Cottonwood Heights Criminal Court Records
Cottonwood Heights criminal court records are maintained through the Third District Court and the Salt Lake County Justice Court, which provides contracted justice court services for the city. Cottonwood Heights sits at the base of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons in Salt Lake County. Whether you are looking up a felony filing, a misdemeanor case, or a traffic matter tied to Cottonwood Heights, Utah's public search tools let you find criminal court records by name, case number, or filing date without making a trip to the courthouse.
Cottonwood Heights Quick Facts
Where to Find Cottonwood Heights Criminal Court Records
Cottonwood Heights is part of the Third Judicial District. Felony cases originating in Cottonwood Heights are filed at the Third District Court located at 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114. The court can be reached at (801) 238-7300 and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Felony charges, jury trial records, and formal criminal filings for Cottonwood Heights residents are all processed and stored there.
Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and infractions from Cottonwood Heights go through the Salt Lake County Justice Court. Cottonwood Heights contracts with Salt Lake County for justice court services, so there is no separate Cottonwood Heights city justice court. The Salt Lake County Justice Court is located at 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84190, and can be reached at (385) 468-8600. Both the district court and the county justice court hold records that are accessible to the public.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 |
| Phone | (801) 238-7300 |
| Justice Court | Salt Lake County Justice Court, (385) 468-8600 |
| Website | utcourts.gov/courts |
Note: Sealed records, juvenile case files, and records tied to active investigations are not available through public search tools even when the case was filed in Cottonwood Heights.
How to Search Cottonwood Heights Criminal Court Records
The Utah Courts XChange system is the primary online tool for searching Cottonwood Heights criminal court records. XChange provides case summaries, party names, charges, filing dates, and hearing schedules for cases across all Utah district courts. You can access it at utcourts.gov/xchange. A paid subscription unlocks full document access, but basic name and case number searches may be available at no cost. Public terminals are also available free of charge at the courthouse for those who prefer to search in person.
If you are a named party in a Cottonwood Heights case, MyCase lets you view your own case documents, check balances, and see upcoming court dates at no charge. Members of the public who are not parties to the case use XChange to look up records. MyCase is limited to parties and attorneys of record.
In-person searches at the Third District Court Clerk's office are available during regular business hours. Staff can search by name or case number and pull records from the file. Call (801) 238-7300 before your visit to confirm what documents are needed and what fees apply.
Cottonwood Heights Justice Court Records
Because Cottonwood Heights does not operate its own independent justice court, misdemeanor and infraction cases from the city are handled by the Salt Lake County Justice Court under a service contract. This arrangement is common for smaller Utah cities. The Salt Lake County Justice Court at 2001 South State Street handles Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic violations, and small claims cases up to $11,000 that originate in Cottonwood Heights.
The Salt Lake County Justice Court at slco.org/justice-court provides information on court procedures, online payments, and how to request hearings for Cottonwood Heights cases.
The county justice court is a court not of record, which means proceedings are not formally transcribed in the same way as district court hearings. Appeals from the county justice court proceed through a trial de novo at the district court level. Online payment of fines and citations is available through the Salt Lake County portal. Payment can also be made by mail or in person. Contact the court at (385) 468-8600 to confirm payment options for a specific Cottonwood Heights case.
Note: Small claims jurisdiction at the county justice court tops out at $11,000 for Cottonwood Heights cases filed there.
Cottonwood Heights Police Records and Arrest Information
The Cottonwood Heights Police Department maintains arrest records, incident reports, and other public safety records that are separate from court case records. These records fall under GRAMA and can be requested through the Cottonwood Heights Police Department records division. Requests require a valid government-issued photo ID and must be specific about what records you are seeking. Response time is generally 10 business days for the general public.
Arrest records show the date of arrest, the charges alleged at the time of booking, and basic incident details. They are not the same as criminal court records and will not reflect case outcomes, dismissed charges, or court dispositions. If you need to know what happened after an arrest, use the XChange system or contact the Third District Court Clerk directly.
For arrests involving the Salt Lake County Jail, the Salt Lake County Sheriff also maintains booking records that may supplement information from the Cottonwood Heights Police Department. Juveniles arrested in Cottonwood Heights have additional confidentiality protections and those records are not part of the public record.
GRAMA in Cottonwood Heights
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, codified at Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2, gives any person the right to request and review government records. GRAMA applies to all government bodies in Cottonwood Heights, including the police department, city offices, and the courts that serve the area. There is no need to be a party to a case or have a legal reason to make a public records request under GRAMA.
To submit a GRAMA request for Cottonwood Heights criminal court records or police records, identify the specific agency holding the records. Court records go to the Third District Court Clerk or the Salt Lake County Justice Court. Police records go through the Cottonwood Heights Police Department records division. City administrative records go through the Cottonwood Heights City Recorder. Each agency must respond within 10 business days for the general public and 5 business days for media requesters. The first 15 minutes of staff research time is generally provided at no cost.
Note: Records that are sealed, linked to an active investigation, or covered by a statutory exemption may be withheld or redacted even after a properly submitted GRAMA request.
Searching Cottonwood Heights Records Online
Utah's statewide court case search system makes it possible to look up Cottonwood Heights criminal court records from any device. The XChange system covers district court filings from across the state, including all Third District cases tied to Cottonwood Heights addresses and residents.
The Utah Courts XChange portal at utcourts.gov/xchange is the main gateway for public access to court case information statewide.
Searches can be run by first and last name, case number, or date range. Results show case status, charges, and scheduled hearings. Subscribing to XChange gives full access to filed documents and detailed case histories for Cottonwood Heights cases and cases from other Utah jurisdictions.
BCI Statewide Criminal Records for Cottonwood Heights
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification maintains a statewide criminal history database that includes all criminal convictions and court dispositions across Utah, including cases connected to Cottonwood Heights. BCI records are the most complete single-source option for a full Utah criminal history. Reach BCI at bci.utah.gov/criminal-records or call 801-965-4445.
The Utah BCI criminal records portal at bci.utah.gov explains how to request a criminal history report, what the report covers, and how to submit in person or by mail.
As of July 2025, BCI charges $20 for each individual criminal history report. The report covers felony and misdemeanor convictions, dismissed cases, and other court dispositions from across all Utah jurisdictions, not just Cottonwood Heights. Requests can be submitted in person at the BCI office or by mail. The report reflects the individual's complete Utah record regardless of where in the state the cases were filed.
Expungement of Cottonwood Heights Criminal Records
Utah's Clean Slate law allows for automatic expungement of certain qualifying criminal records without filing a petition. Eligible offenses are cleared after a waiting period if the person has not picked up new convictions during that time. More information on the automatic process is at cleanslateutah.org.
Records that do not qualify for automatic expungement under Clean Slate can still be cleared through a manual petition. The process starts with BCI, which issues a certificate of eligibility before a petition can be filed in the court where the case originated. For Cottonwood Heights felony cases, that means the Third District Court. For misdemeanors filed through the county justice court, contact the Salt Lake County Justice Court. Visit bci.utah.gov/expungements for step-by-step guidance on the petition process and eligibility rules.
Once expungement is granted, those Cottonwood Heights criminal court records are sealed. They no longer appear in XChange searches or on BCI reports released to the general public.
Salt Lake County Criminal Court Records
Cottonwood Heights sits within Salt Lake County. All district court criminal cases from Cottonwood Heights are part of the broader Salt Lake County court system. For county-wide courthouse details, resources covering all Salt Lake County cities, and additional access options, visit the Salt Lake County criminal court records page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Cities near Cottonwood Heights share the Third Judicial District. Each has its own local resources and court contacts. Select a city below to find its criminal court records information.