St. George Criminal Records and Background Check
St. George is the largest city in Washington County and a fast-growing hub in southern Utah, with roughly 90,000 residents. A background check for St. George draws on records from the St. George Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff, the Fifth District Court, and the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. This guide explains where those records are held, what each source contains, and how to request background check information in St. George.
St. George Quick Facts
St. George Police Department Records Division
The St. George Police Department's Records Division manages all police reports, accident reports, fingerprint cards, citations, and other records generated by the department. The Records Unit sits within the department's Administrative Services Division alongside the Evidence Unit, Public Information Officer, and Background Investigator. Records staff provide clerical support for the entire department's paper and digital record flow.
To request records from St. George Police, visit the St. George Police Department website. The image below shows the department's public-facing records and background check access information.
GRAMA governs all record releases. St. George Police must respond within 10 business days. To check the status of a pending request, call the Records Division at (435) 627-4301. That number also handles questions about what records exist and what documentation is needed for release.
St. George Police Records Request Fees and Process
The St. George Police Department charges fees for records based on the type and volume of material requested. Staff time is billed at $18.82 per hour, with the first 15 minutes free. Black and white copies are $0.25 per page. Color copies are $0.50 per page. Photographs cost $5.00 per CD. Dispatch audio recordings are billed at $47.43 per hour of staff time to process and produce.
The St. George Police Records Division page provides current fee schedules, forms, and submission instructions. You can submit requests in person, by mail, or by using the contact information on the department's records page. The image below illustrates the records division resources accessible to St. George residents for background check purposes.
For accident reports, the Records Division holds the full crash report including diagrams, witness statements, and officer narratives. These are commonly requested in connection with civil matters and background check searches.
Note: Records tied to active criminal investigations are protected under GRAMA and will not be released until the investigation closes or is otherwise resolved by the department.
Getting a St. George Background Check Through BCI
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification provides the most comprehensive statewide criminal history search available in Utah. BCI compiles records from all law enforcement agencies across the state, including St. George Police and the Washington County Sheriff. For a personal background check, Utah residents can use the Right of Access provision.
BCI is located at 4315 S 2700 W, Suite 1300, Taylorsville, UT 84129. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone: (801) 965-4445. As of July 2025, the Right of Access fee is $20. Submit requests in person or by mail. The BCI Criminal Records page covers required forms and current processing times. The governing statute is Utah Code Section 53-10-108.
For records that are specific to St. George and not captured at the state level, contact St. George Police Records Division directly. Local incident reports and citations may contain more detail than what BCI holds at the statewide level.
Fifth District Court Records for St. George Cases
The Fifth District Court serves Washington County and handles criminal cases for St. George and surrounding communities. Felony charges, serious misdemeanors, and civil matters all go through the Fifth District. Court records include criminal complaints, hearing schedules, plea entries, trial transcripts, judgments, and sentencing orders.
Utah Courts offers two public-access tools for searching court records. MyCourtCase is free and supports name-based case lookups. It returns case numbers, hearing dates, and current case status without requiring a subscription. XChange provides deeper document access on a subscription basis. Both tools are maintained by Utah Courts and pull from the same database.
Most completed Fifth District cases appear in these online tools. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and expunged matters are excluded from public searches regardless of the tool used. For records not found online, contact the Fifth District Court clerk directly.
Washington County Sheriff Records and Inmate Search
The Washington County Sheriff serves the broader county area, including unincorporated communities and smaller cities near St. George. The Sheriff maintains arrest records, jail rosters, booking histories, and warrant data. These records complement St. George Police files and extend background check coverage beyond city boundaries.
Visit the Washington County website for Sheriff contact information, inmate search tools, and GRAMA request procedures. The Sheriff's inmate lookup tool shows current bookings, charges, and release status. Outstanding warrants are also tracked through the Sheriff's records system and accessible to law enforcement statewide through the Statewide Warrant file.
Records the Washington County Sheriff maintains for background check purposes include:
- Current and historical inmate booking records
- Outstanding arrest warrants
- Arrest records for unincorporated Washington County
- Jail docket and release information
- Sex offender registration data
- GRAMA records for county law enforcement
For written records requests from the Sheriff's office, follow the standard GRAMA process. The 10-business-day response timeline applies to Washington County as it does to all Utah government agencies.
Criminal History and Background Check Details for St. George
A St. George background check can draw on three or more separate systems. BCI holds the compiled statewide criminal history. St. George Police records contain local incident detail. Fifth District Court records show judicial outcomes. Washington County Sheriff records extend coverage to county-wide arrests.
St. George is one of Utah's fastest-growing cities. Its records reflect a growing and diverse population. Recent records are more likely to appear in digital databases. Older records from the 1990s and earlier may require a written request to the relevant agency. Court records have been digitized further back than most police records, so court searches often return older case data.
When reading a background check result, note that charges and convictions are different things. An arrest record does not mean the person was convicted. Look for the final case disposition in the court record. Charges that were dismissed, not prosecuted, or resolved with a not-guilty verdict do not constitute a criminal conviction under Utah law.
GRAMA Records Requests in St. George
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act applies to all St. George city agencies including the police department. Under Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2, any person may request public records. Agencies must respond within 10 business days by providing the records, issuing a written denial, or notifying you of a delay due to extraordinary circumstances.
GRAMA requests can be submitted to the St. George Police Records Division by calling (435) 627-4301, visiting in person, or mailing a written request. You can also use the Utah GRAMA Portal to submit online and track your request status. The portal works for both city and county agencies across Utah.
You do not need to state a reason for requesting public records. If you are the subject of a record, you may be entitled to additional materials not available to outside requesters. Fees vary based on the volume of records and staff time required. The first 15 minutes of staff time at St. George Police are free. After that, time is billed at $18.82 per hour.
Expungement of St. George Criminal Records
Eligible residents with St. George criminal records may seek expungement under Utah Code Title 77, Chapter 40a. A successful expungement seals the record from public access, including standard background check results. The process is managed through BCI and the Fifth District Court.
Waiting periods under state law begin from the date of conviction or release from supervision. DUI offenses require 10 years. Felony convictions require 7 years. Class A misdemeanors require 5 years. Class B misdemeanors require 4 years. Class C misdemeanors and infractions require 3 years. Some offense categories cannot be expunged regardless of how much time has passed.
The process begins at BCI with an application for a Certificate of Eligibility. The current cost is $65 per offense. Visit the BCI Expungements page for the application, instructions, and current processing times. After BCI issues the certificate, file a petition with the Fifth District Court. If the judge grants expungement, BCI seals the record and notifies the St. George Police Department, Washington County Sheriff, and other relevant agencies to update their files accordingly.
Note: After expungement is granted, individuals may legally respond "no" when asked about the expunged matter on most applications, with limited exceptions defined by state law.
Washington County Background Check Records
St. George sits within Washington County, and county-level records are central to any thorough background check search in the area. The Washington County Sheriff, Fifth District Court, and BCI all serve Washington County. A county background check search returns records from St. George as well as Washington City, Hurricane, and other nearby communities.
Nearby Utah Cities
Search background check records for other cities near St. George.