Washington County Arrest Records

In Washington County, Utah, law enforcement officers have the authority to arrest an individual suspected of a criminal offense per Utah Code § 77-7-2. The offense, in this case, might be a misdemeanor or felony, either of which has unique legal implications—section 103—Section 105 of the Utah Criminal Code Chapter 76.

Following an arrest, the apprehended arrestees are booked at a facility determined by the arresting officer. Inmates are typically held at the Purgatory Correctional Facility, which acts as the primary detention center for the region. The suspect is then "booked" when the police department receives and records details about a suspect in a system, which include their bio information and descriptions, fingerprints, DNA, photographs, possessions, and alleged crime information.

The Office of the Washington County Sheriff maintains and curates arrest records within the County. These records are important for commencing criminal proceedings and may provide insight into an individual's criminal past. The records may also be featured within Washington County Court Records maintained by other County or state bodies.

Are Arrest Records Public in Washington County?

Yes, according to the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), members of the public can access these arrest records within the state. GRAMA is the primary law that governs the disclosure of public records in Utah and offers access to information regarding specific law enforcement actions like arrests. Thus, Washington County citizens and residents can access arrest records from law enforcement agencies within the judicial district.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, arrest records in Washington County contain the following details:

• Personal details, including the suspect's full name, Social Security Number (SSN), physical description and birth date
• Arrest details, such as time, date, and location of the suspect's arrest.
• Disposition: The outcome of the legal case, including arrest, release, or citation.
• Charges: Certain charges are filed against the person.
• Photographs and fingerprints: Photos of the person's mugshot and fingerprints.
• Booking details: The time and date of the booking, booking number, and the facility where the suspect is incarcerated.

Information regarding Juvenile arrests can be found in Utah Code Title 78-6-209.

Washington County Crime Rate

The most recent crime statistics published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed 7,009 violent crime cases and 7,963 offenses reported in Utah. 25% of victims—2,032—were in their twenties, while 23.97% of the offenders were aged between 20-29.

Also, the majority of violent crimes occurred at the victims' residences, constituting 50.19% of the overall demography. Furthermore, the publication found that the most frequent kind of attacks occurred from those who contributed 1,637, or 22%, of 7,434 crime locations. Following them were individuals attacked by their acquaintances, contributing 1,386 or 18.64% of the overall cases.

Washington County Arrest Statistics

The latest report from the Washington County Sheriff's Office found that 269 arrests were269 arrests were made in Washington County in December 2023 and 3,465 arrests overall in 2023.

Find Washington County Arrest Records

Researchers can submit a Records GRAMA Request to the County Sheriff's office to find Washington County Arrest records. The office accepts mail-in, in-person, and electronic queries and may require the following information to process the request:

• The arrestee's full name (first and last name)
• The arrestee's date of birth, if available.
• Incident location and date.
• The requester's contact details.
• Valid government-issued ID.

Researchers may also search for Washington County Arrest Records on the County Sheriff's official website. On the website, inquirers may scroll through a list of bookings in the County. However, while searching for arrest records in this way may be free, researchers will only be able to access basic information about an arrestee. Alternatively, the researcher may visit the physical location of the County Sheriff's department to conduct the arrest search in person at the following address:

Washington County Sheriff's Office
620 South 5300 West
Hurricane, Utah 84737
(435) 656-6500

Inquirers may also obtain an arrest record in Washington County at any Police Department. These offices allow eligible requesters to perform searches at a minimal fee of $5 per record. Researchers may also contact the agency where a suspect was arrested to request an arrest record. For instance, inquirers may contact the Washington City Police Department at (435) 986-1515 or mail at police@washingtoncity.org.

Another option for searching for Washington County arrest records is to use third-party public repositories. These online databases are run by private firms that collate public information from numerous government sources, including law enforcement agencies. Most platforms allow individuals to conduct searches for free; however, some may require researchers to pay a fee to search for records.

For arrests made by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), inquirers can search the platform's Online Detainee Locator System. Inquirers can also contact a local field office or the exact ICE detention facility if known if the information isn't available online.

Alternatively, if the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the agency that has arrested an individual, they will likely be held in federal custody until arraignment. Thus, researchers can search the Federal Inmate Locator by name or number to find the inmate's holding facility.

Free Arrest Record Search in Washington County

In Washington County, researchers can query local police departments for arrest records under GRAMA. Usually, inquirers are not charged for these requests; however, there are associated fees for copies of a record.

Some police agencies also offer online search repositories for acquiring public arrest details at no cost. For instance, the Washington County Police Department collates public records about individuals in a Washington County jail facility.

Another alternative to search for Washington arrest records for free is to perform searches on a third-party public records repository. These privately operated platforms collect and organize public information from government sources, including police departments.

Get Washington County Criminal Records

A criminal record is an official record that comprises an individual's existing or past criminal convictions or contacts with criminal justice agencies. The document includes details such as arrests, charges, dispositions of court proceedings, sentencing information, and other related data about an individual.

Criminal records can be obtained in Washington County, Utah, from various repositories at County, state, or federal levels. Requesters eligible to access criminal records include defendants, employers, law enforcement agencies, witnesses and victims, approved third parties, and, depending on the severity of the crime, the public. These requesters can submit a GRAMA Records request to the local sheriff's office via mail or book an appointment to access a copy.

The following details will be required to obtain copies from the office:

• The full name of the subject/arrestee/suspect.
• The subject's date of birth.
• The reason for the request.
• Date of incident, kind of incident, name of the officer taking the report, if available.
• The proof of the requester's access to the public record.

A requester may also need to identify the court that handled the specific case with which the record-holder was involved. Criminal records may be accessed from the Fifth District Court by phone at (435) 986-5700 or via in-person queries at:

206, West Tabernacle St.
#100, St. George, Utah 84770.

Alternatively, requests may be made at the Washington County Justice Court, which handles misdemeanor cases and traffic offenses via phone at (435) 634-5728 or at:

#87 North, 200 East,
St. George, Utah 84770.

The Utah State government also offers a database of district court and justice court case details via the Utah Xchange: Public Case Search platform, which enables members of the public to search for public records, including criminal cases.

Washington County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While "Arrest records" and "Criminal records" are used interchangeably to refer to an individual's criminal history, they have their specific distinctions.

An arrest record is an official document that concisely details a person's contact with the legal system. Thus, it documents that a suspect was taken into custody by the police, indicating that the law enforcement officers had probable cause to believe that the arrestee had committed a crime.

On the other hand, a criminal record is a more detailed document about a person's criminal history. It outlines all arrests, charges, convictions, and the outcomes. However, the record does not provide details on the court dispositions or other related criminal information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. The State of Utah does not enforce a definite timeline for erasing an individual's arrest records. This implies that records of arrests remain perpetually visible to law enforcement agencies, specific employers, and some others who are legally allowed to review criminal histories. However, state law does permit eligible individuals to erase, seal, or expunge an arrest record.

Expunge Washington County Arrest Records

In Washington County, the law permits specific individuals to apply for the expungement of arrest records (Utah Code § 77-40-104). By expunging a record, every detail regarding the arrest, conviction, or criminal record becomes nullified, as if it never existed. Also, depending on the case, the expungement process may last up to a year or more. More information can be found in the Expunging Adult Criminal Records section of the Utah Courts website or by reviewing the Utah Code 77-40a-101(4) and Code Title 77, Chapter 40a, Part 2.

In Utah, an applicant is automatically eligible for expungement if there were no charges or convictions against the person by the law enforcement agency. Also, if there were charges filed that were dismissed with prejudice, or if the individual was acquitted at trial, then the individual can request expungement.

Washington County Arrest Warrants

A Washington County arrest warrant is an official document issued by a magistrate or judge that permits law enforcement officers to arrest a person believed to have committed a crime.

The Utah Code of Criminal Procedure states that a judge or magistrate may issue a warrant upon finding probable cause to believe the suspect has committed a public offense.

Typically, the arrest warrant will comprise the following:

• The full name of the individual to be arrested, or if unknown, a concise description ample enough to identify the person;
• The offense charged;
• The place and time of the issuance;
• The judge or magistrate's signature;
• Washington County Arrest Warrant Search.

Interested members of the public can conduct arrest warrant searches in Washington County by visiting the sheriff's station of the local police department with a valid ID and information regarding the warrant. The County has no online search databases for information about arrest warrants, so all requests must be made in person or via mail.

Do Washington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Typically, arrest warrants in Washington County, Utah, do not expire. Thus, they are active until recalled by a court or executed. This implies that when a warrant is issued, law enforcement officers may execute it at any time.

Moreover, certain factors affect the duration of a Washington County arrest warrant. These include:

• The type of warrant (felony or misdemeanor)
• Statute of limitations, including before and after the issuance.
• Bench warrants.