PROOF OF CONCEPT — full quality-of-life profile for Iowa, 16 dimensions of the sex-offense registry regime. Ratings are researcher judgments from the registrant's perspective; each links its statute. NOT legal advice.
Weighted burden index 66.7/100 · rank 8 of 56 (1 = least burdensome) · 9/16 dimensions statute-verified · 1 unverified.
Legend: 🟢 favorable (less burden) · 🟠 moderate · 🔴 restrictive · ℹ️ context · ⚪ unknown. ✓ = statute-verified.
| Dimension | Rating | Detail | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration length | 🟠 moderate | Tiered — 10-yr base for a first non-aggravated offense; lifetime for aggravated/2nd offense/SVP/lifetime special sentence | Iowa Code § 692A.106 ✓ |
| Removal / petition off | 🟠 moderate | Real modification path for all tiers but heavily gated — treatment, validated low-risk score, long waits, mandatory correctional-director stipulation, and full court discretion (only reduces the period) — ⚑ needs human review | Iowa Code § 692A.128 ✓ |
| Individualized risk assessment | 🔴 restrictive | No risk assessment for tiers (offense-based Tier I-III); used only for relief petitions | 692A.102 |
| In-person reporting frequency | 🔴 restrictive | Every 3, 6, or 12 months by tier | 692A.108 |
| Registration fee | 🟠 moderate | Yes — $25 annual fee to county sheriff (statewide, waivable if unable to pay) | Iowa Code § 692A.110 ✓ |
| Residency restriction | 🔴 restrictive | Yes — 2000 ft from schools/child care, but current law applies ONLY to those convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor (2009 scaleback) — 2000 ft · local: many cities/counties add child-safety/exclusion zones | Iowa Code § 692A.114(2) ✓ |
| Employment restriction | 🔴 restrictive | Cannot work with dependent adults | 692A.115 |
| Presence / loitering restriction | 🔴 restrictive | Exclusion zones if offense involved a minor | 692A.113 |
| Visitor registration trigger | 🟠 moderate | Within 5 days per state FAQ; visiting not specifically addressed in statute | n/a |
| Internet identifiers required | 🔴 restrictive | Required — internet identifiers are collected as part of registration; Iowa Code §692A.121(9) lets anyone verify whether an internet identifier 'has been included in a registration by a sex offender' | Iowa Code § 692A.121 ✓ |
| Civil commitment | 🔴 restrictive | Civil commitment law exists (chapter 229A) | 229A |
| Public website exposure | 🔴 restrictive | DPS internet registry discloses registrants with no tier filter — lowest tier (Tier I) appears publicly like Tiers II/III | Iowa Code § 692A.121 ✓ |
| Halloween / holiday restriction | ⚪ unknown | No Halloween/holiday provision in the sex offender registry chapter (692A); any restriction would be a supervision condition, unconfirmed | n/a |
| Marked driver's license / ID | 🟢 favorable | Iowa driver's license/ID content (321.189) permits only veteran/deaf/autism/donor/medical marks; no sex-offender designation or code | Iowa Code § 321.189 ✓ |
| Community notification (& who pays) | 🟠 moderate | Sheriff SHALL notify the school district and nearby nonpublic schools when an offender moves in; justice agencies MAY distribute info to the community via printed materials/press/radio; no fee charged to anyone | Iowa Code § 692A.121(4),(3)(b) ✓ |
| Age of consent (context) | ℹ️ context | 16 — with close-in-age exception (14-15 with a partner less than 4 years older) | Iowa Code § 709.4 ✓ |
Source wiki page: Iowa · compare with others via the index. Weighted index from the v1 model (weighted_score.py); weights encode NARSOL's judgment about everyday lived burden. Removal ratings and the weights need NARSOL/attorney sign-off before authoritative use.