The bill amends Section 803.3 of the Code of Iowa to establish specific guidelines for determining the place of trial for certain criminal offenses when the county of the offense is not easily identifiable. It stipulates that if the county where the offense occurred cannot be readily determined, the trial will take place in the county of residence of the victim. In cases where there is no victim, the victim is not a resident of Iowa, or the victim's residence cannot be established, the trial will be held in the county of residence of the accused.

Additionally, if the victim is not a natural person, the trial venue can be any county where the victim has a physical presence. In instances with multiple victims, the trial may occur in any county where a victim resides, prioritizing the county of residence of natural persons over others. This bill aims to clarify and streamline the process of determining trial locations for criminal offenses, ensuring that victims' residences are considered in the venue selection.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 803.3