Criminal penalties in Iowa
Checked in October 2026 against the Iowa Code 2025.
These are statutory ranges for a first offence, from the least to the most the law allows. A court decides the actual sentence in each case. Not legal advice.
How Iowa sets penalties
- Iowa sorts felonies into classes, from Class A (the most serious) to Class D, and sets the most a court may impose for each class in §§ 902.1 and 902.9.
- Misdemeanors are simple, serious or aggravated, with their maximums in § 903.1.
- Iowa sets few minimum prison terms. Instead, for some crimes, a person must serve a share of the sentence before parole is possible (§ 902.12).
- Fines are adjusted from time to time. The amounts shown are those in the Iowa Code 2025.
Death penalty: Iowa abolished the death penalty in 1965. The most serious sentence in the Code is life imprisonment (§ 902.1).
First-degree murder
Life imprisonment, with no parole
Murder in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment, with no parole unless the Governor commutes the sentence
A person who was under 18 at the time of the offence receives a different sentence under § 902.1.
Second-degree murder
Up to 50 years
Murder in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 50 years
A Class B felony, but § 707.3 raises the maximum from 25 to 50 years.
Voluntary manslaughter
Up to 10 years, and a fine
Voluntary manslaughter (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
Robbery
Up to 10 years (second degree) to up to 25 years (first degree)
Robbery in the second degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
A robbery that is not first degree. Parole is not possible until between one-half and seven-tenths of the term is served (§ 902.12).
Robbery in the first degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 25 years
Committed by purposely inflicting or attempting to inflict serious injury, or by being armed with a dangerous weapon. Parole is not possible until between one-half and seven-tenths of the term is served (§ 902.12).
Burglary
Up to 5 years (third degree) to up to 25 years (first degree)
Burglary in the third degree (Class D felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,025 to $10,245
Burglary of an unoccupied motor vehicle or vessel is an aggravated misdemeanor (up to 2 years) for a first offence.
Burglary in the second degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
Burglary in the first degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 25 years
A burglary of an occupied structure with an aggravating factor, such as a weapon, an explosive or causing injury.
Arson
Up to 2 years (third degree) to up to 25 years (first degree)
Arson in the third degree (Aggravated misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 2 years
- Fine
- Fine of $855 to $8,540
Arson in the second degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
Arson in the first degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 25 years
Where one or more people are present in the structure. Parole is not possible until between one-half and seven-tenths of the term is served (§ 902.12).
Aggravated assault
Up to 2 years (aggravated misdemeanor) to up to 10 years (Class C)
Assault with intent to inflict serious injury, or with a dangerous weapon (Aggravated misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 2 years
- Fine
- Fine of $855 to $8,540
§ 708.2, subsections 1 and 3.
Assault causing serious injury (Class D felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,025 to $10,245
§ 708.2, subsection 5.
Willful injury causing serious injury (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
Willful injury causing only bodily injury is a Class D felony (up to 5 years).
Iowa has no offence called 'aggravated assault'. These are the closest offences: assault made worse by intent to cause serious injury, a weapon or serious injury, and willful injury.
Rape and sexual assault
Up to 10 years (third degree) to life without parole (first degree)
Sexual abuse in the third degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
Sexual abuse in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 25 years
Sexual abuse in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment, with no parole unless the Governor commutes the sentence
Where the person causes another serious injury in the course of the abuse.
Kidnapping
Up to 10 years (third degree) to life without parole (first degree)
Kidnapping in the third degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
Kidnapping in the second degree (Class B felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 25 years
Where the purpose is ransom, the kidnapper is armed with a dangerous weapon, or the victim is under 18.
Kidnapping in the first degree (Class A felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Life imprisonment, with no parole unless the Governor commutes the sentence
Embezzlement
Up to 30 days (fifth-degree theft) to up to 10 years (first-degree theft)
Theft in the fifth degree (Simple misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 30 days
- Fine
- Fine of $105 to $855
§§ 714.1 and 714.2.
Theft in the fourth degree (Serious misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 1 year
- Fine
- Fine of $430 to $2,560
§§ 714.1 and 714.2.
Theft in the third degree (Aggravated misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 2 years
- Fine
- Fine of $855 to $8,540
§§ 714.1 and 714.2.
Theft in the second degree (Class D felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,025 to $10,245
§§ 714.1 and 714.2.
Theft in the first degree (Class C felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 10 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,370 to $13,660
§§ 714.1 and 714.2. The highest degree applies to the highest values.
Iowa treats embezzlement as theft by misappropriation: using or disposing of property one holds in trust in a way that is inconsistent with the owner's rights (§ 714.1, subsection 2). The degree depends on the value of the property.
Forgery
Up to 2 years (aggravated misdemeanor) to up to 5 years (Class D)
Forgery of a will, deed, contract, release or commercial instrument (Aggravated misdemeanor)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 2 years
- Fine
- Fine of $855 to $8,540
Forgery of money, securities, stock or other government or investment instruments (Class D felony)
- Least
- No minimum term set by the statute
- Most
- Up to 5 years
- Fine
- Fine of $1,025 to $10,245
Drunk driving, first offence
At least 48 hours in jail, up to 1 year, and a fine
Operating while intoxicated, first offence (Serious misdemeanor)
- Least
- At least 48 hours in county jail
- Most
- Up to 1 year
- Fine
- Fine of $1,250
At least 48 hours in county jail (not more than one year), a fine of $1,250 (the court may waive up to $625 in some cases), and licence revocation for 180 days up to one year. A second offence is an aggravated misdemeanor, and a third is a Class D felony.
Compare with: Arizona, California, New York, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Maryland.
