Criminal Law >> Iowa Criminal Process >> Misdemeanors and Felonies
If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense in Iowa, some of your first concerns may be “what is the punishment for this crime? How much trouble am I in, exactly? What does it mean to be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor? What will I be sentenced to??
Iowa classifies crimes as “felonies” or “misdemeanors.” A felony can be a class A felony, class B felony, class C felony, or class D felony. A misdemeanor can be a simple misdemeanor, a serious misdemeanor, or an aggravated misdemeanor.
Statutes that define crimes may tell you what the punishment for that crime is. If the statute doesn’t tell you what the punishment is, the punishments for misdemeanors are as follows:
Iowa Simple Misdemeanors
Simple misdemeanors: fines of $65-$625 (Iowa Code 903.1), plus a 35% surcharge (Iowa Code 911.1). The court can also send you to jail for up to 30 days instead of fining you or in addition to fining you (Iowa Code 903.1)
Iowa Serious Misdemeanors
Serious misdemeanors: fines of $315-$1875 (Iowa Code 903.1) plus a 35% surcharge (Iowa Code 911.1). The court can also send you to jail for up to a year in addition to fining you (Iowa Code 903.1)
Iowa Aggravated Misdemeanors
Aggravated misdemeanors: fines of $625-$6250 (Iowa Code 903.1) plus a 35% surcharge (Iowa Code 911.1) The court can also send you to jail for up to two years. If the court sends you to jail for more than a year, the term will be click here.)
Iowa Jail Costs
Bear in mind that going to jail in Iowa isn’t free. You can be charged for administrative procedures and booking, room and board for every day you spend in custody, and for medical care you receive (Iowa Code 356.7)
(If you or a loved one have been sentenced to Polk County Jail (“PCJ”), you can find a copy of their inmate handbook here.)
We can help you figure out what to do about your misdemeanor charges in Des Moines, Polk County, Ankeny, Ames, Johnston, West Des Moines, Waukee, Saylorville, Bondurant, Altoona, Clive, Grimes, Pleasant Hill, Story County, Boone County, Marshall County, Dallas County, Jasper County, Madison County, Warren County, Marion County, Wapello County, Davis County, Ottumwa, Bloomfield, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, and the rest of Iowa.
I’ve you need an Iowa misdemeanor attorney, call now. (515) 491 6128.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on as legal advice. Consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Reading this site doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. If you want to talk to us about representing you when you’re charged with an Iowa misdemeanor, please contact us at (515) 491 6128 and we’ll set up a time to talk.
