Utah Criminal Records

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

Most adult criminal records in Utah are public under the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), codified at Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2. GRAMA gives the public the right to access most government records, and agencies that receive a written request must respond within 10 business days. Court case records are presumptively public. The main exceptions are records that have been expunged, sealed, or classified as private or protected under state law, along with juvenile court records.

How do I look up a criminal record in Utah?

There are three main ways to look up a Utah criminal record:

• Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI). The BCI, a division of the Utah Department of Public Safety, maintains the statewide criminal history repository. You may request a copy of your own Utah criminal history by mailing a completed application and a $20 fee to the BCI office in Taylorsville. Employers, licensing agencies, and other authorized entities can request third-party checks through channels designated by state law. See the BCI Criminal Records page for forms and instructions.
• Utah Courts Xchange. The Utah Courts run a statewide online case-search system called Xchange that shows district court and justice court case summaries, parties, documents filed, hearing dates, and judgments. Expunged and sealed cases do not appear. Free public terminals are available at most district courthouses; remote online access requires a subscription. See the Xchange information page.
• 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 BCI check or an FCRA-compliant background check.

Where can I look up arrest records in Utah?

Arrest records in Utah are kept by the agency that made the arrest, such as a city police department or a county sheriff. Many county sheriffs and jail facilities publish an online inmate roster or booking log that shows recent arrests. An arrest record is different from a conviction: it documents that a person was taken into custody, not that they were found guilty of anything. Records of arrests that led to an expungement will not appear in official searches.

What is inside a Utah arrest record?

A Utah arrest record typically contains the date, time, and location of the arrest; the name of the arresting agency; a description of the alleged offense and the charges the person was booked on; the facility where the person was held; and basic identifying information such as date of birth. Mugshots and fingerprints may also be attached to a booking record.

How do I look up warrants in Utah?

Warrants are issued by Utah courts, and active warrants can sometimes be found through the court where the charge would be filed or by contacting the relevant county sheriff or police department. The Utah Department of Public Safety also maintains a statewide wanted-persons resource. Active warrants can appear in Xchange case records or on third-party background reports, but the issuing court or local law-enforcement agency is the authoritative source. To confirm whether a warrant exists, contact the clerk of the court in the county where the alleged offense occurred.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Utah?

For employment, housing, and credit screening conducted through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. Under the FCRA, arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported once they are more than seven years old. Convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law unless a state adds its own limits. Records that have been expunged under Utah law will not appear in official Utah court or BCI searches, and a background-check company should not report them once they are sealed.

How far back does a background check go in Utah?

Utah does not add a separate state-level time limit on top of the federal FCRA rules, so for most employment background checks the FCRA's own standards apply: non-conviction arrest records are generally not reportable beyond seven years, while convictions can be reported regardless of age unless expunged. Utah does have a ban-the-box law for state and local government employers, which bars them from asking about conviction history until after a conditional offer of employment has been made. Private employers are not subject to the same ban-the-box requirement under state law, but must obtain the applicant's written consent before running a consumer-report background check.

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

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or on parole/probation. Use the Utah Department of Corrections' Offender Search tool to find people currently under state supervision by name or UDC ID number. The tool covers those in state prison and those on parole or probation with the Department of Corrections. People awaiting trial or serving short sentences in county jail are not listed.
• County jail. People who have not yet been sentenced or who are serving shorter sentences are usually held in a county jail. Check the relevant county sheriff's website for an online inmate roster.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than the state tool.

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

Probation in Utah is supervised either by the Department of Corrections or, for some lower-level offenses, under court supervision with conditions set by the judge. Parole is administered by the Utah Department of Corrections following a decision by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole. You can search the Board's website for scheduled hearings and past decisions at the Board of Pardons and Parole hearing search. For a person's current supervision status, the Department of Corrections Offender Search is the starting point.

What crimes are felonies in Utah?

Utah organizes felonies into four levels under Utah Code Title 76, Chapter 3. From most to least serious:

• Capital felony: punishable by life in prison, life without the possibility of parole, or death. Examples include aggravated murder.
• First-degree felony: five years to life in prison; fine up to $10,000. Examples include aggravated kidnapping and rape.
• Second-degree felony: one to 15 years in prison; fine up to $10,000. Examples include burglary of a dwelling and robbery.
• Third-degree felony (least serious): zero to five years in prison; fine up to $5,000. Examples include forgery and certain drug offenses.

Capital and first-degree felonies cannot be expunged; violent felonies are also generally ineligible for record-clearing under Utah law.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Utah?

Utah misdemeanors are divided into three classes under Utah Code Title 76, Chapter 3:

• Class A misdemeanor (most serious): up to 364 days in jail; fine up to $2,500. Examples include simple assault causing injury, domestic violence, and some drug offenses.
• Class B misdemeanor: up to six months (180 days) in jail; fine up to $1,000. Examples include a first-offense DUI and reckless driving.
• Class C misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail; fine up to $750. Examples include minor in possession of alcohol and simple traffic infractions elevated to criminal status.

All fines are subject to a 90 percent surcharge under Utah law, which substantially increases the total amount owed.

Are traffic violations crimes in Utah?

Most minor traffic violations in Utah are infractions, not crimes. An infraction is punishable by a fine of up to $750 and possible compensatory service but carries no jail time and does not create a criminal record. More serious driving offenses, such as driving under the influence (DUI) and reckless driving, are charged as misdemeanors or felonies and do create a criminal record that can appear on background checks.

Is DUI a felony in Utah?

A first or second DUI within ten years in Utah is typically a Class B misdemeanor. A third DUI conviction within ten years is elevated to a third-degree felony under Utah Code section 41-6a-502, and the court is required to sentence the offender to at least 1,500 hours (roughly 62.5 days) of incarceration or to a prison term. A DUI that causes serious bodily injury or involves a prior felony DUI conviction can also result in a felony charge. A felony DUI conviction cannot be expunged under Utah's record-clearing statutes.

Is the sex offender registry public in Utah?

Yes. Utah maintains a public Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry administered by the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI). The registry is searchable by the public through the BCI's community-notification portal at bci.utah.gov/offender-registries. Search results typically include the registrant's photo, name, address, and offense information. Utah law (Utah Code Title 77, Chapter 41) requires most convicted sex and kidnap offenders to register every six months.

How long must sex offenders register in Utah?

Under Utah Code section 77-41-105, most offenders must register for 10 years after their sentence ends. Offenders convicted of offenses listed in section 77-41-106 - generally the most serious sex and kidnap crimes - must register for life. An adult offender convicted of a listed offense before age 21 may be eligible for the 10-year period rather than lifetime registration if the court determines the offense did not involve force or coercion, unless a court determines otherwise after a petition. Eligible offenders who meet all requirements of section 77-41-112 can petition to be removed from the registry after completing the applicable registration period.

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

Utah's record-clearing law is in Utah Code Title 77, Chapter 40a (the Utah Expungement Act). "Expungement" in Utah means sealing the record so it is no longer accessible to the public or to most employers. There are two pathways:

• Automatic expungement (Clean Slate). As of January 1, 2026, courts identify and seal eligible cases automatically, without a petition. Cases covered include acquittals (within 60 days), dismissals with prejudice (within 180 days), and certain misdemeanors after their waiting periods. The process can take up to 120 days.
• Petition-based expungement. For offenses not covered automatically, you obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the BCI (under Utah Code 77-40a-304) and file a petition with the court that decided your case. The $15 eligibility fee is paid to BCI at bci.utah.gov/expungements.

Waiting periods run from the end of the sentence, discharge from probation or parole, and payment of all fines and restitution. Key periods under current BCI guidance: 10 years for a DUI conviction; 7 years for an eligible felony; 5 years for a Class A misdemeanor; 4 years for a Class B misdemeanor; 3 years for a Class C misdemeanor or infraction. Capital felonies, first-degree felonies, violent felonies, registerable sex offenses, and felony DUI convictions cannot be expunged.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Utah?

You are not required to hire a lawyer. The Utah Courts publish a self-help guide at utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/criminal-justice/expunge.html, and many qualifying cases are now cleared automatically without any action on your part. That said, the eligibility rules are detailed, and a mistake can cost you the opportunity to seal your record. Many people work with an attorney or a free legal-aid clinic, especially for felony petitions or older cases where the waiting period has recently run.

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

A Utah felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain an expungement order under Utah Code Title 77, Chapter 40a. There is no automatic time limit that deletes the underlying conviction. The FCRA's seven-year reporting rule limits what a background-check company may report about certain non-conviction items; it does not erase the actual court record. Third-degree felonies that are not violent or sexual in nature are eligible for expungement after a seven-year waiting period; first-degree and capital felonies are never eligible.

Are juvenile criminal records sealed in Utah?

Juvenile delinquency records are handled by the Juvenile Court and are not available through the adult court Xchange system. A person may petition to expunge a juvenile record once they reach age 18, at least one year has passed since the juvenile court's jurisdiction ended, all fines and restitution are paid, and the person has not been convicted as an adult of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. The governing statutes are Utah Code sections 78A-6-1105 and 80-6-1001 through 80-6-1007. Some juvenile records may also be automatically restricted as the person ages out of the system.

Salt Lake County criminal records

Salt Lake County is the most populous county in Utah, home to roughly 1.18 million residents and the state capital, Salt Lake City. The Third District Court, based in Salt Lake City, is the primary trial court for the county and handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law, and probate. Criminal case records for the Third District are searchable through the statewide Utah Courts Xchange system. Free public Xchange terminals are available at the Salt Lake County courthouse. To request a specific case file, contact the clerk of the Third District Court directly, or make a GRAMA request to the county agency that holds the record.

Official Utah criminal record sources

• Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) - Criminal Records - request your own Utah criminal history; $20 fee by mail.
• Utah Courts Xchange - Public Case Search - statewide district and justice court case search; free terminals at courthouses.
• Utah Department of Corrections - Offender Search - find people currently in state prison or under state supervision.
• Utah BCI - Sex/Kidnap/Child Abuse Offender Registry - free public registry search by name or location.
• Utah Board of Pardons and Parole - Hearing Search - search scheduled hearings and past parole decisions.
• Utah BCI - Expungements - eligibility information and Certificate of Eligibility application for record clearing.
• Utah Courts - Expunge Your Record (Self-Help) - step-by-step guide to the petition and automatic expungement process.
• Utah Code Title 77, Chapter 40a - Utah Expungement Act - the full text of the record-clearing statute.

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 Utah public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.