Terms of Use

1. What This Website Is

This is a private reference website, independently operated and unaffiliated with government. It does not store official criminal records, conduct official checks, retrieve documents, or file paperwork for a user.

Its purpose is to identify official custodians for Black Hawk County records, including the sheriff, Iowa District Court, Iowa DCI repository, and Iowa Sex Offender Registry, and to provide access to optional third-party research tools.

2. Rules for Using This Site

By using the website, you agree not to:

• Use bots, scrapers, or other automated means against the pages
• Interfere with site performance or another visitor's access
• Attempt unauthorized entry into systems or data
• Use information to stalk, threaten, or harass a person
• Rely on site content for hiring, housing, lending, or insurance decisions
• Violate any applicable local, state, or federal law

3. No Harassment, Stalking, or Discrimination

No one may use information found here or through a linked tool to intimidate, harass, stalk, threaten, or discriminate against another person. Such conduct may also be criminal. Iowa Code chapter 692A limits misuse of Iowa Sex Offender Registry data. The registry supports public safety awareness, not vigilantism, employment blacklisting, or housing discrimination.

4. We Are Not a Consumer Reporting Agency

Black Hawk County Criminal History is not a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA and does not create background checks, credit reports, or other consumer reports. Its advertising partners do not offer tools designed to assess job applicants, rental applications, insurance rates, or creditworthiness. Information from this website or a linked tool may not be used to:

• Make an employment decision
• Evaluate a renter or housing applicant
• Set insurance terms or assess creditworthiness
• Decide eligibility for a permit, license, or public program
• Carry out any other activity regulated by the FCRA

A legally authorized check for a regulated purpose must come from Iowa DCI or a provider that complies with the FCRA.

5. No Legal Advice

Website content is general information, not legal advice. It cannot determine how an Iowa charge, conviction, warrant, or expungement law applies to a specific person. Seek advice from an attorney licensed in Iowa.

6. No Warranties

All content and functions are provided "as is." No promise is made that:

• A partner's search results will be accurate or complete
• Pages contain no defects, errors, or security weaknesses
• The website will remain available without interruption
• Every item of information is current, accurate, or complete

Criminal records can change when charges are filed, dismissed, expunged, or restricted. Updates may not be reflected at once. Content here is never an official statement from a court, sheriff, or other government body.

7. Third-Party Services and Links

Links lead to sheriff offices, court systems, state agencies, legal-aid resources, and outside search providers. We do not control those destinations and accept no responsibility for their content, data practices, fees, or availability. Review each destination's terms before use.

8. Intellectual Property

Text, logos, graphics, and code belong to Black Hawk County Criminal History or its content partners. They may not be copied, changed, distributed, or used to make derivative material without prior written permission.

9. Limits on Our Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for damages arising from use of the website, its information, or a linked service.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless against claims, demands, or legal proceedings caused by your use of the website or breach of these terms, including related legal costs and fees.

11. Governing Law

Iowa law governs these terms. Any dispute arising from use of the website must be brought in a court located in Iowa. Public-record access is governed by Iowa Code chapter 22, while state criminal-history dissemination is governed by Iowa Code chapter 692.

12. Changes to These Terms

These terms may be revised at any time. A revision becomes effective when the updated language is posted here.

13. Cutting Off Access

Access may be limited or terminated at any time, for any reason, without advance notice.

14. Severability

If a court finds one term invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms continue in force. The affected language will be modified only to the extent needed for enforcement.

15. Questions

Questions about these terms may be directed through the Contact page.