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15. Iowa Criminal Law Handbook

The Iowa Criminal Law Handbook is a 52-chapter synopses on all topics of criminal law and procedure, including hyperlinked navigation bars and links to related case law going back to 1997 as well as existing statutes. The handbook is intended as an aid for Iowa prosecutors and also is made available to other attorneys.

The first edition of the Criminal Law Handbook was published in 1980 and the second edition was published in 1994, both by the Iowa County Attorneys Association. Publication rights were assumed by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorneys Training Coordinator, a division of the Attorney General's Office.

The 3rd Edition of the Criminal Law Handbook, a total revision by PATC attorney Ann Brenden, was completed in June 2003. In addition to legal updating, the revision involved the conversion of the 4000-page Handbook from a WordPerfect format to a Word format which eased the production of a CD-ROM. Now at over 40,000 pages, the Handbook is available only in electronic form. It is copyrighted.

The first version (2003-06) of the electronic Handbook was distributed in June 2003 with each of the 99 county attorney offices receiving one free copy. Additional copies were available to prosecutors at very low cost and to others at rates significantly less than similar type commercial products.

The second version (2003-11) was updated through October 2003 and one free copy was distributed to each county. This version will operate until August 31, 2004, when a new version will be issued using an entirely new software system for greatly enhanced research capabilities.

Contents of the Criminal Law Handbook 3rd CD-ROM include:

  • 52 chapters of synopses on all topics of criminal law and procedure, including hyperlinked navigation bars and links to related case law going back to 1997, as well as existing statutes.
  • The OWI and Traffic Offenses book, updated through September 1, 2003 and published case annotations (chapter 16) linked to all criminal cases going back to 1998.
  • The Search and Seizure Manual.
  • The Charging Manual (Chapter 13, Crimes), including lesser included offenses, charts thereof where complex, and case law annotations for each crime.
  • The Iowa Rules of Criminal Procedure.
  • The Iowa Rules of Evidence.
  • The United States Constitution.
  • The Iowa Constitutional Bill of Rights.
  • Preface and caveats.
  • User manual for CLH-3rd CD-ROM.
  • 2003 bills signed by the governor by May 31, 2003.
  • 2002 bills relevant to criminal law.
  • Court of Appeals slip opinions pertaining to criminal law, and some to juvenile law, published and unpublished, from 1995 through October 31, 2003 (7,000 files).
    Iowa Supreme Court slip opinions pertaining to criminal law, from 1997 through October of 2003.
  • Relevant Iowa criminal statutes.

The Handbook CD-ROM can be ordered by contacting pbaker@ag.state.ia.us Ask for information about system requirements for users.