Utah Criminal Records

Criminal records in Utah are documents that record details on people's criminal histories in the state. These papers include judgments, arrest reports, convictions, and all illegal activity in the state.

Law enforcement authorities generate and distribute these records and other information in line with state law. However, the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) of the Utah Department of Public Safety (UDPS) is the general custodian of these criminal records in the state.

Under the Utah Freedom of Information Act, residents of this state can get these records for free as long as they contact the appropriate people.

In the state of Utah, criminal records include the following:

• Subject's personal information (full name, birth date, nationality, and gender)
• Any aliases
• Photograph
• Driver license number
• Fingerprints
• Current and old addresses
• History of arrests
• Current and previous warrants

The information contained in a criminal record differs by country and even by jurisdiction within a state. However, a Utah Criminal Record usually has the following crimes:

Felonies

As in most states, a felony record in Utah entails time in state prison or even death. Lawmakers in the state divide felony records into four categories: capital felonies, first-degree felonies, second-degree felonies, and third-degree felonies.

Capital Felonies

It is the most severe type of felony in Utah. This type of felony includes crimes like murder, which can lead to 25 years to life in prison, life imprisonment without parole, or death.

First-degree Felonies

Rape is an example of a crime in this category. Those who commit this crime will pay a $10,000 fine and spend five years in prison for the rest of their lives.

Second-degree Felonies

If you commit this kind of felony, you will go to prison for 1 to 15 years and have to pay a $10,000 fine. Property theft costing more than $5,000 is an example of this type of felony.

Third-degree Felonies

This type of felony comes with a $5,000 fine and a possible five-year prison sentence. One example of a crime in this category is promoting prostitution.

How long does a felony remain on your record? In Utah, a felony will stay on your record for the rest of your life unless expunged. However, you must wait seven years before you qualify for expungement in Utah.

Misdemeanor

Like felony records, misdemeanor records in Utah use a number-based framework to identify the intensity of the alleged offense. In Utah, a misdemeanor record has different classes, with a maximum of a year in county or local jail.

Class A Misdemeanors

In Utah, this is the most severe type of misdemeanor. It comes with a fine of $2,500 and jail time of 344 days. Examples of crimes under this category include property theft worth between $500 and $1,500.

Class B Misdemeanors

An adult who intentionally provides alcohol to a child commits this misdemeanor. Whoever perpetrates this crime will have to pay a $1,000 fine and spend six months in jail.

Class C Misdemeanors

Driving with a suspended license is a form of offense in this category. Those who commit this act will face a $750 fine and 90 days in prison.

How long does a misdemeanor show up on your record? In Utah, a misdemeanor record will stay on your criminal history for the rest of your life unless you qualify for state expungement. To be eligible for expungement in Utah, an offender must be crime-free for 5 to 7 years.

Criminal Driving Violations

As in most states, Utah separates criminal driving violation records by how severe the violation was. The state's three criminal driving violation records are felony traffic violations, traffic misdemeanors, and traffic infractions.

Felony Traffic Violations

In Utah, a felony traffic violation is a significant traffic crime that can lead to jail time, stiff penalties, and a driver's license loss. Examples of common traffic felonies in Utah are:

• Vehicular homicide
• DUI/DWI
• Careless driving resulting in death
• Hit and run resulting in death

Traffic Misdemeanors

A misdemeanor traffic offense in Utah usually is less severe than a felony traffic violation; however, it can still result in significant consequences. Whoever commits these crimes must pay a fine and go to jail.

Common misdemeanor traffic offenses in Utah include reckless driving and hit-and-run.

Traffic Infractions

Unlike other states, traffic infractions are criminal offenses in Utah. However, they are less severe than misdemeanors and felonies. In Utah, traffic infractions are either Class C or Class B.

Class C Infractions

In Utah, this type of criminal driving violation comes with a $750 fine, 90 days in jail, and a 180-day driver's license suspension. It includes offenses such as:

• Failure to signal
• Expired registration
• Failure to wear a seatbelt
• Overspeeding

Class B Infractions

Those who commit this type of criminal driving infraction face a $1,000 fine, 180 days in jail, and a one-year suspension of their driver's license. Class B infractions are more severe and involve the following crimes:

• Hit-and-run accidents
• Drag racing

How long do criminal driving violations remain on your record? In Utah, criminal traffic violations stay on a person's criminal record for a defined term. In this state, a speeding ticket lasts three years, whereas a DUI lasts ten years. However, some offenses, including hit and run, will appear indefinitely on a criminal record.

Sexual Offenses

In Utah, laws regarding sexual abuse and sex crimes penalize people with records of sexual offenses. The penalties depend on the defendant's and victim's ages and the crime's circumstances. Some of the most common records of sexual offenses in Utah are:

Minor Sexual Misconduct

This kind of sexual crime in Utah is a Class B misdemeanor or a third-degree felony. This crime is a Class B misdemeanor if a person under four years older than the victim has sexual contact or penetration with a child aged 14 or 15. It carries a penalty of six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

Otherwise, this sexual conduct is a third-degree felony that entails a $5,000 fine, five years in jail, or both.

Minor Sexual Abuse

This kind of sexual crime is a Class A misdemeanor, which means the punishment is either a $2,500 fine, a year in prison, or both. It occurs when a defendant seven years older than the victim, 14 or 15, commits sexual touching to stimulate or please one or both parties.

Sexual Abuse of a Child

This kind of sexual crime is a second-degree felony in Utah. Those who do this will have to pay a $10,000 fine, go to prison for one to fifteen years, or both. It includes sexual touching between a victim under 14 and a person 18 or older to get either excited or sexually satisfied.

In addition to the appropriate penalties and prison sentences, Utah law requires sex offenders to register in the state registry.

The Sex and Kidnap Offender Notification and Registration (SONAR) of the Utah Department of Corrections (UDOC) is the principal repository for all sex offender information in the state. This registry tracks sex offenders after a judge ordered it under state law.

Adults and juveniles in Utah are eligible for expungement in various misdemeanor records. In this state, expunging a criminal record removes all arrests and convictions from the past. However, expungements in this state take a long time and are not available for every crime.

What Crimes Are Eligible for Expungement in Utah?

In Utah, expungement is only available for misdemeanor records. Under Utah law, you may still be eligible for expungement even if you have a felony record, but you will need to follow the petition-based process to get your felony record expunged.

However, the following highlights qualifying offenses and associated waiting periods if you are found guilty of a misdemeanor in this state:

• Class A (7 years waiting period)
• Class B (6 years waiting period)
• Class C misdemeanors, infractions, and minor regulatory violations (5 years waiting period)

Also, note that the acquittals have a 60-day waiting period, while prejudiced dismissals have 180 days.

Utah Expungement Process

Here are the typical processes for expunging your criminal record in Utah if you're eligible.

• Request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from BCI.
• After receiving the COE, file an expungement petition with the court.
• Submit the petition and eligibility certificate to the prosecutor.
• After filing, the court may order the Department of Justice to evaluate the requisition in writing.
• Then, the court may hold a hearing.
• If you're eligible and no one objects, the court will grant expungement and give you a certificate.

Utah Inmate Records are government documents that include details about a person's present or former incarceration status. These records contain the inmate's information and details about their imprisonment.

The UDOC keeps most of the records on prisoners in the state. Individuals interested in an inmate search can use the online Offender Search tool or visit the state prison.

For the online search, complete an online form and put the inmate's full name or ID number. Interested parties may get a quick response if they find a record of the inmate they searched.

In Utah, inmate records include the following information:

• Inmate's personal information (name, date of birth, and gender)
• Any aliases
• Booking photo
• DOC ID
• Weight and height
• Placed in charge
• Sentence summary

Utah Arrest Records contain information that details the apprehension of people accused of criminal behavior within the state's jurisdiction. These documents contain details about the subject's offense and legal information, including ongoing lawsuits, penalties, and imprisonments.

Arrest warrants in Utah are issued and notarized by judges or on behalf of municipal and state governments. These papers give police officers legal permission to arrest or apprehend someone.

In Utah, people accused of a crime must go through a formal jail booking process. Usually, this booking process happens when the person gets arrested before filing a standard criminal charge.

During formal booking, the court assigns a defendant an offense tracking number. In some courts, the judge may enable court bailiffs or local police to fingerprint the person instead of jail booking.

Local and state police departments in Utah are in charge of making and maintaining arrest records. To view these records, interested individuals may visit the sheriff's Utah Arrest Search page maintained by the Utah County Sheriff's Office.

The information in arrest records can vary by subject and jurisdiction. However, Utah Arrest Records have the following information:

• Arrestee's personal information (name, race, gender, and age)
• Any aliases
• Booking photo
• Fingerprints
• Social Security Number
• Current and former address
• Place of arrest
• Arresting agencies
• Outstanding warrants

Most criminal records requested in Utah are by companies seeking a background check on a possible employee.

In this state, the UDPS oversees the state's centralized database of criminal background information, while the BCI is in charge of disseminating these records to those who seek to conduct an illegal record search.

Individuals who wish to access these records may submit a request to BCI in person or via mail. To apply by mail, download the application form, print it, fill it out, and submit it by mail. The requester must also pay a $15 charge, submit fingerprints, and send a copy of a valid state ID as confirmation of identity.