CHAPTER 902
FELONIES

Referred to in §663A.1, 708.2A, 901.1, 901A.2

  
     
902.1  Class “A” felony.
  1.  Upon a plea of guilty, a verdict of guilty, or a special verdict upon which a judgment of conviction of a class “A” felony may be rendered, the court shall enter a judgment of conviction and shall commit the defendant into the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life. Nothing in the Iowa corrections code pertaining to deferred judgment, deferred sentence, suspended sentence, or reconsideration of sentence applies to a class “A” felony, and a person convicted of a class “A” felony shall not be released on parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years.
  2.  a.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, a defendant convicted of murder in the first degree in violation of section 707.2, and who was under the age of eighteen at the time the offense was committed shall receive one of the following sentences:
  (1)  Commitment to the director of the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with no possibility of parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years.
  (2)  Commitment to the custody of the director of the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of confinement as determined by the court.
  (3)  Commitment to the custody of the director of the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole.
  b.  (1)  The prosecuting attorney shall provide reasonable notice to the defendant, after conviction and prior to sentencing, of the state’s intention to seek a life sentence with no possibility of parole under paragraph “a”, subparagraph (1).
  (2)  In determining which sentence to impose, the court shall consider all circumstances including but not limited to the following:
  (a)  The impact of the offense on each victim, as defined in section 915.10, through the use of a victim impact statement, as defined in section 915.10, under any format permitted by section 915.13. The victim impact statement may include comment on the sentence of the defendant.
  (b)  The impact of the offense on the community.
  (c)  The threat to the safety of the public or any individual posed by the defendant.
  (d)  The degree of participation in the murder by the defendant.
  (e)  The nature of the offense.
  (f)  The defendant’s remorse.
  (g)  The defendant’s acceptance of responsibility.
  (h)  The severity of the offense, including any of the following:
  (i)  The commission of the murder while participating in another felony.
  (ii)  The number of victims.
  (iii)  The heinous, brutal, cruel manner of the murder, including whether the murder was the result of torture.
  (i)  The capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminality of the conduct.
  (j)  Whether the ability to conform the defendant’s conduct with the requirements of the law was substantially impaired.
  (k)  The level of maturity of the defendant.
  (l)  The intellectual and mental capacity of the defendant.
  (m)  The nature and extent of any prior juvenile delinquency or criminal history of the defendant, including the success or failure of previous attempts at rehabilitation.
  (n)  The mental health history of the defendant.
  (o)  The level of compulsion, duress, or influence exerted upon the defendant, but not to such an extent as to constitute a defense.
  (p)  The likelihood of the commission of further offenses by the defendant.
  (q)  The chronological age of the defendant and the features of youth, including immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences.
  (r)  The family and home environment that surrounded the defendant.
  (s)  The circumstances of the murder including the extent of the defendant’s participation in the conduct and the way familial and peer pressure may have affected the defendant.
  (t)  The competencies associated with youth, including but not limited to the defendant’s inability to deal with peace officers or the prosecution or the defendant’s incapacity to assist the defendant’s attorney in the defendant’s defense.
  (u)  The possibility of rehabilitation.
  (v)  Any other information considered relevant by the sentencing court.
  3.  a.  Notwithstanding subsections 1 and 2, a defendant convicted of a class “A” felony, other than murder in the first degree in violation of section 707.2, and who was under the age of eighteen at the time the offense was committed shall receive one of the following sentences:
  (1)  Commitment to the custody of the director of the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of confinement as determined by the court.
  (2)  Commitment to the custody of the director of the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole.
  b.  In determining which sentence to impose, the court shall consider all circumstances including but not limited to the following:
  (1)  The impact of the offense on each victim, as defined in section 915.10, through the use of a victim impact statement, as defined in section 915.10, under any format permitted by section 915.13. The victim impact statement may include comment on the sentence of the defendant.
  (2)  The impact of the offense on the community.
  (3)  The threat to the safety of the public or any individual posed by the defendant.
  (4)  The degree of participation in the offense by the defendant.
  (5)  The nature of the offense.
  (6)  The defendant’s remorse.
  (7)  The defendant’s acceptance of responsibility.
  (8)  The severity of the offense, including any of the following:
  (a)  The commission of the offense while participating in another felony.
  (b)  The number of victims.
  (c)  The heinous, brutal, cruel manner of the offense, including whether the offense involved torture.
  (9)  The capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminality of the conduct.
  (10)  Whether the ability to conform the defendant’s conduct with the requirements of the law was substantially impaired.
  (11)  The level of maturity of the defendant.
  (12)  The intellectual and mental capacity of the defendant.
  (13)  The nature and extent of any prior juvenile delinquency or criminal history of the defendant, including the success or failure of previous attempts at rehabilitation.
  (14)  The mental health history of the defendant.
  (15)  The level of compulsion, duress, or influence exerted upon the defendant, but not to such an extent as to constitute a defense.
  (16)  The likelihood of the commission of further offenses by the defendant.
  (17)  The chronological age of the defendant and the features of youth, including immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences.
  (18)  The family and home environment that surrounded the defendant.
  (19)  The circumstances of the offense including the extent of the defendant’s participation in the conduct and the way the familial and peer pressure may have affected the defendant.
  (20)  The competencies associated with youth, including but not limited to the defendant’s inability to deal with peace officers or the prosecution or the defendant’s incapacity to assist the defendant’s attorney in the defendant’s defense.
  (21)  The possibility of rehabilitation.
  (22)  Any other information considered relevant by the sentencing court.
  4.  If a defendant is paroled pursuant to subsection 2 or 3, the defendant shall be subject to the same set of procedures set out in chapters 901B, 905, 906, and 908, and rules adopted under those chapters for persons on parole.
[C79, 81, §902.1]
83 Acts, ch 96, §127, 159; 2011 Acts, ch 131, §147, 148, 158; 2015 Acts, ch 65, §1, 2, 4, 5; 2015 Acts, ch 138, §50, 53, 161
Referred to in §901A.2, 902.2, 903A.2

     
902.2  Commutation procedure for class “A” felons.
  A person who has been sentenced to life imprisonment under section 902.1 may, no more frequently than once every ten years, make an application to the governor requesting that the person’s sentence be commuted to a term of years. The director of the Iowa department of corrections may make a request to the governor that a person’s sentence be commuted to a term of years at any time. Upon receipt of a request for commutation, the governor shall send a copy of the request to the Iowa board of parole for investigation and recommendations as to whether the person should be considered for commutation. The board shall conduct an interview of the class “A” felon and shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor.
[S13, §5718-a18; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3786; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.5; C79, 81, §902.2]
95 Acts, ch 128, §1
Referred to in §903A.2, 914.2, 914.3

     
902.3  Indeterminate sentence.
  When a judgment of conviction of a felony other than a class “A” felony is entered against a person, the court, in imposing a sentence of confinement, shall commit the person into the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections for an indeterminate term, the maximum length of which shall not exceed the limits as fixed by section 902.9, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, nor shall the term be less than the minimum term imposed by law, if a minimum sentence is provided. However, if the court suspends a person’s sentence under section 321J.2, subsection 5, paragraph “a”, the court shall order the offender to serve time in the county jail as provided in section 321J.2, subsection 5, paragraph “a”, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in section 903.4.
[S13, §5718-a13; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13960; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §789.13; C79, 81, §902.3; 82 Acts, ch 1239, §3]
83 Acts, ch 96, §128, 159; 86 Acts, ch 1220, §43; 99 Acts, ch 12, §15; 2002 Acts, ch 1042, §2; 2010 Acts, ch 1124, §4, 9
Referred to in §904.108

902.3A  Determinate sentencing and additional term of years for class “D” felons.  Repealed by 
2003 Acts, ch 156, §22
. 

  
     
902.4  Reconsideration of felon’s sentence.
  For a period of one year from the date when a person convicted of a felony, other than a class “A” or class “B” felony, begins to serve a sentence of confinement, the court, on its own motion or on the recommendation of the director of the Iowa department of corrections, may order the person to be returned to the court, at which time the court may review its previous action and reaffirm it or substitute for it any sentence permitted by law. Copies of the order to return the person to the court shall be provided to the attorney for the state, the defendant’s attorney, and the defendant. Upon a request of the attorney for the state, the defendant’s attorney, or the defendant if the defendant has no attorney, the court may, but is not required to, conduct a hearing on the issue of reconsideration of sentence. The court shall not disclose its decision to reconsider or not to reconsider the sentence of confinement until the date reconsideration is ordered or the date the one-year period expires, whichever occurs first. The district court retains jurisdiction for the limited purposes of conducting such review and entering an appropriate order notwithstanding the timely filing of a notice of appeal. The court’s final order in the proceeding shall be delivered to the defendant personally or by regular mail. The court’s decision to take the action or not to take the action is not subject to appeal. However, for the purposes of appeal, a judgment of conviction of a felony is a final judgment when pronounced.
[C79, 81, §902.4]
83 Acts, ch 96, §129, 159; 84 Acts, ch 1139, §1; 84 Acts, ch 1149, §1; 97 Acts, ch 189, §1; 2001 Acts, ch 165, §5; 2003 Acts, ch 151, §59; 2017 Acts, ch 122, §16
Referred to in §901.5, 902.6

     
902.5  Place of confinement.
  The director of the Iowa department of corrections shall determine the appropriate place of confinement of any person committed to the director’s custody, in any institution administered by the director, and may transfer the person from one institution to another during the person’s period of confinement.
[S13, §5718-a5; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13963; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §789.16; C79, 81, §902.5]
83 Acts, ch 96, §130, 159

     
902.6  Release.
  A person who has been committed to the custody of the director of the Iowa department of corrections shall remain in custody until released by the order of the board of parole, in accordance with the law governing paroles, or by order of the judge after reconsideration of a felon’s sentence pursuant to section 902.4 or until the maximum term of the person’s confinement, as fixed by law, has been completed.
[S13, §5718-a18; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3786; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §247.5; C79, 81, §902.6]
83 Acts, ch 96, §131, 159

     
902.7  Minimum sentence — use of a dangerous weapon.
  At the trial of a person charged with participating in a forcible felony, if the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty of a forcible felony and that the person represented that the person was in the immediate possession and control of a dangerous weapon, displayed a dangerous weapon in a threatening manner, or was armed with a dangerous weapon while participating in the forcible felony the convicted person shall serve a minimum of five years of the sentence imposed by law. A person sentenced pursuant to this section shall not be eligible for parole until the person has served the minimum sentence of confinement imposed by this section.
[C79, 81, §902.7]
95 Acts, ch 126, §1
Referred to in §901.10, 903A.5
Definition of forcible felony, §702.11 

     
902.8  Minimum sentence — habitual offender.
  An habitual offender is any person convicted of a class “C” or a class “D” felony, who has twice before been convicted of any felony in a court of this or any other state, or of the United States. An offense is a felony if, by the law under which the person is convicted, it is so classified at the time of the person’s conviction. A person sentenced as an habitual offender shall not be eligible for parole until the person has served the minimum sentence of confinement of three years.
[S13, §4871-a, 5091-a; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13396, 13400; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §747.1, 747.5; C79, 81, §902.8]
Referred to in §321J.2, 821.4, 901.5, 903A.5
See §901.5(7) 

     
902.8A  Minimum sentence for conspiring to manufacture, or delivery of, amphetamine or methamphetamine to a minor.
  A person who has been convicted for a first violation under section 124.401D shall not be eligible for parole until the person has served a minimum term of confinement of ten years.
99 Acts, ch 12, §16
Referred to in §903A.5

  
     
902.9  Maximum sentence for felons.
  1.  The maximum sentence for any person convicted of a felony shall be that prescribed by statute or, if not prescribed by statute, if other than a class “A” felony shall be determined as follows:
  a.  A felon sentenced for a first conviction for a violation of section 124.401D, shall be confined for no more than ninety-nine years.
  b.  A class “B” felon shall be confined for no more than twenty-five years.
  c.  An habitual offender shall be confined for no more than fifteen years.
  d.  A class “C” felon, not an habitual offender, shall be confined for no more than ten years, and in addition shall be sentenced to a fine of at least one thousand three hundred seventy dollars but not more than thirteen thousand six hundred sixty dollars.
  e.  A class “D” felon, not an habitual offender, shall be confined for no more than five years, and in addition shall be sentenced to a fine of at least one thousand twenty-five dollars but not more than ten thousand two hundred forty-five dollars.
  2.  The surcharges required by sections 911.1, 911.2A, and 911.5 shall be added to a fine imposed on a class “C” or class “D” felon, as provided by those sections, and are not a part of or subject to the maximums set in this section.
[C79, 81, §902.9]
84 Acts, ch 1134, §1; 84 Acts, ch 1219, §38; 86 Acts, ch 1220, §44; 92 Acts, ch 1163, §121; 93 Acts, ch 110, §9; 99 Acts, ch 12, §17; 99 Acts, ch 65, §6, 7; 2001 Acts, ch 168, §4; 2002 Acts, ch 1042, §3; 2002 Acts, ch 1050, §55; 2004 Acts, ch 1111, §7; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §224; 2014 Acts, ch 1097, §12; 2020 Acts, ch 1074, §16, 45, 93
Referred to in §48A.11, 124.401, 124.401D, 321J.2, 707.3, 708A.2, 709.23, 716.10, 716.12, 724.4A, 726.6, 726.6A, 728.12, 811.1, 901.2, 901.5A, 901.10, 902.3, 906.5, 907.14
Enhanced penalties in weapons free zones, see §724.4A 
Habitual offender, §902.8 
Fines, see chapter 909 
Surcharge on penalty, chapter 911 
2020 amendments to subsections 1 and 2 effective July 15, 2020; 2020 Acts, ch 1074, §93
Subsection 1, paragraphs d and e amended
Subsection 2 amended

     
902.10  Application for involuntary hospitalization.
  For the purposes of chapter 229, the director of the Iowa department of corrections is an interested person and all applicable provisions of chapter 229, relating to involuntary hospitalization, apply to persons who have been committed to the custody of the Iowa department of corrections as a result of a conviction of a public offense.
[C79, 81, §902.10]
83 Acts, ch 96, §132, 159

     
902.11  Minimum sentence — eligibility of prior forcible felon for parole or work release.
  A person serving a sentence for conviction of a felony, who has a criminal record of one or more prior convictions for a forcible felony or a crime of a similar gravity in this or any other state, shall be denied parole or work release unless the person has served at least one-half of the maximum term of the defendant’s sentence. However, the mandatory sentence provided for by this section does not apply if either of the following apply:
  1.  The sentences for the prior forcible felonies expired at least five years before the date of conviction for the present felony.
  2.  The sentence being served is on a conviction for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a drug under chapter 321J.
88 Acts, ch 1091, §2; 96 Acts, ch 1151, §1, 2; 2003 Acts, ch 156, §10
Referred to in §903A.5

  
     
902.12  Minimum sentence for certain felonies — eligibility for parole or work release.
  1.  A person serving a sentence for conviction of the following felonies, including a person serving a sentence for conviction of the following felonies prior to July 1, 2003, shall be denied parole or work release unless the person has served at least seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence:
  a.  Murder in the second degree in violation of section 707.3.
  b.  Attempted murder in violation of section 707.11, except as provided in section 707.11, subsection 5.
  c.  Sexual abuse in the second degree in violation of section 709.3.
  d.  Kidnapping in the second degree in violation of section 710.3.
  e.  Robbery in the second degree in violation of section 711.3, except as determined in subsection 4.
  f.  Vehicular homicide in violation of section 707.6A, subsection 1 or 2, if the person was also convicted under section 321.261, subsection 4, based on the same facts or event that resulted in the conviction under section 707.6A, subsection 1 or 2.
  2.  A person serving a sentence for a conviction of child endangerment as defined in section 726.6, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, that is described and punishable under section 726.6, subsection 4, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between three-tenths and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 2.
  3.  A person serving a sentence for a conviction for robbery in the first degree in violation of section 711.2 for a conviction that occurs on or after July 1, 2018, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 3.
  4.  A person serving a sentence for a conviction for robbery in the second degree in violation of section 711.3 for a conviction that occurs on or after July 1, 2016, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 4.
  5.  A person serving a sentence for a conviction for arson in the first degree in violation of section 712.2 that occurs on or after July 1, 2019, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-half and seven-tenths of the maximum term of the person’s sentence as determined under section 901.11, subsection 5.
96 Acts, ch 1151, §3; 98 Acts, ch 1007, §1, 2; 98 Acts, ch 1088, §3; 2003 Acts, ch 156, §11, 12; 2004 Acts, ch 1150, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1082, §3; 2016 Acts, ch 1104, §8; 2017 Acts, ch 122, §17; 2019 Acts, ch 140, §7, 8, 39
Referred to in §901.11, 903A.2, 905.6, 905.11, 906.4, 906.15

  
     
902.13  Minimum sentence for certain domestic abuse assault offenses.
  1.  A person who has been convicted of a third or subsequent offense of domestic abuse assault under section 708.2A, subsection 4, shall be denied parole or work release until the person has served between one-fifth of the maximum term and the maximum term of the person’s sentence as provided in subsection 2.
  2.  The sentencing court shall determine, after receiving and examining all pertinent information referred to in section 901.5, the minimum term of confinement, within the parameters set forth in subsection 1, required to be served before a person may be paroled or placed on work release. 
2017 Acts, ch 83, §5
Referred to in §708.2A, 903A.2, 907.3

  
     
902.14  Enhanced penalty — sexual abuse or lascivious acts with a child.
  1.  A person commits a class “A” felony if the person commits a second or subsequent offense involving any combination of the following offenses:
  a.  Sexual abuse in the second degree in violation of section 709.3.
  b.  Sexual abuse in the third degree in violation of section 709.4.
  c.  Lascivious acts with a child in violation of section 709.8, subsection 1, paragraph “a” or “b”.
  d.  Continuous sexual abuse of a child in violation of section 709.23.
  2.  In determining if a violation charged is a second or subsequent offense for purposes of criminal sentencing in this section, each previous violation on which conviction or deferral of judgment was entered prior to the date of the violation charged shall be considered and counted as a separate previous offense, regardless of whether the previous offense occurred before, on, or after July 1, 2005. Convictions or the equivalent of deferred judgments for violations in any other states under statutes substantially corresponding to the offenses listed in subsection 1 shall be counted as previous offenses. The courts shall judicially notice the statutes of other states which define offenses substantially equivalent to the offenses listed in subsection 1 and can therefore be considered corresponding statutes.
2005 Acts, ch 158, §38; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §260; 2020 Acts, ch 1115, §5
Subsection 1, NEW paragraph d