Salt Lake County Arrest Records

Salt Lake County arrest records are the official documents created when a person is detained and booked by law enforcement. Their public-interest purpose is established under Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), Utah Code § 63G-2-201 et seq., which presumes records are public unless specifically classified as private, controlled, or protected.

The release of "criminal offender record information" is governed separately under the Criminal Identification Act, Utah Code § 53-10-108. This statute restricts the dissemination of criminal history information to criminal justice agencies or when authorized by law or court order.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Utah?

Yes. Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) publicizes arrest records. Anyone can request access from the police or the Sheriff’s Office.

But there are still limits. Suppose parts of an arrest record could hurt an ongoing investigation, put victims or witnesses in danger, or reveal the identities of secret informants or undercover officers. In that case, they can not be made public. Records involving juveniles are also treated differently and remain confidential.

Salt Lake County Arrest Search

The Utah Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) manages state-level criminal history, including arrest records. Individuals may request a copy of their Salt Lake County criminal history, including arrest data, by submitting a completed application, $20 fee, and a valid government-issued photo ID (Utah driver’s privilege cards are not accepted) in person or by mail. A form known as the Third-Party Release exists for those wishing to authorize someone else to receive their record. On the federal side, access to arrest-related information is via the FBI’s Identity History Summary Check (commonly referred to as a "rap sheet"). This summary is available only to the individual, their legal representative, or an authorized agency, no public access is granted.

Salt Lake County Inmate Locator

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office offers practical and public-facing tools at the county level. The "Find a Prisoner" service allows anyone to look up current inmates and view booking details and charges. Essential booking information, including the inmate’s name, booking date, booking number, charges, bail amount (if applicable), and housing status, are visible to requesters via this tool.

Also, the Jail Dockets & Rosters page provides access to lists of inmates processed through the system. These rosters offer a more comprehensive view of detention activity and can help track cases in which names or booking numbers are not always readily available.

The online locator and rosters cover most active cases but do not always contain sensitive information. In these situations, people might need to submit a GRAMA request. Through this process, an individual can obtain official arrest records, jail records, or other law enforcement documents unavailable in the public database.

Suppose the information being sought pertains to arrests handled by a municipal police department within Salt Lake County (rather than the Sheriff’s Office directly). In that case, requests usually must be submitted through the records division of the specific city police department. Each city, such as Salt Lake City, West Valley City, or Sandy, maintains its own records office, and GRAMA requests can typically be filed either online, by mail, or in person.

Active Warrant Search in Salt Lake County

An arrest warrant is a court order that lets police take someone into custody if they think they have committed a crime. They are issued when probable cause exists and are necessary for crimes that are not witnessed or for which summonses are insufficient. A standard warrant includes the individual’s name (or a description if the name is not known), the alleged offense, the issuing court, the date it was created, and the signature of the judge or magistrate.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office executes warrants and keeps warrant information. The Sheriff does not provide a direct online database of active warrants. Still, the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Identification operates the Utah Statewide Warrants file (SWW), which allows the public to check for active warrants online. Inquiries can also be made by contacting the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office in person, by phone, or by submitting a records request under Utah’s GRAMA law.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Salt Lake County

Salt Lake County residents do not always have to pay to see basic arrest information. Under Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), members of the public are allowed to request arrest records. While the records are free to view, agencies may charge small fees for administrative work or copies. In most cases, the cost is modest, often around $0.25 per page once a certain threshold is reached.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office helps make this process easier by posting online jail rosters and booking logs. These lists show the names of those who have recently been arrested or are currently in custody and, in some cases, the charges against them. Because they are updated regularly, the rosters are one of the quickest ways to check whether someone is currently in county jail.

Third-party websites also allow free arrest record lookups. These websites provide basic information for free, but complete reports are usually paid for. However, requesters should note that these private websites are not as legally reliable as official sources and are occasionally inaccurate or out-of-date.

Salt Lake County Arrest Report

An arrest record is the official entry made when someone is taken into custody. It lists crucial details like the person’s name, the date and time of the arrest, the charges they face, and which law enforcement agency was involved. The record’s main job is to keep track of the arrest in an official system.

An arrest report, however, goes much deeper. This is written by the officer who made the arrest and explains precisely what happened. It details the circumstances leading up to the arrest, the officer’s observations, the statements made by victims or witnesses, and any gathered evidence.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Salt Lake County

Expungement does not erase the record that someone was arrested, but it does make it hard to find for most background checks, employers, and landlords.

The law governing expungement in Utah is found in Utah Code § 77-40a. A person may qualify if their case was dismissed with prejudice, charges were dropped, or if they are covered under Utah’s "clean slate" law, which automatically seals certain lower-level records after a waiting period. For cases that do not automatically get sealed, the person has to fill out a formal application.

The first step is to get a Certificate of Eligibility from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI). This certificate proves that the person meets the legal requirements for clearing their record. To get it, a person must submit an application to BCI, pay the required fee, and pass a review of their criminal history. After the certificate is issued, the next step is to write a petition to have the record erased. This petition must be sent to the court that handled the original case, along with the certificate and a proposed court order.

After filing, the court reviews the petition. In many straightforward situations, such as when charges were dismissed, the judge can approve the request without a hearing. In more complicated cases, a hearing may be set up so that the petitioner can explain why expungement should be granted and the prosecutor can respond. The order is then sent to BCI and the prosecuting attorney’s office to seal the record in all relevant databases and systems.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing arrest records from the internet differs from clearing them in court. Even if someone has their record expunged (sealed) by a judge, copies may still appear online through court websites, news stories, or private sites that publish mugshots.

The first thing the person needs to do is check where their record is showing up. Once a person identifies which websites are showing their record, they can send those sites a copy of the expungement order and request removal. If the record has been officially cleared, background check companies must update their databases when they receive this proof. After the expungement, government websites usually clear the record on their own, but it can take a few weeks.

People who want to see their mugshots on private websites will often have to contact the site directly. Some will take the record down right away when they get proof of expungement, while others may try to charge a fee or put off the process. In that case, the person can file a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection or get help from a lawyer.

As a final step, they can ask Google and other search engines to remove links that lead to outdated or incorrect arrest records. Although the information is still available on the original website, locating the record in search results is more challenging.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records, in general, include:

• Biographical identifiers of the arrestee (name, age, etc.)
• Date, time, and location of arrest
• Offense or charge description
• Arresting agency name
• Initial contact report data, such as how the incident unfolded, victim names, and responding officers, but not follow-up investigative documents