Utah Criminal Record Lookup: Use the Right System for Arrests, Courts and Custody
Utah does not place every arrest, jail booking, court case and conviction inside one public database. BCI, Utah Courts, county sheriffs, police departments and the Department of Corrections each maintain a different part of the record.
This guide explains what each system contains, who may use it, current fees, search limitations, GRAMA report requests, identity checks, warrant safety, court-copy procedures, record correction and Utah expungement.
Your own Utah history only.
Public district and justice court cases.
Pretrial and local custody records.
Prison, probation and parole supervision.
Official sources reviewed July 25, 2026.
Which Utah record answers your question?
Use the fingerprint-based BCI Right of Access application. This is the correct route for reviewing or challenging your Utah criminal-history record.
Use Xchange for district and justice court case summaries, filed events, public outcomes and available district court documents.
Use VINE and the county jail for a pretrial detainee. Use UDC only for someone under state prison, probation or parole supervision.
Send a GRAMA request to the police department, sheriff or state agency that created the report.
Can you run a public statewide BCI search on another person?
Public district and justice court cases, active statewide warrants, participating custody systems, UDC supervision and public agency records.
A fingerprint-based copy of the person’s complete Utah BCI criminal history and a formal BCI record challenge.
Juvenile, expunged, sealed, protected, private, controlled and legally confidential information.
Utah arrest records, criminal records and court records are not identical
| Record | Maintained by | What it can show | What it cannot prove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah BCI criminal history | Bureau of Criminal Identification | Submitted Utah arrests and reported outcomes linked through the state criminal-history system. | It is not a general public search for another person. |
| County jail booking | County sheriff or jail | Booking date, custody status, charges, bail or release fields where published. | It does not prove guilt or show every later court action. |
| Police or sheriff report | Arresting or investigating agency | Incident narrative, officer observations, evidence references and report identifiers. | It contains allegations and investigative information, not a judgment. |
| District Court case | Utah District Court clerk | Felonies, class A misdemeanors, filed charges, hearings, orders and disposition. | It may not include a related justice court case or county jail history. |
| Justice Court case | Local justice court clerk | Most class B and C misdemeanors, infractions, ordinances and traffic matters. | Coverage dates vary by court, especially for older cases. |
| UDC offender result | Utah Department of Corrections | Current state incarceration, probation or parole supervision. | It excludes unsentenced people held in county jail. |
| Statewide warrant result | Utah Statewide Warrants file | Individuals reported as wanted in Utah. | It should be confirmed because entry and removal timing can affect the result. |
How to obtain your Utah BCI criminal history
$20.
Four right-hand fingers or a 10-print card.
Report is mailed.
Not available for the completed report.
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Taylorsville, UT 84129
Phone: 801-965-4445
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed weekends and state holidays.
How to use Utah Courts Xchange without wasting search credits
Xchange contains public case information entered by Utah district and justice courts. It is the most useful statewide public tool for checking whether a criminal case was filed and what happened after an arrest.
Felonies, class A misdemeanors and other general-jurisdiction cases. Most district courts were using the statewide system by the end of 1998.
Most class B and C misdemeanors, infractions, ordinance cases and traffic matters. Historical coverage varies by individual court.
Expunged, sealed and juvenile cases do not appear. Other private or legally restricted matters are also excluded.
Current Xchange account options
| Account | Initial charge | Searches | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-time or guest | $10 | $0.20 for each search | $1 for each available document |
| Monthly subscription | $25 setup plus $40 per month | 500 included; $0.35 for each additional search | $1 for each available document |
Use MyCourtCase when the criminal case is yours
MyCourtCase is different from Xchange. It provides free access to eligible parties and qualifying crime victims in their own district or justice court cases.
Track events entered in the case.
Read documents available to your account.
Pay eligible fines and fees.
View multiple eligible cases in one account.
How to find a person awaiting trial in a Utah jail
Utah’s 29 county routing list
Who appears in the Utah Department of Corrections search?
The UDC Offender Search is for people currently incarcerated by, on probation with or on parole through the Utah Department of Corrections.
Enter at least one letter of both the first and last name. Add the middle name only when it helps separate similar results.
An offender number is more precise than a name and reduces mistaken-identity risk.
| Situation | Correct search | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Recently arrested and awaiting court | County jail or VINE | The person has not entered state Corrections supervision. |
| Serving a Utah prison sentence | UDC Offender Search | The person is under state incarceration authority. |
| On state probation | UDC Offender Search | Adult Probation and Parole supervision is part of UDC. |
| On state parole | UDC Offender Search | The person remains under Corrections supervision. |
| Released with an old court case | Xchange | Custody search results may no longer display the historical case. |
Use Utah VINE for custody status and notifications
Free.
24 hours daily.
1-877-884-8463.
Anonymous.
English and Spanish operator support.
Notification events can include
How to check active Utah warrants safely
Utah provides a free Statewide Warrants file designed to show individuals reported as wanted within the state.
How to request Utah law-enforcement records through GRAMA
Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act governs access to records held by state and local governmental entities. Send the request to the agency that prepared, owns or retains the record.
Identify the correct agency
| Record needed | Likely custodian | Useful identifier |
|---|---|---|
| City police incident report | Arresting or investigating city police department | Police case number, date and address. |
| County sheriff arrest report | County sheriff’s records unit | Report number, booking number and arrest date. |
| Highway Patrol report | Utah Department of Public Safety or Highway Patrol records | Trooper, incident number, road and date. |
| BCI administrative record | Utah BCI | Application, receipt or BCI reference number. |
| Court filing or disposition | District or justice court clerk | Court case number. |
Information required for a useful written request
Response time and possible outcome
As soon as reasonably possible and generally no later than 10 business days.
A qualifying request that primarily benefits the public may receive a response within five business days.
A denial should identify the withheld record or portion, cite the legal basis and explain available appeal rights.
How to interpret a Utah criminal court case
| Field or event | Meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Violation date | The date connected with the alleged offence. | It may differ from arrest and filing dates. |
| Filing date | When the case entered the court system. | A delay after arrest does not necessarily mean charges were declined. |
| Law-enforcement agency | The agency connected with the criminal filing. | Use this agency for the related police-report request. |
| Prosecuting agency | The office handling prosecution. | It may be a county or city prosecutor. |
| Charge | The offence allegation currently displayed in the case. | Check amendments and the final count of disposition. |
| Plea in abeyance | A plea is held in abeyance while conditions are completed. | Confirm successful completion and whether the case was dismissed. |
| Dismissed with prejudice | The charge was dismissed and ordinarily cannot be refiled in that form. | Check every charge in the case. |
| Dismissed without prejudice | The matter was dismissed but may be refiled within applicable law. | Check for a later case or refiling. |
| Acquitted | The defendant was found not guilty of the charge decided at trial. | Determine whether another count remained. |
| Judgment entered | The court entered its formal decision. | Read the judgment and sentence rather than only the docket label. |
| Closed | The court system treats the case as no longer active. | Closed does not explain whether the case ended in conviction, dismissal or another result. |
Utah criminal-record, court and expungement fees
| Service | Current fee | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| BCI Right of Access | $20 | For your own fingerprint-based Utah criminal history. |
| BCI Record Challenge | $20 | Used to challenge an inaccurate Utah BCI entry. |
| BCI general fingerprint service | $20 | General noncriminal fingerprint appointments follow separate rules. |
| Xchange one-time account | $10 | Credits fund searches and documents. |
| Xchange search | $0.20 | Clicking Search counts as a billable search. |
| Xchange document | $1 | For each available document, regardless of page count. |
| Court paper copy | $0.25 per sheet | Applies to a direct court-record request. |
| Court fax or email | $5 for 10 pages or fewer; $0.50 each additional page | Courts will not email or fax records already available on Xchange. |
| Court audio or video | $15 per half-day of testimony | For electronic copies of recorded proceedings. |
| Certified court copy | $4 per document plus $0.50 per page | Use when certification is formally required. |
| BCI expungement application | $65 | Nonrefundable starting fee. |
| Eligible BCI certificate | $65 per qualifying conviction, plea or special certificate | No certificate fee for qualifying declinations, non-PIA dismissals or acquittals. |
| District Court expungement filing | $150 | Current court filing fee effective May 6, 2026. |
| Justice Court expungement filing | $135 | Current court filing fee effective May 6, 2026. |
| Expungement verification letter | $15 | Shows automatically and petition-expunged Utah BCI records. |
Additional court staff charges
A direct court-record request includes the first 15 minutes of preparation time without charge. Longer or specialised work can be billed using the staff category required.
$15 per hour.
$21.20 per hour.
$45 per hour.
$100 per hour.
No Utah arrest or criminal record found? Check these causes
Use multiple identifiers before treating a record as a match
Utah mugshot access and removal rules
Utah law places special restrictions on county sheriffs and commercial publish-for-pay mugshot businesses.
A person requesting a copy from a sheriff must affirm that the photograph will not be placed in a publish-for-pay publication or website.
A sheriff cannot release a photograph classified as protected under Utah records law.
Qualifying victims or family representatives may be allowed to view a photograph under statutory conditions but may not retain, reproduce or distribute it.
Publish-for-pay removal deadlines
| Situation | Removal deadline | Fee rule |
|---|---|---|
| General removal request | Within 30 calendar days | The site may not condition removal on a fee greater than $50. |
| Acquitted or not prosecuted | Within seven calendar days after proof is submitted | Removal cannot be conditioned on payment. |
| Expunged, vacated or pardoned | Within seven calendar days after proof is submitted | Removal cannot be conditioned on payment. |
How one Utah arrest becomes several separate records
How to correct inaccurate Utah criminal information
| Incorrect information | Office to contact | Evidence to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| BCI arrest or disposition entry | Utah BCI Record Challenge | Your BCI record, fingerprints and certified supporting documents. |
| District Court case information | Clerk of the district court that holds the case | Case number and controlling filed order or judgment. |
| Justice Court case information | Clerk of that justice court | Case number, citation and court document. |
| County jail booking data | County sheriff or jail records unit | Government ID, inmate number and booking details. |
| Police incident report | Agency that created the report | Report number and documents establishing the error. |
| UDC supervision information | Utah Department of Corrections | UDC number and relevant judgment, release or supervision record. |
Utah expungement rules, fees and step-by-step process
Automatic expungement change beginning January 1, 2026
Utah Courts states that a person no longer needs to file the former request form for automatic expungement. The court now identifies and clears cases that qualify under the automatic process.
Basic eligibility conditions for a petition
Published waiting periods
| Outcome or conviction | Waiting period | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible felony | 7 years | Five years for qualifying drug-possession felonies. |
| Class A misdemeanor | 5 years | Other eligibility rules still apply. |
| Class B misdemeanor | 4 years | Other eligibility rules still apply. |
| Class C misdemeanor or infraction | 3 years | There is no numerical limit on qualifying infractions. |
| Misdemeanor DUI | 10 years | Felony DUI is not eligible. |
| Prosecutor declined charges | 30 days | The prosecutor must have made a final decision not to file. |
| Dismissed with prejudice | 30 days | Check whether the case involved a plea in abeyance. |
| Dismissed without prejudice | 180 days | An earlier petition may be possible with written prosecutor consent. |
| Acquitted at trial | 30 days | Confirm the outcome of every charge. |
Convictions BCI lists as ineligible
Capital offences and first-degree felonies.
Violent felonies and felony DUI.
Registerable sex offences and registerable child-abuse offences.
Petitioned expungement workflow
Utah statewide criminal-record contacts
| Office or service | Contact | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Utah BCI main line | 801-965-4445 | Right of Access, criminal-history forms and general BCI routing. |
| BCI Expungement Section |
801-281-5198 bciexpungements@utah.gov |
Eligibility applications, certificates and status questions. |
| VINE | 1-877-884-8463 | Custody status and release or transfer notifications. |
| UDC Victim Services | 801-545-5658 | VINE and Utah Corrections victim-notification assistance. |
| Utah State Courts Self-Help | 888-583-0009 | Court forms and procedural self-help, including expungement. |
| Utah State Law Library | 801-238-7990 | Free public Xchange access and legal research assistance. |
| Open Records Portal | 801-839-9474 | Portal support for GRAMA submissions. |
| Government Records Office |
385-386-1955 governmentrecordsoffice@utah.gov |
Eligible appeals involving governmental record-access denials or disputed fees. |
Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification office
BCI is on the first floor of the Taylorsville State Office Building, past the information desk and to the left.
What should you do with the record you found?
Confirm the person through VINE and the county jail before sending money, arranging transport or contacting a service provider.
Read the Xchange case history and obtain the judgment, dismissal or other final disposition from the court.
Follow the requesting organisation’s authorised background-check process. A self-run court search may not satisfy its requirements.
Send a narrow GRAMA request to the agency that created the report.
Obtain your BCI history, gather certified proof and challenge the error at the responsible source.
Order a certified court document rather than relying on an unofficial search result or screenshot.
Information extracted into this guide
The article incorporates BCI’s Right of Access application requirements, fingerprint and identification rules, criminal-history fees, Utah Courts’ Xchange and MyCourtCase access, court-copy charges, Corrections and VINE limitations, statewide warrant access, GRAMA request and appeal procedures, booking-photograph protections and current expungement rules.
Current custody, warrants, hearing dates, balances and expungement status must still be checked in the official live system.
Important fees, requirements, limitations, waiting periods and troubleshooting steps are explained here rather than hidden behind resource links.
Official portals are used when the user must run a search, submit a form, purchase a document or track an application.
Utah arrest and criminal-record questions answered
Can I use BCI to look up another person’s Utah criminal history?
No general public BCI name search is available for another person’s complete record. Use Xchange for public court cases, custody systems for current incarceration and GRAMA for agency records.
How much does my own Utah criminal history cost?
The current BCI Right of Access fee is $20. Fingerprints, a completed application and acceptable identification are required.
How much does Utah Xchange cost?
A one-time account costs $10. Searches cost $0.20 each, and available court documents cost $1 each.
Can I access my own court case for free?
Yes. Eligible parties and qualifying crime victims can use Utah Courts MyCourtCase without paying for the listed account features.
Why is a county jail inmate missing from the UDC search?
UDC lists people currently under state incarceration, probation or parole supervision. A person awaiting trial or sentencing in county jail is not included.
Is Utah VINE free?
Yes. VINE provides free custody information and qualifying release, transfer, escape and death notifications 24 hours a day.
How do I check an active Utah warrant?
Use the free Statewide Warrants search, then confirm the result with the issuing court or agency. Never pay a caller claiming to be BCI to clear a warrant.
How long does a Utah GRAMA response take?
A governmental entity generally responds as soon as reasonably possible and no later than 10 business days. A qualifying expedited public-benefit request may receive a response within five business days.
How do I fix an inaccurate BCI record?
Obtain your Utah criminal history, collect certified proof and submit BCI’s Record Challenge form. The current Record Challenge fee is $20.
What does Utah expungement cost?
BCI charges $65 to apply and may charge $65 for each eligible conviction, plea or special certificate. Current court filing fees are $150 in district court and $135 in justice court, unless waived.