Criminal History in Cottonwood Heights
Cottonwood Heights criminal history records are held by the Cottonwood Heights Police Department, the Third District Court, and the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification. Cottonwood Heights is a Salt Lake County city of about 35,000 residents that incorporated in 2008. It sits at the mouth of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, just southeast of Salt Lake City. Criminal cases from Cottonwood Heights go through the Third District Court. This page explains how to search criminal history in Cottonwood Heights, request local police records, and use statewide background check resources.
Cottonwood Heights Quick Facts
Cottonwood Heights Police Criminal Records
The Cottonwood Heights Police Department Records Division processes all police records requests for the city. The division is at 2277 E Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121. Phone is (801) 943-2462. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Records can be requested in person, by mail, or online. Most requests are processed within 10 business days. Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all requests.
All police records requests in Cottonwood Heights follow the GRAMA process under Utah Code § 63G-2-201. You submit a written request describing the records with specific detail, including incident dates, names of people involved, and case numbers when available. The City Recorder coordinates general city records requests, while the Police Department handles police-specific GRAMA requests directly. Fees are charged for copies and staff time when applicable.
Cottonwood Heights was incorporated in 2008, making it one of the newer cities in Salt Lake County. Before incorporation, the area was served by Salt Lake County and the Unified Police Department. Records from before 2008 related to Cottonwood Heights-area incidents may be held by the Salt Lake County Sheriff or the Unified Police Department rather than the Cottonwood Heights Police Department. The city's records division can help you identify where older records are held.
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act governs all public records requests across the state, including requests made to Cottonwood Heights. GRAMA sets response time requirements and defines which records are public, private, or protected.
How to Find Cottonwood Heights Criminal History
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification is the primary source for statewide criminal history. BCI at 4315 South 2700 West Suite 1300, Taylorsville, UT 84129, maintains records from law enforcement agencies across Utah, including Cottonwood Heights. The phone number is (801) 965-4445. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A right of access check costs $20. Name and date of birth checks are $20. Fingerprint checks are also $20 and are more thorough.
Court records for Cottonwood Heights cases are at the Third District Court, which covers all of Salt Lake County. The free Utah Courts MyCase portal at casesearch.utcourts.gov lets you search case information at no charge. The XChange subscription at utcourts.gov/xchange provides full document access for $30 per month. In-person searches are available at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City during regular business hours.
The Utah Department of Corrections offender search at corrections.utah.gov/offender-search covers people currently in state custody or on probation and parole. This is useful for Cottonwood Heights cases where the person received a state prison sentence or is on state supervision.
Note: Because Cottonwood Heights is in Salt Lake County, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office at slco.org/sheriff also holds records for county-wide law enforcement activities that may include Cottonwood Heights area incidents where county deputies responded.
Cottonwood Heights Court Records
Criminal cases from Cottonwood Heights are heard at the Third District Court, the Salt Lake County district court. This court handles felony cases and serious misdemeanors for all of Salt Lake County. Minor misdemeanor and infraction cases may go through the Salt Lake County Justice Court. All court records are public under GRAMA unless sealed by court order. You can search online or visit the clerk's office in person.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 South State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 |
| Phone | (801) 238-7300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | utcourts.gov |
Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the courthouse. Staff can help you look up case files by name or case number. Certified copies of court documents cost more than plain copies. The court clerk can confirm what records are available and current fees before you complete any payment.
Background Checks for Cottonwood Heights Residents
Cottonwood Heights residents can request a copy of their own criminal history record from BCI under the right of access provision. You complete a Criminal History Record Application, provide fingerprints at a law enforcement agency or at BCI's office, and pay $20. The Cottonwood Heights Police Department can assist with fingerprinting. Results are mailed to the address on the application. BCI does not send results electronically.
The Utah Criminal Identification Act at § 53-10-108 governs BCI's collection and release of criminal history data. BCI's database includes arrests and convictions reported by law enforcement across Utah, including Cottonwood Heights. A fingerprint-based check confirms identity more precisely than a name and date of birth check, which can produce confusion when names are similar or have changed.
Expungement in Cottonwood Heights
Utah's Clean Slate law has been in effect since February 2022. Cottonwood Heights residents with eligible convictions may qualify for automatic record sealing without filing a petition. Visit utcourts.gov/howto/expunge to review the eligibility criteria and understand whether your case qualifies under the automatic process or requires a formal petition.
For convictions that need a petition, get a Certificate of Eligibility from BCI for $65. The court filing fee is $135. File your petition at the Third District Court in Salt Lake City. Once the judge grants the expungement, BCI, the Third District Court, and the Cottonwood Heights Police Department all update their records. The sealed conviction will no longer appear in most criminal history searches in Utah after the order is entered.
Violent felonies, sex offenses, and certain DUI convictions do not qualify for expungement in Utah. The Third District Court clerk at (801) 238-7300 can answer questions about specific cases. BCI can also confirm what currently appears in your criminal history before you begin the petition process.
Note: Expungement timelines in Utah require completing your full sentence and waiting a set period before you can apply, with the waiting period varying based on the severity of the offense.
Warrant Records in Cottonwood Heights
Warrants from Cottonwood Heights cases appear in the Utah statewide warrant database at secure.utah.gov/warrants. The tool searches by name across all Utah jurisdictions. Bench warrants issued by the Third District Court and arrest warrants from the Cottonwood Heights Police Department both appear here once entered by the issuing agency.
If you find a warrant in your name, contact the Cottonwood Heights Police Department at (801) 943-2462 or the Third District Court clerk at (801) 238-7300. Addressing the warrant directly is the most effective approach. The court may allow you to appear voluntarily and schedule a hearing, which avoids an unexpected arrest. Warrants do not expire and can result in arrest at any time, so do not delay resolving one.
GRAMA and Public Records in Cottonwood Heights
Cottonwood Heights City handles GRAMA requests through the City Recorder's Office. Under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, all Utah residents have the right to request public records from government agencies in writing. General city records go to the City Recorder. Police records requests go to the Cottonwood Heights Police Department Records Division at (801) 943-2462.
Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or through the Utah State Open Records Portal online. The city has 10 business days to respond to standard requests and 5 days for expedited requests with documentation of urgency or public benefit. Fees are charged for copies and research time as applicable under state law. If a request is denied, you may appeal to the State Records Committee.
Because Cottonwood Heights is in Salt Lake County, Salt Lake County government records are also relevant for some criminal history research. The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Third District Court both hold records relevant to Cottonwood Heights residents. Start your broader search at BCI and then narrow your focus to the appropriate local agency based on what you need.
Salt Lake County Criminal History Resources
Cottonwood Heights is in Salt Lake County. For county-level criminal history resources, court contacts, and background check information, visit the Salt Lake County criminal history page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Neighboring cities in Salt Lake County use the Third District Court and their own police departments for criminal records. Pick a city below to find criminal history resources in that area.