Find Criminal Court Records in Washington County
Washington County criminal court records are public documents on file at the Fifth District Court in St. George. Located in the southwest corner of Utah, Washington County has grown faster than almost any other metro area in the country. That growth means more cases filed, more public records created, and more demand for access to Washington County criminal records. You can search court filings online, submit a GRAMA request to the county clerk, or visit the St. George courthouse in person to find the records you need.
Washington County Quick Facts
Fifth District Court Washington County Criminal Records
The Fifth Judicial District Court handles criminal court records for Washington County. The courthouse sits at 206 West Tabernacle Street in St. George, UT 84770. The main phone number is 435-986-5700. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Fifth District also serves Beaver and Iron counties, but the Washington County criminal cases are heard and stored in St. George.
This court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $11,000, family law, and probate. It is the primary court of record for serious criminal charges in Washington County. Municipal justice courts in cities like St. George and Washington City handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, infractions, and small claims matters. Records from justice courts are separate from district court filings, though both are searchable through the state system.
The Utah Courts XChange system at utcourts.gov/xchange is the best starting point for online searches of Washington County criminal court records. XChange pulls from the statewide court database and includes cases from the Fifth District Court. Basic case information is available without a subscription. More detailed document access requires a paid account.
Note: Juvenile court records in Washington County carry restricted access. They are not available in standard public court record searches under Utah law.
How to Search Washington County Criminal Court Records
Start your search for Washington County criminal court records online through Utah Courts XChange. Enter a party name or case number to pull up case details. XChange covers the Fifth District Court in St. George and the justice courts operating within Washington County. You can check case status, upcoming hearings, and basic disposition information without a subscription.
The MyCase portal is another free tool from Utah Courts. MyCase shows case activity and docket entries for criminal cases across the state, including Washington County. It is especially useful for checking whether a hearing date has changed or whether a judgment has been entered in a case you are tracking.
For certified copies of court documents or full access to a case file, visit the Fifth District Court clerk's office in St. George. Bring a valid ID. Staff can search by name or case number and make copies on request. Fees are based on the court's standard copy schedule. Call 435-986-5700 to confirm what you need to bring before making the trip to the courthouse.
Washington County also has justice courts in St. George and Washington City. If your records search involves a misdemeanor, traffic ticket, or small claims case, those records may be at the municipal justice court rather than the Fifth District Court. Contact the relevant city directly to find their records process.
Washington County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Washington County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and booking records for cases handled in unincorporated parts of the county. The Sheriff's office is in St. George. Records requests go through the GRAMA process. You can direct your request to the Washington County Clerk/Auditor's Office or contact the Sheriff's Office directly. The standard response time is 10 business days from receipt of a complete request.
Most Washington County Sheriff arrest records are classified as private or protected under state law. Only the subject of the record or an authorized representative can receive copies of those protected documents. General logs and public incident information may be available to any person making a proper GRAMA request. Photo ID is required when picking up records in person.
For police records from St. George or Washington City, each city has its own records request process. The St. George Police Department handles records for incidents within city limits. Washington City Police has a separate GRAMA process for city police records. Hurricane City accepts GRAMA email requests at cindy@hurricane.utah.gov. Check with the city involved in your case to find the right office.
The Utah Department of Corrections offender search is a free public tool for finding people currently under state supervision. It covers inmates and offenders from Washington County and every other Utah county. This is separate from local arrest records kept by the Sheriff.
GRAMA Access to Washington County Public Records
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, GRAMA, gives the public the right to request and obtain government records held in Washington County. Criminal court records at the Fifth District Court are generally public under GRAMA. Law enforcement records from the Sheriff's Office may have restrictions depending on the type of record and the status of the case.
The BCI at bci.utah.gov/criminal-records is the statewide source for criminal history background checks. A BCI search covers arrests, convictions, and dispositions from Washington County and all other Utah jurisdictions. As of July 2025 the fee for a name-based check is $20. A more thorough fingerprint-based check costs $33.25.
To submit a GRAMA request to Washington County, contact the County Clerk/Auditor's Office at 111 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770-3443. The phone number is 435-301-7233. You can email your request to grama@washco.utah.gov or fax it to 435-301-7249. The county website at washco.utah.gov has the GRAMA request form and fee schedule. Certified copies cost $4.00 per document plus $0.50 per page. Plain photocopies are $0.25 per page.
Note: If your GRAMA request is denied by Washington County, you may appeal to the State Records Committee within 30 days of the denial notice.
BCI Criminal History Records in Washington County
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification compiles criminal history records from courts and law enforcement agencies statewide, including all Washington County cases. A BCI record shows arrests, charges, convictions, and final dispositions. It draws from district courts, justice courts, and law enforcement databases across Utah.
BCI is located at 3888 West 5400 South in Taylorsville, UT 84129. The phone number is 801-965-4445. You can request your own criminal history or an authorized third-party check through the BCI website. The application requires a notarized signature. Processing typically takes three to four weeks. For a faster turnaround, a fingerprint-based check is recommended because it reduces errors from similar names.
Washington County residents can also use the Utah Department of Corrections offender search to check the status of someone under state correctional supervision. That tool is free and updated regularly with current inmate and probation data.
Expungement of Washington County Criminal Records
Washington County criminal records may be eligible for expungement under Utah law. Expungement seals the record from standard public view. It is available for certain misdemeanor and felony convictions once all sentence requirements are complete and the required waiting period has passed. Not every offense is eligible, and the rules depend on the type of charge and number of prior convictions.
Start the expungement process at the BCI expungement page. BCI will review your record and issue a Certificate of Eligibility if you qualify. Take that certificate to the Fifth District Court clerk's office in St. George and file your petition for expungement. The court will schedule a hearing and notify the Washington County prosecutor's office. If no objection is filed within the notice period, the court may grant the order and the record is sealed.
Utah also has a Clean Slate law that automatically expunges certain low-level offenses without any action on your part. Visit cleanslateutah.org to learn whether your Washington County conviction qualifies for automatic expungement. If you have questions about eligibility or the petition process, consult a licensed Utah attorney familiar with criminal records law.
Public records access in Washington County is governed by the GRAMA statute shown above. Understanding that law helps you know what records are available, what fees apply, and how to appeal a denial. The full text of GRAMA is published on the Utah Legislature website.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes several fast-growing cities in southwest Utah. Criminal court records for cases in these cities may be at the Fifth District Court in St. George, or at the relevant city justice court depending on the charge. Use the city links below to find records information specific to each location.
St. George is the county seat and the largest city in Washington County. The Fifth District Court, the Sheriff's Office, and the County Clerk are all in or near St. George. Washington City sits just east of St. George and has its own police department and justice court for local criminal matters.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several other Utah counties in the southwest corner of the state. Criminal court records for those areas are handled by their own district courts. If you need records from a neighboring county, use the links below to find the right court.