(Des Moines, Iowa) – Police mugshots would not be immediately released to the public in Iowa under a bill passed Tuesday by a subcommittee in the Iowa House. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, House File 47 would restrict the dissemination of booking photos from law enforcement agencies after a person has been arrested until they have been convicted of the crime for which they were arrested. There are some exceptions to this restriction, largely centered on when releasing the photo would serve a public safety interest, like when an individual in the photo is a fugitive, if the release would help law enforcement apprehend the person or if they pose a threat to another specific person or to the public.

Proposals curtailing the public posting of mugshots have been brought up in previous legislative sessions. In 2024, the House Public Safety Committee passed a similar measure that did not receive a hearing on the House floor. Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, said he came back with the bill this session because it would ensure people who are arrested are judged “in the court of law, not the court of public opinion.”

An Iowa House subcommittee heard from lobbyists Jan. 21, 2025, about potential changes to a bill restricting the public release of mugshots. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Several lobbyists spoke in favor of the legislation, saying that many people who are arrested for crimes face major problems because of the release of their mugshots, even if they are not ultimately convicted of the crime. While speakers all supported the intent behind the bill, there were specific changes recommended. Lobbyists suggested requiring that photos are released when the specified exemptions occur, rather than leaving it up to the discretion of a judge or another authority, and questioned whether there was a need for photos to be released post-conviction for non-violent, lower classes of crimes or drug offenses.

Several lobbyists also said the bill’s language was unclear on when booking photos could be shared within the law enforcement or courts systems — such as whether law enforcement agencies would be allowed to share mugshots with other jurisdictions, or if photos could be used for identification purposes in charging documents.

The bill passed unanimously out of subcommittee. Gustoff said that he was amenable to the amendments suggested as the measure moved forward for consideration by the full Public Safety Committee.