Iowa Code § 232.46 — IA Code / Title VI / Chapter 232 / Section 232.46
Consent decree.
Status: in_force

(1) (a) At any time after the filing of a petition and prior to entry of an order of adjudication pursuant to section 232.47, the court may suspend the proceedings on motion of the county attorney or the child’s counsel, enter a consent decree, and continue the case under terms and conditions established by the court. These terms and conditions may include any of the following:

(1) (a) Prohibiting the child from driving a motor vehicle for a specified period of time or under specific circumstances. The court shall notify the department of transportation of an order prohibiting the child from driving.

(1) (a) Supervision of the child by a juvenile court officer or other agency or person designated by the court.

(1) (a) The performance of a work assignment of value to the state or to the public.

(1) (a) Making restitution consisting of a monetary payment to the victim or a work assignment directly of value to the victim.

(1) (a) Placement of the child in a group or family foster care setting, if the court makes a determination that such a placement is the least restrictive option.

(1) (a) Placement of the child in a supervised apartment living arrangement if the child has previously and continuously lived in a qualified residential treatment program, a shelter, or a combination of both, for a period of not less than six months immediately preceding the determination for placement in a supervised apartment living arrangement, and the child is lacking family support needed to successfully transition to independent living.

(1) (b) A child’s need for shelter placement or for inpatient mental health or substance use disorder treatment does not preclude entry or continued execution of a consent decree.

(2) A consent decree entered regarding a child placed in detention under section 232.22, subsection 1, paragraph “g”, shall require the child to attend a batterers’ treatment program under section 708.2B. The second time the child fails to attend the batterers’ treatment as required by the consent decree shall result in the decree being vacated and proceedings commenced under section 232.47.

(3) A consent decree shall not be entered unless the child and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian are informed of the consequences of the decree by the court and the court determines that the child has voluntarily and intelligently agreed to the terms and conditions of the decree. If the county attorney objects to the entry of a consent decree, the court shall proceed to determine the appropriateness of entering a consent decree after consideration of any objections or reasons for entering such a decree.

(4) A consent decree shall remain in force for up to one year unless the child is sooner discharged by the court or by the juvenile court officer or other agency or person supervising the child. Upon application of a juvenile court officer or other agency or person supervising the child made prior to the expiration of the decree and after notice and hearing, or upon agreement by the parties, a consent decree may be extended for up to an additional year by order of the court.

(5) When a child has complied with the express terms and conditions of the consent decree for the required amount of time or until earlier dismissed as provided in subsection 4, the original petition may not be reinstated. However, failure to so comply may result in the child’s being thereafter held accountable as if the consent decree had never been entered.

(6) A child who is discharged or who completes a period of continuance without the reinstatement of the original petition shall not be proceeded against in any court for a delinquent act alleged in the petition.

[C79, 81, §232.46; 82 Acts, ch 1209, §11]83 Acts, ch 186, §10055, 10201; 94 Acts, ch 1172, §19; 95 Acts, ch 180, §5; 2008 Acts, ch 1187, §132; 2014 Acts, ch 1141, §74; 2015 Acts, ch 30, §76, 77; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §600, 601; 2023 Acts, ch 64, §32; 2025 Acts, ch 13, §1