Salt Lake County Warrant Search

A warrant is a legal document issued by a court to authorize law enforcement officers to arrest a person, to summon them to court, or to conduct a search. A Salt Lake County warrant search is the use of official government resources to confirm if a person has an outstanding warrant issued against them. Records of warrants are usually maintained by the agency that issued or executed the warrant. These include the Utah Department of Public Safety, which maintains statewide warrant information, and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which enforces all warrants issued in Salt Lake County.

Interested persons may contact these record custodians or search databases maintained by them, as warrants are considered public records per Utah Code Section 63G-2-201. Information typically returned when conducting a warrant search includes the case number, warrant type, the name of the issuing court, the date the warrant was issued, charges that led to the issuance of the warrant, and the status of the warrant. Sensitive details, however, such as information on ongoing investigations, are excluded from warrant search results.

Why Conduct a Warrant Search in Salt Lake County?

Individuals commonly conduct warrant searches to find out whether they or a person of interest has outstanding warrants in their name. Reasons for the search include the following:

• To confirm their personal legal status
• To check if a family member or loved one is involved in a case
• To confirm the legal status of a person for employment, housing, and licensing purposes
• To give citizens insights into legal proceedings in their community

If a warrant is found, the information typically returned during a warrant search includes the type of warrant, the issuing authority, the issue date, and the status of the warrant. For access to warrant information, individuals can contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office or the Utah Department of Public Safety.

How to Perform a Salt Lake County Warrant Search Online

Salt Lake County does not have a central database for searching for warrants, but individuals can contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office through their website to confirm the status of a warrant within the county. At the state level, individuals can use the Utah Department of Public Safety's Utah Warrants Search tool. This public portal is linked to the Statewide Warrants File (SWW), a centralized database of all warrants issued in counties in the state, including Salt Lake County. Key information needed for completing a search using this tool includes the first, middle, or last name. There are privacy restrictions on sensitive information in warrants, so during a search, only basic information is returned.

How to Check for Outstanding Warrants in Salt Lake County by Phone or In Person

To check for outstanding warrants offline, an individual can call the record custodian by phone or visit their office in person. The custodians of arrest records include the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Salt Lake City District Court, as warrants are issued during case proceedings. Information generally required to complete a search, whether in person or over the phone, includes the person of interest’s full name or the case number. The wait time for phone and in-person requests depends on the volume of inquiries.

Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Search Process

As the official enforcer of local warrants, individuals can contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office to conduct a warrant search. The warrants they execute are entered into the Utah Department of Public Safety's Utah Criminal Justice Information System (UCJIS) and are searchable through the Utah Warrants Search tool.

Information needed to complete a warrant search includes the Personal identifying information (full name, birth date) is required to complete a warrant search. Information typically released through a warrant search includes the status of the warrant, the charges, the authorizing court, and the date the warrant was issued. Details of the investigation, sealed warrants, and information on non-local warrants are not usually released.

For in-person requests, requesters must present government-issued identification. If a warrant is found during an in-person warrant check, it may lead to an immediate arrest.

Accessing Public Records Related to Warrants in Salt Lake County

Excluding records from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, warrant information can form part of other public records. When obtaining the following records, individuals may find warrant-related information.

• Court records: The Third District Court issues warrants for Salt Lake County, so case files where a warrant was issued will typically contain information on warrants. These records are available through the Utah State Courts Case Information System and the County district courts.
• Arrest records: If an arrest warrant was the reason for an arrest, the record of the warrant will be contained in the arrest logs along with other booking information. To access these public records, individuals can request Salt Lake County Jail booking records available at the Sheriff's Office.

Sealed records and records on ongoing investigations are not publicly available.

Types of Warrants Issued in Salt Lake County

The main types of warrants in Salt Lake County include the following:

• Arrest warrant: Arrest warrants authorize a person to be taken into custody in relation to a committed crime. They are issued by the court and enforced by the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. They can be enforced at any time once issued and do not have any statute of limitations. The Utah Code § 77‑7‑2 governs the issuance of arrest warrants and requires the establishment of probable cause before it can be issued.
• Bench warrants: They are warrants that summon a person to court for failing to appear in court or violating probation. Bench warrants are issued 14 days after a court summons is issued and not honored (Utah Code § 77‑7‑19).
• Search warrants: They are issued to grant law enforcement officers the authority to search a person or a location for evidence relating to a case. They typically expire after 10 days per Utah Law.

Knowing what warrant was issued helps in knowing the next steps towards resolving it. It also lets the individual know the probability of them being immediately arrested as their case proceeds.

How Long Warrants Remain Active in Salt Lake County

The duration that a warrant lasts depends on the type of warrant it is. While arrest warrants remain active indefinitely until executed, bench warrants remain active until the individual shows up in court, and search warrants expire 10 days after they are issued. Factors that can affect the execution of a warrant include:

• The warrant was recalled or quashed by the court
• The subject submitted a plea to resolve the warrant
• The warrant subject completes the necessary penalties to satisfy the reason for warrant issuance (e.g., payment of fines).

What To Do if You Find an Outstanding Warrant in Salt Lake County

If a person finds that a warrant has been issued against them, they can verify the warrant information using the Utah Warrants Search tool, third-party warrant search databases, or the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. If it is confirmed that the warrant is active, accurate, and up-to-date, individuals can further clarify the type of warrant it is and the specific method of resolution. Warrants tied to ongoing case proceedings might require individuals to consult a legal professional for the best possible outcome in interpreting court procedures and resolving the case.