Nevada Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Nevada criminal records, arrest records, court records, warrants, inmate information, and the public sex-offender registry, and how Nevada's background-check and record-sealing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Nevada 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.

Are criminal records public in Nevada?

Nevada's Public Records Act (Nevada Revised Statutes, or NRS, Chapter 239) creates a general presumption that records held by government agencies are open for inspection by anyone. That said, the statewide criminal history database maintained by the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) Records, Communications and Compliance Division (RCCD) is not a walk-up public search - you access it through a fingerprint-based request process. Court case records, on the other hand, are presumptively public and can be viewed or requested from the courthouse where the case was filed.

How do I look up a criminal record in Nevada?

There are three main ways to find criminal-record information in Nevada:

• Request your own record from Nevada DPS. The DPS Records, Communications and Compliance Division processes statewide criminal history requests using form DPS-006. You submit the completed form with a full set of fingerprints on a standard FD-258 card, taken by a certified fingerprinting technician, along with a $27 fee (check or money order payable to the Nevada Department of Public Safety). Mail everything to the DPS Fingerprint Support Unit, 333 West Nye Lane, Suite 100, Carson City, NV 89706. Information and the current form are available on the Nevada DPS forms page.
• County court records. Individual case files are held by the court in the county where the case was filed. Many Nevada courts, including the Clark County Eighth Judicial District Court, offer online case searches (see below).
• 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 fingerprint-based record review or a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)-compliant background check.

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

Where can I look up arrest records in Nevada?

Arrest records are held by the agency that made the arrest - typically a city police department or a county sheriff. Under Nevada's Public Records Act, most booking and arrest information is public. Many county sheriffs and city police departments in Nevada publish online jail rosters showing current detainees. An arrest record is different from a conviction record: it documents that a person was taken into custody, not that they were found guilty. Under the federal FCRA, a consumer reporting agency generally cannot report a non-conviction arrest that is more than seven years old on an employment or housing background check.

How do I find court records in Nevada?

Nevada's court records are held at the county level, not through a single statewide portal. The Nevada Supreme Court maintains an eCourts case-search tool for appellate matters, but for trial-court records you go to the court in the county where the case was filed. Many Nevada district courts and justice courts post online public-access portals. Sealed cases and certain confidential information will not appear in any online search. For records not available online, contact the court clerk in person or by mail.

How do I look up warrants in Nevada?

Warrants are issued by courts, but the most practical way to check is to contact the county sheriff, the local police department, or the clerk of the court in the county where charges would be filed. Some Nevada county sheriffs and justice courts publish searchable warrant lists online. Active warrants may also surface on third-party background reports, but the issuing court or county is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Nevada?

For employment, housing, and credit screening conducted through a consumer reporting agency, the federal FCRA governs what can be reported. Key Nevada-specific points:

• Non-conviction arrests that are more than seven years old generally cannot be reported on an FCRA background check.
• A conviction can be reported indefinitely under federal law unless it has been sealed or the record falls outside a reporting period.
• Nevada does not have a statewide "ban the box" law, but several local jurisdictions, including Clark County, have adopted ordinances restricting when employers may ask about criminal history during the hiring process.
• Once a Nevada court seals a record under NRS 179.245, a private employer or landlord generally cannot consider it, and most people can legally answer "no" to questions about that conviction on private applications.

How far back does a background check go in Nevada?

Under the federal FCRA, a consumer reporting agency may report criminal convictions indefinitely (there is no federal time limit on conviction reporting). Non-conviction records, such as arrests that did not lead to a conviction, are generally limited to seven years. Nevada does not layer a stricter statewide limit on top of the FCRA for convictions, unlike some states. However, once a record is sealed under Nevada law it is removed from most background-check results.

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

It depends on where the person is held:

• Nevada state prison. Use the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) Offender Search at ofdsearch.doc.nv.gov to look up a person in state custody by name or offender ID. The NDOC also provides downloadable data files. For records inquiries, contact the NDOC Offender Management Division at omdrecords@doc.nv.gov.
• Clark County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are usually held at the Clark County Detention Center. Use the Clark County Detention Center inmate search at clarkcountynv.gov to check who is currently in custody.
• Federal custody. For people held in a federal facility, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

How do I find out about parole or probation in Nevada?

State parole is managed by the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners at parole.nv.gov. Parole hearings are conducted by video conference to the institution where the inmate is housed. An inmate's parole status may also appear in the NDOC offender search. Probation is supervised by the Division of Parole and Probation under the Department of Public Safety; the sentencing court's records are the best starting point for probation information. Probation allows a person to serve a sentence in the community under court-set conditions rather than in a prison or jail.

What are the felony categories in Nevada?

Nevada organizes felonies into five categories under NRS 193.130, from most to least serious:

• Category A: the most serious offenses (such as murder and certain sexual assaults); punishable by life imprisonment with or without the possibility of parole, or death, as set by specific statute.
• Category B: imprisonment in state prison for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of up to 20 years (the exact range is set by each offense's statute). Examples include robbery and second-degree murder.
• Category C: 1 to 5 years in state prison and a fine up to $10,000. Examples include involuntary manslaughter and certain drug offenses.
• Category D: 1 to 4 years in state prison and a fine up to $5,000. Examples include forgery and certain property crimes.
• Category E: 1 to 4 years in state prison and a fine up to $5,000; however, courts are generally required to suspend the sentence and grant probation on a first-time Category E conviction unless otherwise provided by law. Examples include low-level drug possession offenses.

What are misdemeanors in Nevada?

Nevada has two misdemeanor levels:

• Gross misdemeanor: the more serious type, punishable by up to 364 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $2,000. Examples include simple battery and certain DUI offenses.
• Misdemeanor: punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. Examples include petty theft, vandalism, shoplifting, and a first-offense DUI.

Traffic infractions (such as speeding tickets) are not crimes; they carry only a fine and do not create a criminal record.

Is DUI a felony in Nevada?

Most first and second DUI offenses within seven years are misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors in Nevada. A DUI becomes a Category B felony under NRS 484C.410 in any of these situations:

• It is a third or subsequent DUI offense within seven years.
• The DUI caused substantial bodily harm or death to another person.
• The driver had a prior felony DUI conviction at any time.

A felony DUI carries a minimum of 1 year and up to 6 years in state prison, plus fines, and is one of the offenses that can never be sealed from a Nevada record.

Is the sex-offender registry public in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada operates a public Sex Offender Registry at nvsexoffenders.gov, searchable by name, address, or ZIP code. The registry is tiered:

• Tier 1 (lowest risk) with adult victims are not posted publicly.
• Tier 1 with child victims, all Tier 2, and all Tier 3 offenders appear on the public registry.

A registrant's profile can include a photo, identifying information, last-known address, vehicles, and offense details. Tier 2 offenders must register for 25 years; Tier 3 offenders must register for life.

Can someone be removed from the Nevada sex-offender registry?

Some Tier 1 registrants with adult victims may petition a court for relief from registration after meeting the statutory waiting period, provided they have completed their sentence and have no disqualifying subsequent offenses. Tier 2 registrants become eligible to petition after 25 years. Tier 3 registration is lifetime with very limited exceptions. Because eligibility is fact-specific and depends on the underlying conviction, an attorney should review any petition for relief. Sex offenses are among the categories of convictions that can never be sealed from a Nevada criminal record.

How do I seal my record in Nevada?

Nevada uses record "sealing" rather than expungement - the record is hidden from public view but not destroyed. Sealing is governed by NRS 179.245. Once a record is sealed, most private employers and landlords cannot see it and you may generally answer "no" on private applications when asked about that conviction. The waiting periods, measured from the date of release from custody or discharge from parole or probation (whichever is later), are:

• Category A felony, crime of violence, or residential burglary: 10 years
• Category B, C, or D felony: 5 years
• Category E felony: 2 years
• Gross misdemeanor: 2 years
• Standard misdemeanor: 1 year
• Misdemeanor battery constituting domestic violence: 7 years
• Arrest with no conviction (dismissed, acquitted, or not prosecuted): no waiting period - you may petition immediately under NRS 179.255

Some convictions can never be sealed, including crimes against children, sexual offenses, felony DUI, and home invasion with a deadly weapon.

Do I need a lawyer to seal my Nevada record?

You are not legally required to hire an attorney. You can petition the court yourself by filing the appropriate paperwork. That said, the eligibility rules are detailed, waiting periods vary by offense category, and an error can cost you the opportunity. Many people use an attorney or a free legal-aid organization, especially for felony cases. Nevada Legal Services (nevadalegalservices.org) offers free assistance to eligible Nevadans.

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

A Nevada felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you successfully petition to have it sealed under NRS 179.245. There is no automatic deletion. The FCRA's rules limit what a background-check company may report for certain items, but they do not erase the underlying state record. If a record is sealed, it is hidden from public and most private-employer searches, but it still exists for law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies.

Are juvenile records confidential in Nevada?

Juvenile court records in Nevada are generally confidential and not available to the public. Under Nevada juvenile-justice statutes, many juvenile records are automatically sealed when a person turns 21, provided they have not been convicted of certain subsequent offenses. This is designed to give young people a fresh start. Juveniles who are certified as adults and tried in adult court do not receive the same automatic protection and are treated more like adult offenders for records purposes.

Clark County criminal records

Clark County is Nevada's most populous county, home to Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, and accounts for roughly three-quarters of the state's total population. The Eighth Judicial District Court handles felony and gross-misdemeanor cases for Clark County, and the Clark County Justice Courts handle misdemeanor and traffic matters. The Eighth Judicial District Court offers a public case-search portal at clarkcountycourts.us, where you can use the Smart Search feature to look up case records; sealed cases do not appear. The Las Vegas Township Justice Court also operates a separate online records portal. For in-custody searches, use the Clark County Detention Center inmate-search tool linked above.

Official Nevada criminal record sources

• Nevada DPS Records, Communications and Compliance Division (forms) - DPS-006 form and instructions for requesting a statewide criminal history record ($27 fee, fingerprints required).
• Nevada Department of Corrections Offender Search - find people currently in Nevada state prison by name or offender ID.
• Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners - parole hearing schedules, actions, and general information about the state parole process.
• Nevada Public Sex Offender Registry (nvsexoffenders.gov) - free public search by name, address, or ZIP code.
• Clark County Eighth Judicial District Court portal - online case search for the state's largest county court.
• Clark County Detention Center inmate search - find people currently held in Clark County's main jail.
• NRS Chapter 179 (Nevada Legislature) - the Nevada statutes governing record sealing, including NRS 179.245 (sealing after conviction) and NRS 179.255 (sealing after acquittal or dismissal).
• NRS Chapter 193 (Nevada Legislature) - the Nevada statutes defining felony categories and punishments (NRS 193.130).

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). A mugshot or arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Nevada public records, not legal advice; for advice about your specific situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.