Salt Lake City Criminal Court Records
Salt Lake City criminal court records are maintained by the Third District Court and the Salt Lake City Justice Court. As Utah's state capital and largest city, Salt Lake City processes more criminal cases than any other municipality in the state. Whether you need to look up a felony case from the district court or a misdemeanor citation from the justice court, several public tools let you search Salt Lake City criminal court records by name, case number, or date range without visiting a courthouse in person.
Salt Lake City Quick Facts
Where to Find Salt Lake City Criminal Court Records
Salt Lake City sits within the Third Judicial District, which means felony cases are handled at the Salt Lake County District Court. The Scott M. Matheson Courthouse is located at 450 South State Street in downtown Salt Lake City. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and can be reached at (801) 238-7300. Felony charges, criminal district court filings, and jury trial records all live here.
Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and small claims cases up to $20,000 are handled by the Salt Lake City Justice Court. This is a separate court from the district court and operates under city jurisdiction. Both courts contribute to the pool of Salt Lake City criminal court records that are available to the public.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 |
| Phone | (801) 238-7300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov/courts |
Note: Sealed records, juvenile cases, and active investigations are not accessible through public court search tools regardless of where the case was filed.
How to Search Salt Lake City Criminal Court Records
The Utah Courts XChange system is the main tool for searching Salt Lake City criminal court records online. XChange provides access to case summaries, party names, filing dates, charge descriptions, and hearing schedules across all Utah district courts. You can reach it at utcourts.gov/xchange. A subscription is required for full access, but many basic searches are available at no cost.
Parties named in a case can use MyCase to view their own court records, documents, and hearing dates at no charge. MyCase shows balances, filed documents, and scheduled court dates for anyone with an active Salt Lake City case. Members of the public who are not parties to a case rely on XChange for case lookups.
In-person searches are also available at the District Court Clerk office in Salt Lake City. Staff can locate cases by name or case number and pull full file documents. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call ahead at (801) 238-7300 before visiting to confirm what you need to bring and what fees apply for your specific request.
Salt Lake City Justice Court Records
The Salt Lake City Justice Court handles Class B and C misdemeanors, infractions, traffic citations, and small claims cases up to $20,000. It operates out of the John L. Baxter Courthouse at 333 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. The court can be reached at (801) 535-6300 and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with payments accepted until 4:30 PM.
The SLC Justice Court website at slc.gov/courts provides the court's online case search, payment portal, and hearing calendar. The docket updates daily and covers a 30-day window searchable by name or case number.
The court offers several options for resolving citations. A Deferred Prosecution Agreement is available for qualifying citations issued within the past 21 days. A Plea in Abeyance requires paying a fine plus a $25 fee and completing traffic school. Community service credit is available at $12 per hour for Class B and C misdemeanors and infractions. Online payment of Salt Lake City criminal citations is accepted by credit or debit card through the court's portal.
Note: The SLC Justice Court will never demand immediate payment by text or threaten arrest via text message. If you receive such a message, treat it as a scam.
Salt Lake City Police Records and Arrest Information
The Salt Lake City Police Department maintains arrest records, incident reports, and traffic accident reports that are separate from court records. These are public records under GRAMA and can be requested through the SLCPD records division located at 475 South 300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. The records window is open Monday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The main line is (801) 799-3000.
The SLCPD GRAMA request page at police.slc.gov describes the full process for submitting a records request online or in person.
Police reports in Salt Lake City cost $15.00 per report for the first 50 pages, then $0.25 per page after that. Traffic accident reports carry the same rate. Body camera video requests cost $33.00 per request plus $46.00 per hour for redaction time billed in 15-minute increments. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for all in-person records requests. Media requests receive a 5-business-day response. General public requests receive a 10-business-day response.
Arrest records obtained from SLCPD show the date of arrest, charges alleged, and basic incident details. They are not the same as criminal court records and do not include case outcomes or court dispositions. For case outcomes, use XChange or visit the District Court Clerk.
Salt Lake City Parking and Civil Citations
Parking and civil citations in Salt Lake City are handled through the Salt Lake City Finance Department, not through the courts. The Finance Department is located at 451 South State Street, Room 145, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. You can reach them at (801) 535-6116 for parking and civil matters.
The SLC Finance citation payment portal at slc.gov allows you to search by citation number or license plate.
Citations not paid within 40 days are transferred to the Collections Unit. Online payments carry a 2.4% processing fee. In-person payments at City Hall Room 225 are accepted by cash, check, or credit card. To request a hearing or speak with a Collections Officer, visit Room 145 at City Hall.
GRAMA in Salt Lake City
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, found at Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2, gives the public the right to access government records including Salt Lake City criminal court records and police records. GRAMA applies to all government entities in Utah, including Salt Lake City courts, the police department, and city offices.
To submit a GRAMA request in Salt Lake City, identify the specific agency that holds the records you want. Court records go through the District Court Clerk or Justice Court. Police records go through SLCPD at the records request link above. City administrative records go through the Salt Lake City Recorder's Office. Each agency processes requests within 10 business days for the general public and 5 business days for media. The first 15 minutes of staff research time is free. After that, staff time is billed at $20 per hour.
Note: Records that are sealed, part of an active investigation, or otherwise protected by law may be withheld or partially redacted under GRAMA even when a formal request is submitted.
BCI Statewide Criminal Records for Salt Lake City Residents
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification maintains a statewide criminal history database that covers all criminal cases filed across Utah, including Salt Lake City criminal court records. This is the most comprehensive source for a person's complete Utah criminal history. The BCI can be reached at bci.utah.gov/criminal-records or by phone at 801-965-4445.
As of July 2025, BCI charges a $20 fee for individual criminal history reports. Reports include felony and misdemeanor convictions, dismissed cases, and other court dispositions across all Utah jurisdictions. Salt Lake City residents can submit a request by mail or in person at the BCI office. The report covers the individual's entire Utah record, not just Salt Lake City cases.
Expungement of Salt Lake City Criminal Records
Utah's Clean Slate law, passed as HB 431, allows for the automatic expungement of certain qualifying criminal records without a petition. Eligible offenses are cleared after a waiting period if the person has no new convictions. Not all records qualify. More serious charges require a manual petition process.
For records that do not qualify under Clean Slate, Salt Lake City residents can petition for expungement through the court where the case was filed. The BCI issues a certificate of eligibility before an expungement petition can be filed. Visit bci.utah.gov/expungements to learn about eligibility requirements and how to start the process. More information on the automatic process is available at cleanslateutah.org.
After expungement is granted, the Salt Lake City criminal court records related to that case are sealed and removed from public view. They no longer appear in XChange searches or on BCI reports issued to the public.
Utah DOC Offender Search
For individuals currently incarcerated or under supervision by the Utah Department of Corrections, the public offender search tool is available at corrections.utah.gov. This database includes individuals housed in Utah state prisons as well as those on probation or parole. It is separate from Salt Lake City criminal court records but can be a useful supplement when researching an individual's current status.
Salt Lake County Criminal Court Records
Salt Lake City is the county seat of Salt Lake County. All district court criminal cases filed in Salt Lake City are part of the broader Salt Lake County court system. For county-wide information, courthouse details, and additional resources covering all cities in Salt Lake County, visit the Salt Lake County criminal court records page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Cities near Salt Lake City each have their own justice courts and may fall under the same Third District. Select a city to find its criminal court records resources.