The Death Penalty in Iowa

How Iowa law treats death penalty, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Iowa does not have the death penalty. The most serious crimes, including first-degree murder, are class A felonies, punished by commitment to the Department of Corrections for the rest of the person's life with no parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years… Iowa Code § 902.1 (Iowa Code 2026); chapters 707 and 902 reviewed

Death penalty	Iowa does not have the death penalty. The most serious crimes, including first-degree murder, are class A felonies, punished by commitment to the Department of Corrections for the rest of the person's life with no parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (people under 18 at the time of a first-degree murder receive one of three life-sentence options set by the court). Absence of a death penalty is based on reviewing the whole homicide chapter (707) and felony sentencing chapter (902) of the Iowa Code 2026, neither of which provides for death: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/707.pdf , https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/902.pdf . Source: Iowa Code § 902.1 (Iowa Code 2026); chapters 707 and 902 reviewed

Death penalty

Iowa does not have the death penalty. The most serious crimes, including first-degree murder, are class A felonies, punished by commitment to the Department of Corrections for the rest of the person's life with no parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years (people under 18 at the time of a first-degree murder receive one of three life-sentence options set by the court).

Absence of a death penalty is based on reviewing the whole homicide chapter (707) and felony sentencing chapter (902) of the Iowa Code 2026, neither of which provides for death: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/707.pdf , https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/902.pdf .

Source: Iowa Code § 902.1 (Iowa Code 2026); chapters 707 and 902 reviewed

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FAQ

Does Iowa have the death penalty?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.