Legal Question in Appeals and Writs in Iowa

child abuser

My daughter did a very foolish thing involving her niece and has been labeled a child abuser in Iowa for the next ten years. She accepts full responsibility for this and is attempting to get her life back together. She has started taking college classes but doesn't know what area of

education she can persue and also needs to know if this label of child abuser will follow her state to state. Will she have much luck at an appeal in a couple of years if she keeps out of trouble? She has never had problems with the law before. We need guidance. Both she and my granddaughter are receiving counseling.


Asked on 12/08/06, 2:35 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: child abuser

I think you misunderstand what an appeal is.

An appeal challenges the validity of a conviction by arguing that the trial court made mistakes (incorrectly allowing evidence it should have excluded, failing to properly instruct the jury, etc.) which led to a worse result for the defendant than she would otherwise have received. This does not seem to be the type of procedure you have in mind.

Your question suggests your daughter hopes to eventually get some sort of legal declaration that she has been rehabilitated. Such documents may be available in your state, but an appeal is not the way to get one.

Try re-posting your question in the criminal law category. You are much more likely to get the guidance you need there.

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Answered on 12/08/06, 2:47 pm
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

Re: child abuser

The likelihood is yes. President Bush signed a law enabling a National Child Abuse Registry on July 27 of this year.

I do not know how well people do in appeals of being on the registry, and I think an appeal would be expensive to pursue.

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Answered on 12/08/06, 2:49 pm


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