Shannon Archer

Shannon Archer was promoted to General Counsel in August 2025. Archer, who previously served as Legal Counsel for the department, has been instrumental in navigating complex legal landscapes and providing exceptional guidance to the DOC.

Archer’s impressive legal career spans over 15 years, with more than 60 jury trials conducted. During that time, she represented the DOC in civil trials as an Assistant Attorney General, the State of Iowa in criminal prosecutions as an Assistant Polk County Attorney, and also contracted with the State Public Defender's Office to represent indigent clients facing Class A felony charges. She is a nationally recognized expert and educator on topics including domestic violence and sexual abuse. Before joining the DOC, Archer served as both an Assistant Attorney General and an Assistant Polk County Attorney. She holds a law degree with honors from Drake University and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, cum laude, from Wartburg College.

In her role, Archer provides legal expertise to the DOC’s leadership team, staff, and the Board of Corrections. She also manages legal services for more than 8,500 incarcerated individuals and 30,000 probationers and/or parolees.