Division of Student Life

Know the Law

Alcohol

Alcohol

The most common violations involving alcohol include Possessing Alcohol While Under the Legal Age (PAULA) and Public Intoxication. It is illegal to possess alcohol in Iowa if you are under 21. Possession can mean that you are carrying or holding an alcohol beverage, or it is in a container that belongs to you like a backpack or a car, or you otherwise have the right to control the alcohol. The police may make reasonable influences to conclude that alcohol that is in proximity to you is yours, for example, you may be cited for PAULA if you are under 21 and sit down at a table at a bar or restaurant with a glass of beer in front of you and an officer later enters the bar and observes the situation. You would then have to go to court and provide evidence that the alcohol was not yours and you did not possess it. If you are convicted of PAULA-1st offense, you will be fined $330.

Assault

Assault

Assaults involving University of Iowa Students that occur on campus are investigated by the University of Iowa Police. Assaults that involve a Student that occur off campus are investigated by the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction of that area. Assaults committed by a University of Iowa Student may be investigated by the Deanâs office, regardless of where they take place.

Destruction of Property

Destruction of Property

In Iowa, intentionally destroying, damaging or defacing the property of another is know as criminal mischief.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is any assault that is committed between two people who have any of the following relationships: Family or household members who are related, separated or divorced (former) spouses, people who are the parents of the same minor child, persons who have been family or household members residing together within the past year and are not residing together at the time of the assault, or people who are in or have been in an intimate relationship and have hand any contact with one another in the year preceding the assault.

Drugs

Drugs

Possessing drugs is defined as having any illegal drug, or any prescription drug without being the holder of a valid prescription, in your personal possession. Possession can mean that you are carrying or holding a drug, or it is in a container that belongs to you like a backpack or a car, or you otherwise have the right to control the drug.

Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving in Iowa is legally known as Operating While Intoxicated, or OWI. A person commits OWI when they operate a vehicle-sitting behind the wheel with the keys in the ignition counts-when they have a blood-alcohol content greater than .08 grams per deciliter of blood as measured by a breath sample, or any time their ability to safely operate a vehicle has been impaired by alcohol or another drug.

Fake I.D.

Fake I.D.

The law creates two separate crimes that are commonly referred to as âfake IDâ in Iowa. The first is âPossession of a Fictitious IDâ. This is a document that looks like an official ID card, usually a driverâs license, but is actual completely fictitious-It was not made by the state DOT but rather a private individual. Possession of a fictitious ID is a Serious Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $315-1875 and up to a year in jail.

Harassment

Harassment

Under Iowa law, a person commits harassment when, with intent to intimidate, annoy, or alarm another person, the person does any of the following:

If You’re Arrested

If You’re Arrested

Generally speaking, anything out of the ordinary attracts police attention. The following are some examples:

Noise Violation

Noise Violation

A noise violation ticket in Iowa City is a simple misdemeanor crime referred to as "Disorderly House"

Pornography

Pornography is printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings. The creation or possession of pornography that depicts individuals under the age of 18 is a serious crime.

Residential Conduct & Community Standards

Residential Conduct & Community Standards

The University Code of conduct applies wherever a student is located. University Housing and Dining policies apply only in residence halls, but apply to guests as well as residents.

Sexual Misconduct / Harassment / Assault

Sexual Misconduct / Harassment / Assault

Sexual misconduct is a broad term encompassing any unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that is committed without consent or by force, intimidation, coercion, or manipulation, including both sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Stalking

Stalking

Under Iowa Law, a person commits Stalking when they do all of the following:

Theft

Theft

Theft is defined as taking the property of another, without their permission, and with the intent to permanently deprive them of it. The criminal consequences for theft depend on the value of the item taken and can range from a fine up to a prison sentence. Beyond the criminal consequences, having a theft conviction on your record can make it difficult to obtain employment in the future.

Threats

A threat is telling a person that you are going to do some act that you have no legal right to do.

Trespass

Trespass

Iowa Law defines trespassing to be any of the following actions:

Weapons

Weapons

Weapons are prohibited on campus. A weapon includes guns, knives intended for self defense as opposed to cooking, stun guns, batons, martial arts weapons, and other items. The penalties for committing a crime are often significantly increased if a weapon was used during its commission. It is also illegal to carry a concealed weapon on your person unless you have a state issued concealed weapons permit. Such a permit does not give the right to carry a weapon on the University of Iowa campus, and a permit holder could be sanctioned by the University even if they had not committed a crime under state law.