Iowa House Republicans push to ban warrant resolution clinics after murder charge

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) - Iowa House Republicans want to shut down a warrant resolution clinic in Polk County, with one Republican alleging it played a role in a woman’s murder.

The program allowed Polk County residents with minor warrants like traffic violations or missed court dates to have them cleared by a judge in exchange for meeting the terms of the punishment, like paying a fine.

Sharneeka Evans was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Ashley Marie Hall earlier this month. Days before, Evans attended the warrant resolution clinic to have an outstanding warrant regarding a lesser charge removed.

Republican Rep. Steve Holt of Dennison said the clinic should have never allowed Evans to leave after dealing with the previous charge.

“Just the concept that we are going to recall warrants in a resolution clinic… it sort of encourages people not to turn themselves in, encourage people not to follow the law is deeply concerning to me,” Holt said.

Holt said a bill to ban warrant resolution clinics will prevent violent criminals from avoiding jail time.

The bill would ban the program and charge organizers with a simple misdemeanor and an up to $10,000 fine for operating a clinic that removes someone’s outstanding warrant.

Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham helped organize the clinic and said the clinic followed the legal process to resolve outstanding warrants for people charged with minor crimes.

“Nothing was different at this clinic other than people were able to come there, many people at one time, and get this done most efficiently which saves the taxpayers of Polk County a lot of money as well,” Graham said.

Ashley Marie Hall’s father said the program had no connection to his daughter’s death and said his family does not support the bill to ban these clinics.

“I personally don’t know much about the warrant clinics but I just do know that it doesn’t have any direct connection with what happened with my daughter,” Ralph Hall said.

Hall said House Republicans never reached out to his family to get their input on whether this bill was needed.

House Speaker Pat Grassley said he expects this bill to head to the floor for debate.

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Isabella Warren covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email her at isabella.warren@kcrg.com; and follow her on Facebook at Isabella Warren TV on X/Twitter@isabellaw_gray, and on Instagram@IsabellaWarrenTV.