Terms of Use

1. What This Website Is

Hancock County Criminal History is an independent reference site. It does not hold official records, perform an official check, or file a document for a user.

The site points to the Hancock County Sheriff, Iowa District Court, Iowa DCI Records and Identification Unit, and Iowa Sex Offender Registry, along with outside search services that may support lawful personal research.

2. Rules for Using This Site

Every visitor agrees not to:

• violate a federal, Iowa, or local law
• stalk, threaten, intimidate, or harass another person
• use site information for a decision regulated by the FCRA
• attempt unauthorized access to the website or its systems
• run bots, scrapers, or automated collection tools against the pages
• interfere with the service or another person's access

3. No Harassment, Stalking, or Discrimination

Information obtained here or through a linked tool must not be used to harass, stalk, threaten, intimidate, or discriminate. Iowa Code chapter 692A places special limits around Iowa Sex Offender Registry data. The registry exists for lawful safety awareness, not vigilantism, blacklisting, or retaliation, and misuse can carry criminal consequences.

4. We Are Not a Consumer Reporting Agency

This site does not create a consumer report, credit report, or official background check and is not a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA. Site data and linked search results must not be used to:

• hire, fire, or evaluate a worker
• screen a renter or housing applicant
• set credit or insurance terms
• decide eligibility for a license, permit, or public program
• make any other FCRA-regulated determination

A legally compliant check for a regulated purpose must come from an authorized official or FCRA-compliant provider, not this site.

5. No Legal Advice

General explanations of Hancock County records are not legal advice. Only a licensed Iowa attorney can advise how a charge, warrant, disposition, or expungement law applies to a person's facts.

6. No Warranties

Content and services are supplied "as is." No promise is made that:

• any page is complete, accurate, or current
• the site will operate without delay or interruption
• the website contains no error, bug, or security flaw
• a partner search result is complete or correctly matched

Cases and criminal records can change through filing, dismissal, correction, restriction, or expungement. Only the originating Iowa office can give an official statement about its record.

7. Third-Party Services and Links

Outbound links include county offices, Iowa portals, legal resources, and search providers. Their operators control their content, fees, privacy practices, terms, and availability. Review the destination's rules before using it.

8. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise identified, the site's text, graphics, logo, and code belong to Hancock County Criminal History or its content partners. They may not be copied, changed, distributed, or adapted without prior written permission.

9. Limits on Our Liability

To the fullest extent Iowa law permits, the site is not liable for a loss arising from use of its pages, reliance on their content, or use of an outside service reached through a link.

10. Indemnification

A user agrees to protect and hold the site harmless from claims, proceedings, demands, and related costs caused by that user's conduct or breach of these terms.

11. Governing Law

Iowa law governs these terms. Any dispute tied to use of the website must be brought in a court with jurisdiction in Iowa.

12. Changes to These Terms

These terms may be revised. A replacement takes effect when it is posted on this page.

13. Cutting Off Access

Access may be limited or ended at any time and without advance notice.

14. Severability

If a court finds one provision invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms continue. The affected provision is adjusted only as far as needed to make it enforceable.

15. Questions

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