Crimes occur throughout Iowa, and in Webster County, an arrest warrant search gives a candid glimpse of the county’s law enforcement efforts. On average, every day in Webster County, IA, a crime occurs every 4 hours. Approximately 8 percent of crimes committed in Webster County are violent crimes. That amounts to many crime victims, victims of violent crimes such as murder and rape, and property crimes, such as burglary and car theft.
The Webster County crime statistics also reveal that many arrest warrants are issued according to their criminal complaints filed. Obtaining specific information about crime statistics may prove simple, but when it comes to precise details on criminal cases, such as arrest warrants, arrest records, and criminal records, a bit more diligence is required.
There are counties in Iowa that maintain up-to-date online lists of outstanding arrest warrants, prisoners in county jails, and criminal records. Then there are counties such as Webster County, which have no such centralized, on-line statistic collection.
Chronologically, in a criminal case, the first item to appear in the record is the criminal complaint. A criminal complaint charges an individual with the commission of a designated public offense, either a misdemeanor or a felony. If a person is convicted of either type of crime, they will generally have to serve a prison sentence, pay a fine, or both. A warrant will generally not issue without the filing of a criminal complaint.
The reasons for searching for active warrants are myriad. Simple nosiness may motivate some searches. Concerns about employees’ or colleagues’ actions may also be the cause. Other than law enforcement needs, perhaps the most likely (and most important) reason is if someone has reason to believe an arrest warrant with their name on it.
For any of the scenarios above, an online database of Webster County outstanding warrants is the ideal tool for finding out if a warrant exists. Certain municipalities may maintain records where individuals may obtain a warrant and arrest information (e.g., Fort Dodge, which offers copies of reports, verifies thefts, criminal mischief, accidents, and processes criminal history requests as available under Iowa law). Unfortunately, the tools for doing a countywide search for records open to the public (which typically differ in scope from those provided to law enforcement) are unavailable in Webster County, IA.
However, most information on outstanding arrest warrants in Webster County may be obtained by contacting the county Sheriff’s Office. The office is located at the Law Enforcement Center, 702 1st Avenue South, Fort Dodge, IA. Additionally, Webster County Jail records may be obtained by contacting the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
The only route for finding arrest records and criminal background information is to go to the Division of Criminal Investigation site, part of its Department of Public Safety. Iowa statutes require private individuals making statewide criminal history record checks use the DCI site. They will likely have criminal history records for arrests made in serious misdemeanors, felonies, and some simple misdemeanors.
Who can help you with an over-the-phone warrant search and arrests inquiry in Webster County? (2021- Update)
- For information on recent arrests, call 515- 573-1462.
- To request an incident report, arrest report or details on warrants, call 515- 573-1410.
- For victim’s assistance and information, call 515-573-1452.
- To find out more about requesting criminal court records, call 515-576-7115.
Crime statistics of Webster County
In 2019, the annual crime rate in Webster County was 140 instances, compared to nearly 173 cases in 2018. There were 27 violent crimes and 113 property crimes among the reported offenses.
The number of complaints about aggravated assaults was the highest in the violent crime category, at 23. Larceny theft was the most common property crime, with 59 reports. Burglary complaints, which accounted for more than 41 incidents, came in second.