Whether you are applying for a job, a volunteer opportunity, a place to live, or even to adopt a child, you may be requested to share your criminal history. This can be scary if the crimes of your past no longer define who you are today. It’s natural to worry what might still be on your criminal history and how the person requesting it might interpret the information. Below are some questions you may have if you need to provide a criminal background check and what to do if you need help challenging the results or expunging your record.
For background checks in Utah, there are two main entities that provide criminal background checks:
Yes. You can request a copy of your Utah criminal history and/or a copy of your fingerprint-based identity history from the FBI.
You can request your Utah criminal history from the BCI in two ways.
If you want to request your criminal history in person, the Utah BCI office is located in Salt Lake City:
3888 West 5400 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84129
Phone: 801-965-4445
If you want to apply through the mail, you need to print and complete the form available on the BCI website and return it in the mail along with your fee.
This process is a little more involved because it requires you to submit a copy of your fingerprints. There are three options for requesting your FBI identity summary:
*FBI-approved channelers may charge an additional fee and may have different processing times.
If you apply for an identity check from the FBI, the cost is $18.
If you apply for a Utah criminal history check, the cost is $15.
Under Utah law, only certain businesses and organizations can request your criminal background check directly from the state or FBI databases. These entities are those that work with the following interests:
Important: While approved entities who work with the interests above can request your data directly, any other private entity has the option to ask you to request your own background check and share the results with them.
Before your information is shared by Utah or the FBI, the organization requesting your information must get a signed waiver from you.
The waiver will include information about who will see the information and how that information will be used. Additionally, you have the right to view and challenge the results of your background check. But Utah law prohibits the organization making the request from giving you a copy. If you want a copy, you must go through the process to obtain your report yourself.
If you believe there are errors in your record, you can challenge the results or potentially go through the process of expunging your record. In either case, it will be beneficial to get the help of an experienced defense lawyer. The lawyers at Brown, Bradshaw & Moffat have decades of experience contesting inaccurate information and expunging records to help people clear up past crimes and live easier as free citizens.
If you have questions about your criminal history check or how to expunge your record, contact us at (801) 532-5297 to get started.
Use the form above to request your free, confidential case evaluation. Our office will contact you as soon as possible to arrange for you to discuss the facts of your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Note: By submitting the above form, you are requesting a free and confidential consultation with one of our attorneys to discuss the specific facts of your case. We will evaluate your unique situation and provide you with valuable information about how an attorney may be able to help you. Please do not provide any confidential or time-sensitive information using this online contact form. If your situation is urgent, please call us at (801) 532-5297. We look forward to hearing from you.
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