Edited release
01/10/25
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has announced that she is proposing a law change to heighten penalties for assaults against law enforcement officers and first responders. Assaults against law enforcement reached a national 10-year high in 2023.
The bill will raise penalties for assaults on law enforcement and first responders from a “D” felony to a “C” felony when the assault involves a dangerous weapon or is meant to inflict a serious injury.
It would also raise the penalty from an aggravated misdemeanor to a “D” felony when the assault causes bodily injury, and from a serious misdemeanor to an aggravated misdemeanor for all other assaults, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 days in jail.
The bill also adds spitting on law enforcement, first responders, or corrections officers as a punishable assault.
The Iowa Legislature begins its 2024 session Monday.