using a check or money order, and the parties must notarize the application form if ordering the record by mail. In-person requesters must sign the form in the presence of a vital record staff. Requesters must include the fees, an unexpired government-issued photo ID with the application form and send it to:

Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
1st Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

Where and How to Find Warren County Death Records

To be eligible to access Warren County death records, the requester must be

• The parents, children, sibling, grandparents, or spouse of the deceased
• A legal representative or legal guardian of the decedent

To obtain the death certificate, all parties must prove their relationship with the deceased. Parties can obtain the application form for a Warren County death record from the County Recorder's Office located at:

Warren County Recorder’s Office
301 North Buxton
Suite 109
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: (515) 961-1089
Fax: (515) 961-1146

Requesters can order the death record by mail, in person, by phone, or online. Generally, all death records cost $15.00, and record seekers can pay with a check or money order. In addition, record seekers can also obtain the death certificate from the IDPH by filling out the application for an Iowa Vital Records form. Parties must notarize the application form when ordering a death record by mail, while in-person requesters must sign the form in front of a vital record staff as a witness. Parties can submit the form, fees, and a valid ID to:

Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
1st Floor
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

The means of identification approved by the IDPH is an unexpired ID by the U.S government that carries the requester's signature. IDs supported include state photo ID, driver's license, military ID, current school ID, work ID, passport or visa, permanent resident card, or employment authorization card. Where the requesters cannot provide any of the above listed, the IDPH will accept any two of the following if they carry the name and current address of the requester:

• Income tax return
• Court documents
• Insurance policy
• Banking documents
• Utility bill
• Medical card
• Hospital bill
• Medicare
• Rent or mortgage recipes
• Car registration or title