Idaho Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Idaho criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Idaho's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Idaho sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Idaho?

There are three realistic ways to find Idaho criminal-record information:

• Your own record (or an authorized check). The Idaho State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) maintains the state's central criminal history repository. You can request your own record by visiting the BCI office in Meridian with a valid photo ID. A fingerprint-based check costs $25 and provides notarized results; a name-based check costs $20 but is less precise. See the ISP Criminal History page for forms and details.
• Court records through the iCourt Portal. Individual case files are generally public and can be searched online at mycourts.idaho.gov, the Idaho judiciary's public portal, for counties that have transitioned to the iCourt system. You can also request records in person at the clerk's office of the county where the case was filed.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official record review or an FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act)-compliant background check.

A fingerprint-based search is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person; a name search can return matches that belong to someone else.

Are Idaho criminal records public?

It depends on which record. Court case records are generally public under Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32, which provides the public a right to access judicial records from proceedings open to the public. The BCI's statewide criminal history database is more restricted: it is open to authorized criminal justice agencies and, for certain licensing or employment purposes, to employers and agencies authorized by Idaho Code section 67-3008. Individuals can access their own record. Records that have been expunged under Idaho Code section 67-3004(10) or shielded under the Clean Slate Act are removed from public view.

Where can I look up arrest records in Idaho?

Arrest records in Idaho are kept by the agency that made the arrest, such as a city police department or a county sheriff. Many county sheriffs publish an online jail roster showing recent bookings. Remember that an arrest record is different from a criminal conviction: it documents that a person was taken into custody, not that they were found guilty of anything. Under federal FCRA rules, non-conviction arrest records generally cannot be reported by background-check companies after seven years.

How do I find court records in Idaho?

Idaho court records are held at the county level and are accessible through the state's iCourt Portal. Start at mycourts.idaho.gov, which allows the public to search case and party information for all counties that have migrated to iCourt. You can search by case number (for example, CR-2023-1234) or by name. For counties not yet on iCourt, contact the clerk's office where the case was filed. The Idaho Supreme Court's records request page at isc.idaho.gov/requests explains the options and provides a compiled-data request form. Records access is governed by Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.

How do I look up warrants in Idaho?

Warrants are issued by the courts, and active warrants are tracked through the Idaho Public Safety and Security Information System (ILETS), which links criminal justice agencies to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The easiest public route is to contact the sheriff or court clerk in the county where charges would be filed. Some Idaho county sheriff offices also publish local warrant information online. Active warrants can surface on third-party background reports, but the issuing court or county is always the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Idaho?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. Under the FCRA, an arrest that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported once it is more than seven years old (measured from the date of the charge or arrest). Idaho does not have a stricter state-level ban: convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law and Idaho imposes no additional reporting cap on convictions. The FCRA's seven-year limit applies mainly to non-conviction items such as dismissed charges and arrests that did not result in a guilty finding.

How far back does a background check go in Idaho?

Idaho follows federal FCRA rules without adding a state-level cap on convictions. Key points:

• Arrests that did not result in a conviction generally cannot be reported after seven years.
• Conviction records can be reported indefinitely regardless of how old they are.
• The FCRA's seven-year limit on non-conviction records does not apply when the position pays $75,000 or more per year; in that case, a consumer reporting agency can report non-conviction items going further back.
• Idaho's Fair Employment Practices Act encourages employers to consider the severity and nature of any offense, how much time has passed, and whether the offense relates to the job.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Idaho?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or state supervision. Use the Idaho Department of Correction's Resident/Client Search, which covers people currently incarcerated, on parole, and on probation under IDOC jurisdiction. You can search by last name or IDOC number. The database updates daily.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are held in a county jail. Check that county sheriff's online jail roster or call the jail directly.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than the IDOC search.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Idaho?

The IDOC Resident/Client Search also covers individuals on parole and court probation under IDOC supervision. The IDOC search tool will show a person's supervision status and, for parolees and probationers, their listed offenses. Probation imposed by a court without IDOC involvement is handled locally by the sentencing court, so the court's records are the best source for those cases. The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole handles parole decisions for state inmates.

What crimes are felonies in Idaho?

Under Idaho Code section 18-111, a felony is a crime punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison. Unlike many states, Idaho does not use labeled felony classes (Class A, B, C, etc.); instead, each offense statute sets its own specific penalty. Common examples of felonies include murder, rape, robbery, arson, and aggravated assault. The default penalty for a felony not otherwise specified is up to five years in state prison and a fine up to $50,000. Idaho also recognizes the death penalty for capital offenses such as first-degree murder.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Idaho?

A misdemeanor in Idaho is any offense not classified as a felony or infraction. Under Idaho Code section 18-113, a standard misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. More serious misdemeanors (sometimes called "high misdemeanors" or enhanced misdemeanors by the individual offense statute) can carry up to one year in county jail. Common examples include a first-offense DUI, simple battery, petty theft, and public indecency. An infraction, by contrast, is not a crime - it carries only a civil fine up to $300 and no jail time.

Are traffic violations crimes in Idaho?

Most routine traffic tickets in Idaho are infractions - a civil offense, not a crime - carrying only a fine and no jail time. They generally do not appear on a criminal background check. More serious driving offenses, such as driving under the influence (DUI) or reckless driving, are charged as misdemeanors or, in aggravated circumstances (for example, a felony DUI involving serious injury or a third offense within ten years), as felonies, and they do create a criminal record.

Is the Idaho sex offender registry public?

Yes. The Idaho State Police maintains the Idaho Central Sex Offender Registry, and the public portion is searchable for free at apps.isp.idaho.gov/sor_id/. You can search by name, city, county, or zip code, and a map search shows registrants within a 1-, 3-, or 5-mile radius of any address. The site also lists non-compliant offenders and violent sexual predators. ISP also offers a free email-alert subscription to notify you when a registrant moves near a specified address.

Can someone be removed from the Idaho sex offender registry?

In limited circumstances, yes. Under Idaho Code section 18-8310, registration is required for life with one exception: offenders who are not recidivists, were not convicted of an aggravated offense, and are not designated violent sexual predators may petition the district court for a show-cause hearing after ten years from the date of release from incarceration or placement on supervision. To succeed, the petitioner must show by clear and convincing evidence - including completion of a sex-offender treatment program and no subsequent felony or sex-offense convictions - that removal poses no substantial risk of reoffense. The most serious offenders must register for life and are not eligible to petition.

How do I clear or expunge my criminal record in Idaho?

Idaho has two main relief paths:

• Expungement (non-conviction records). Under Idaho Code section 67-3004(10), you may apply to have a record removed from the BCI database if you were arrested but not charged within one year, acquitted of all charges, or had all charges dismissed. You file an expungement application with the Idaho State Police BCI. This applies only to non-conviction arrests.
• Clean Slate Act (conviction shielding). Under Idaho Code section 67-3004-11, Idaho's Clean Slate Act allows people with certain conviction records to petition the court to shield those records from public disclosure. You must have completed your full sentence - including all probation, parole, fines, and restitution - at least five years before filing. Only one offense, or one set of offenses from a single incident, can be shielded. The Idaho Supreme Court provides a petition form at isc.idaho.gov/Clean-Slate-Act. Shielding does not destroy the record; it prevents public access.

Juveniles have separate expungement options: misdemeanor adjudications may be petitioned after one year from the end of court jurisdiction or age 18 (whichever is later), and felony adjudications after three years or age 18 under Idaho Code section 20-525A.

Do I need a lawyer to clear my record in Idaho?

You are not legally required to hire a lawyer. The Idaho State Police and the Idaho Supreme Court both publish the application forms and guidance for expungement and Clean Slate shielding. That said, eligibility rules can be complex, especially for conviction shielding under the Clean Slate Act, and a procedural mistake can cost you the opportunity to clear a record. Many people use an attorney or a free legal-aid clinic - particularly for anything involving convictions, multiple charges, or sex-offense registration.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Idaho?

An Idaho felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain relief. Records remain in the BCI database indefinitely unless a legal action removes them. There is no automatic expiration of a conviction under Idaho law. The Clean Slate Act can shield a conviction from public view after a five-year waiting period, but it does not destroy the record - law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies can still see it. The federal FCRA seven-year reporting rule limits what a background-check company may report to an employer, but it does not erase the underlying record and does not apply to convictions under Idaho law.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Idaho?

Juvenile records in Idaho are not automatically sealed, but minors can petition for expungement after a waiting period under Idaho Code section 20-525A. Juveniles adjudicated for misdemeanor or status offenses may petition one year after the court's jurisdiction ends or upon turning 18. Those adjudicated for felony offenses must wait three years after jurisdiction ends or release from a juvenile correctional center, whichever comes last, or until age 18, whichever is later. Courts, probation officers, and law enforcement can still access juvenile records even before expungement.

Ada County criminal records

Ada County, home to Boise (Idaho's capital city), is Idaho's most populous county with about 557,000 residents as of 2026. The Ada County District Court handles felony cases and the Magistrate Division handles misdemeanors. Court case records for Ada County can be searched through the statewide iCourt Portal at mycourts.idaho.gov. To request a specific case file, contact the Ada County Clerk's Office in Boise. For statewide criminal history, use the ISP BCI fingerprint-based check; for Ada County inmates, check the IDOC Resident/Client Search or the Ada County Sheriff's jail roster.

Official Idaho criminal record sources

• Idaho State Police BCI Criminal History - request your own record, expungement application, and background-check fee information ($25 fingerprint / $20 name-based).
• Idaho iCourt Portal (mycourts.idaho.gov) - free public search for court case records across Idaho counties.
• Idaho Supreme Court: Records Requests - how to request court records and compiled-data requests under Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.
• IDOC Resident/Client Search - find people in Idaho state prison, on parole, or on probation under IDOC supervision.
• Idaho Sex Offender Registry (ISP) - free public registry search by name, city, county, or zip code.
• Idaho Clean Slate Act (Idaho Supreme Court) - petition to shield a conviction record from public disclosure under Idaho Code section 67-3004-11.
• Idaho Code section 18-111 (Felony definition) - the statutory definition of a felony in Idaho.
• Idaho Code section 20-525A (Juvenile expungement) - eligibility and waiting periods for juvenile record expungement.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Idaho public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.