Salt Lake County Criminal Court Records
Salt Lake County criminal court records are maintained by the Third District Court at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City. As Utah's most populous county with over 1.2 million residents, Salt Lake County handles a large volume of criminal cases each year. The Third District Court processes felony charges and Class A misdemeanors, while multiple justice courts throughout the county handle lower-level cases. You can search Salt Lake County criminal court records online through the Utah Courts XChange system or in person at the courthouse on South State Street. The county also has a robust public records portal for GRAMA requests.
Salt Lake County Quick Facts
Third District Court in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County is served by Utah's Third Judicial District Court. The primary courthouse is the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse at 450 South State Street in Salt Lake City. This court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law, and probate for the county. The Third District also has jurisdiction over Summit and Tooele counties, but the main Salt Lake County criminal court records are filed here in the capital.
The Third District Court in Salt Lake County processes a high volume of cases. Felonies and Class A misdemeanors come before the district court judges. Multiple justice courts operate throughout Salt Lake County in cities like South Salt Lake, Murray, and West Jordan. These justice courts handle Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and small claims at the local level. Each justice court keeps its own records, though all are searchable through the XChange system.
The Salt Lake County government website at saltlakecounty.gov provides access to county services, the NextRequest GRAMA portal, and links to the sheriff and court for criminal court record requests.
The main courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (801) 238-7300 to reach the court clerk. For a full list of court locations across the state, visit utcourts.gov/courts.
| Court | Third District Court Scott M. Matheson Courthouse 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 |
How to Search Salt Lake County Criminal Court Records
Salt Lake County offers several ways to access criminal court records. Online searches through Utah Courts XChange are the fastest option and give you real-time access to district and justice court records for Salt Lake County and the rest of the state. In-person visits to the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse let you review full case files and get certified copies on the same day. Both methods cover Salt Lake County criminal court records going back many years.
Utah Courts XChange at utcourts.gov/xchange is the official state court record search tool. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or date range. Fees effective July 2025 are $0.35 per search and $1.00 per document download. A guest account costs $10. Monthly subscriptions are $40 for 500 searches and are practical if you search often. XChange pulls data in real time from the Courts Information System and covers Salt Lake County's district court, justice courts, and appellate records. Sealed records, juvenile cases, and certain protected filings are not accessible through the system.
For a free basic case status check, use MyCase without creating an account. For full case documents or certified court copies, visit the Third District Court clerk's office in person at 450 South State Street or call (801) 238-7300.
Public access terminals are also available at the courthouse and at the Utah State Law Library for anyone who wants to search Salt Lake County criminal court records without a paid subscription.
Note: Salt Lake County handles a large number of cases. Plan extra time if you are visiting the clerk's office in person, especially near the beginning or end of the week.
Salt Lake County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking logs, jail records, and incident reports for the unincorporated parts of the county and the county jail. The main sheriff's office is at 3415 S 900 W in Salt Lake City and can be reached at (385) 468-9800. Salt Lake County's jail is one of the largest in Utah, processing thousands of bookings each year.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office at saltlakecounty.gov/sheriff provides an online inmate lookup system, GRAMA request information, and contacts for obtaining arrest and booking records.
The sheriff's office offers an online inmate lookup tool for current jail population. You can check for active inmates by name through the county website. For arrest records, booking photos, and incident reports, submit a GRAMA request to the Salt Lake County Sheriff. Written requests should be mailed to the sheriff's office at 3415 S 900 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 or submitted in person. The standard response time is 10 business days. Active investigations are protected, but completed arrest records and booking data are generally public. Fees are assessed based on the cost of producing the records.
Municipal police departments in Salt Lake County, including Salt Lake City Police and West Valley City Police, also maintain their own arrest records. Each city's police department handles GRAMA requests for their own records separately from the county sheriff.
GRAMA Public Access in Salt Lake County
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act at Utah Code Title 63G Chapter 2 gives the public the right to access most government records in Salt Lake County. This covers criminal court records, arrest reports, court filings, and county agency records. Salt Lake County has one of the most developed GRAMA systems in the state, using the NextRequest platform for electronic submissions.
To submit a GRAMA request in Salt Lake County, use the NextRequest portal through the county's records management page at saltlakecounty.gov/records-management. You can also submit requests in person at the appropriate county department or by mail. The NextRequest system lets you track your request status online. The standard response time is 10 business days. Expedited processing within 5 business days is available for media requests. Fee waivers are available for qualifying requesters. Some records are available through the Salt Lake County Open Data Portal without a formal GRAMA request.
Denials must include a written explanation citing the GRAMA provision relied upon. You may appeal a denial to the county's chief administrative officer. The Salt Lake County Clerk/Auditor can be reached at (385) 468-7401 for questions about records availability and GRAMA procedures.
Note: Salt Lake County handles a high volume of GRAMA requests. Being specific about which records you need helps speed up the process.
BCI Criminal History for Salt Lake County
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification maintains the state's central criminal history repository. A BCI check covers arrests, charges, and dispositions from courts across all Utah counties, including Salt Lake County. For anyone looking for a complete Utah criminal history record rather than just Salt Lake County court records, a BCI check is the most thorough option available.
BCI is located at 3888 W 5400 S in Taylorsville, which is within Salt Lake County. You can reach them by phone at (801) 965-4445. Name-based criminal history checks and fingerprint-based checks are both available. Starting in July 2025, the fee for a name-based search is $20. Fingerprint-based checks provide more thorough results and are used for official background check purposes. All requests require the BCI Criminal History Record Application form. Get forms and full instructions at bci.utah.gov/criminal-records.
BCI is physically close to many Salt Lake County residents, making in-person visits more practical here than in rural counties. For court records, certified case documents, or docket information, contact the Third District Court clerk directly.
Expungement in Salt Lake County
Utah law gives people with criminal records, including those from Salt Lake County courts, the ability to expunge qualifying convictions and arrests. Expungement seals the record from public court searches and most background checks. Given the volume of criminal cases in Salt Lake County each year, expungements are a common request at the Third District Court.
Utah's Clean Slate law automatically expunges certain class B and C misdemeanors and infractions after the required waiting period, as long as the person has no new criminal activity. This happens without any action required by the individual. The program covers many cases from Salt Lake County justice courts and district courts. Learn more at cleanslateutah.org.
For convictions that do not qualify under Clean Slate, you can file a petition for expungement with the Third District Court in Salt Lake City. The BCI reviews all petitions, and the court holds a hearing before granting an order. Once granted, the expungement order is sent to the court, BCI, and all relevant agencies to seal the record. Full eligibility rules and forms are at bci.utah.gov/expungements. Violent felonies and sex offenses do not qualify under Utah law. The Utah Department of Corrections offender search at corrections.utah.gov tracks those currently under state supervision.
Note: An expungement in Salt Lake County seals the record from public access but does not destroy it. Certain agencies may still access sealed records under specific legal circumstances.
Cities in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County includes more incorporated cities than any other Utah county. All felony and Class A misdemeanor criminal court records for Salt Lake County residents are handled by the Third District Court at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City. Individual city justice courts handle lower-level cases within their jurisdictions.
Nearby Counties
Salt Lake County borders Utah, Davis, Tooele, and Summit counties. If you need to check criminal court records across multiple counties in the Wasatch Front area, the XChange system allows statewide searches without visiting each courthouse separately.