Scott County Public Records / Scott County Arrest Records

Scott County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Scott County

Arrest records in Scott County, Iowa, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 22.2, every person has the right to examine and copy public records maintained by government bodies, including law enforcement agencies. Arrest records generated by the Scott County Sheriff's Office and local police departments fall within the scope of records accessible to members of the public unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Iowa law, certain arrest records — particularly those involving charges that were dismissed, not prosecuted, or resulted in acquittal — may be subject to expungement under Iowa Code § 901C.1, which limits their continued public availability. The Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains statewide criminal history records and establishes policies governing law enforcement records access across all Iowa counties, including Scott County.

Scott County Sheriff's Office 600 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 326-8625 Scott County Sheriff's Office

What's in Scott County Arrest Records

Scott County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the initial stages of the criminal justice process. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an arrest record:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Home address at time of arrest
Social Security Number (restricted from public disclosure in most cases)

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Scott County Sheriff's Office, Davenport Police Department)

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Iowa Code section(s) alleged to have been violated
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or simple misdemeanor)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued and jurisdiction

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, or personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Bond conditions, if any

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the Scott County District Court
Scheduled arraignment or initial appearance date
Presiding court and judge assignment

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release

Additional Information May Include:

Co-defendants listed in the same incident
Narrative summary of the alleged offense
Vehicle information if relevant to the arrest

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Scott County in 2026

Members of the public may access Scott County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the current process for obtaining these records:

Contact the Scott County Sheriff's Office directly. Individuals may submit a public records request in person at 600 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Requesters should provide the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or booking number to expedite processing.
Submit a written records request. Written requests may be mailed to the Scott County Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requests should reference Iowa Code § 22.2 and specify the records sought with sufficient particularity.
Access the Iowa Courts Online system. The Iowa Judicial Branch operates a public case search portal at Iowa Courts Online, where members of the public may search criminal case records by name or case number at no charge.
Contact the Davenport Police Department for arrests made within city limits. The Records Division handles public records requests for incidents occurring within Davenport's jurisdiction.

Davenport Police Department 416 N. Harrison St., Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 326-6125 Davenport Police Department

Request records from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). For statewide criminal history background checks, members of the public may submit requests through the Iowa Department of Public Safety's DCI unit, which maintains the Iowa criminal history repository.

How To Find Scott County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Scott County arrest records and related criminal justice information.

Iowa Courts Online — The Iowa Judicial Branch's public portal allows users to search criminal case records, including charges, case status, and court dates, by entering a subject's name or case number at Iowa Courts Online.
Scott County Jail Roster — The Scott County Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail roster on its official website, listing individuals presently in custody along with booking dates and charges.
Iowa Offender Search — The Iowa offender database maintained by the Iowa Department of Corrections allows the public to search for individuals currently or previously under the supervision of the state corrections system. Offender records are public information pursuant to Iowa Code § 904.601(1).
Iowa DCI Background Check Portal — The Iowa Department of Public Safety provides an online portal for submitting criminal history record requests for individuals with Iowa arrest or conviction history.

How To Search Scott County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Scott County arrest records at no cost through the following methods:

Iowa Courts Online provides free public access to criminal case records, including charge information and case dispositions, without requiring account registration.
Scott County Sheriff's Office Jail Roster is available at no charge on the Sheriff's Office website and reflects current in-custody individuals.
Iowa Offender Search — The Iowa Department of Corrections offers a free public search tool for locating individuals under correctional supervision statewide.
In-person inspection at the Scott County Sheriff's Office Records Division is available at no cost; fees may apply only when copies are requested. Under Iowa Code § 22.3, agencies may charge a reasonable fee for the actual cost of providing copies but may not charge for the act of inspection itself.
Iowa Courts Online case search is free for all users and does not require payment to view case summaries, charge information, or hearing schedules.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Scott County

Iowa law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These are distinct remedies with different eligibility requirements and legal effects.

Expungement results in the destruction or erasure of the arrest record from public repositories. Under Iowa Code § 901C.1, individuals whose criminal charges were dismissed, resulted in a not-guilty verdict, or were otherwise resolved without conviction may petition the court for expungement. Eligibility conditions include:

The charge must have been a simple misdemeanor, serious misdemeanor, aggravated misdemeanor, or felony that did not result in a conviction
The petitioner must not have any pending criminal charges
A waiting period may apply depending on the nature of the charge

Sealing restricts access to records without destroying them, preserving them for use by law enforcement and courts while removing them from public view.

Steps to pursue expungement in Scott County:

Obtain the case number and charging documents from the Scott County District Court.
Complete the petition for expungement form available through the Iowa Judicial Branch.
File the petition with the Scott County District Court, 400 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801.
Serve notice on the prosecuting attorney's office as required by statute.
Attend the scheduled hearing, at which the court will determine eligibility and grant or deny the petition.

Scott County District Court 400 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 328-4720 Scott County District Court

What Happens After Arrest in Scott County?

The criminal justice process in Scott County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking — Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Scott County Jail, where booking procedures are completed, including fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information and charges.
Initial Appearance — Within a short period following booking, the arrested individual appears before a magistrate or judge for an initial appearance, at which bond is set and the charges are formally presented.
Arraignment — The defendant enters a formal plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest) before the Scott County District Court.
Pretrial Proceedings — Motions, discovery, and plea negotiations occur during this phase. The prosecuting attorney and defense counsel exchange evidence and may negotiate a plea agreement.
Trial or Plea — If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a bench or jury trial. If the defendant pleads guilty, sentencing may follow.
Sentencing — Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence, which may include incarceration, probation, fines, or community service.
Post-Conviction — The defendant may appeal the conviction or sentence, or may become eligible to petition for expungement under applicable Iowa statutes.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Scott County?

Arrest record retention in Scott County is governed by Iowa administrative rules and state statute. The Iowa State Records Commission establishes retention schedules applicable to law enforcement agencies throughout the state, including those operating in Scott County.

Under current Iowa administrative rules, law enforcement agencies are generally required to retain arrest records for a minimum period that varies based on the nature of the offense:

Felony arrest records are typically retained permanently or for an extended period consistent with the severity of the offense.
Misdemeanor arrest records may be retained for a shorter period, often ranging from five to ten years following case closure.
Juvenile records are subject to separate retention and confidentiality rules under Iowa law.

Different agencies within Scott County — including the Sheriff's Office, Davenport Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation — maintain their own records repositories and may apply different retention schedules in accordance with their respective administrative obligations. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. The Iowa Department of Public Safety provides guidance to local agencies on compliance with statewide retention requirements.

How to Find Mugshots in Scott County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are photographic images taken of an individual at the time of booking into a correctional facility. They are part of the official arrest record and are captured as a standard component of the booking process at the Scott County Jail.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the Scott County Sheriff's Office as part of the booking record. Copies may also be retained by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation as part of the statewide criminal history repository.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshot images through a formal public records request submitted to the Scott County Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requests should identify the subject by full name and approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online The Scott County Sheriff's Office may publish booking photographs on its official jail roster page for individuals currently in custody. Third-party websites may also aggregate and republish mugshot images; however, the accuracy and currency of such sources cannot be verified by official agencies.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified or official copy of a booking photograph, members of the public should submit a written public records request to the Scott County Sheriff's Office. A nominal fee may apply for reproduction of photographic records.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with records that have been expunged pursuant to Iowa Code § 901C.1 are no longer subject to public disclosure. Additionally, juvenile booking photographs are confidential under Iowa law and are not available to the general public.

Scott County Sheriff's Office Records Division 600 W. 4th St., Davenport, IA 52801 (563) 326-8625 Scott County Sheriff's Office