25FC:0213 Toni Moore v. Hardin County Sheriff’s Office - Dismissal Order

The Iowa Public Information Board

COMES NOW, Charlotte Miller, Executive Director for the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), and enters this Dismissal Order:

On December 15, 2025, Toni Moore filed formal complaint 25FC:0213, alleging that the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) violated Iowa Code Chapter 22.

Facts

On December 15, 2025, the complainant, Toni Moore, filed formal complaint 25FC:0213, alleging that Hardin County and the Hardin County Sheriff’s had “failed to maintain or provide public access to its jail detainee/inmate roster for a period exceeding six months.” Moore states that the County previously maintained a publicly accessible list of detainees, but this is no longer available, and the Sheriff’s Office has failed to explain why or provide an alternative method for obtaining the same information.

Applicable Law

“Every person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained in a public record.” Iowa Code § 22.2(1).

“The rights of persons under this chapter may be exercised under any of the following circumstances:

1. In person, at any time during the customary office hours of the lawful custodian of the records. However, if the lawful custodian does not have customary office hours of at least thirty hours per week, such right may be exercised at any time from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, unless the person exercising such right and the lawful custodian agree on a different time.

2. In writing, by telephone, or by electronic means. The lawful custodian of records shall post information for making such requests in a manner reasonably calculated to apprise the public of that information.” Iowa Code § 22.4.

Analysis

While Chapter 22 provides a general right to examine and copy public records of government bodies, a person seeking to exercise this right must actually submit a request for particular records. Chapter 22 does not contain an affirmative publication requirement. If another section of the Iowa Code would require the Sheriff’s Office to maintain a public listing with certain information on detainees, it would be outside of IPIB’s statutory jurisdiction to enforce. See Iowa Code § 23.6(4).

Although the matter is outside of IPIB’s jurisdiction, IPIB staff made an informal inquiry with the County, as it appeared the link to the inmate roster on their website was simply broken. The County clarified that the previous listing had been deactivated following an update to the Jail Management System, and county employees were actively working to resolve the issue with the third-party company which maintained their inmate roster.

Conclusion

Iowa Code § 23.8 requires that a complaint be within the IPIB’s jurisdiction, appear legally sufficient, and have merit before the IPIB accepts a complaint. Following a review of the allegations on their face, it is found that this complaint does not meet those requirements.

IPIB does not have jurisdiction to require the Sheriff’s Office to maintain a public inmate roster on their website, even if the same records would be available through a Chapter 22 request.

IT IS SO ORDERED:  Formal complaint 25FC:0213 is dismissed as it is outside of IPIB’s jurisdiction pursuant to Iowa Code § 23.8(2) and Iowa Administrative Rule 497-2.1(2)(b).

Pursuant to Iowa Administrative Rule 497-2.1(3), the IPIB may “delegate acceptance or dismissal of a complaint to the executive director, subject to review by the board.” The IPIB will review this Order on February 19, 2026.  Pursuant to IPIB rule 497-2.1(4), the parties will be notified in writing of its decision.

By the IPIB Executive Director,

_________________________

Charlotte J.M. Miller, J.D.

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

This document was sent on February 12, 2026, to:

Toni Moore, Complainant