Washington County Criminal History Lookup
Washington County criminal history records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and the Fifth District Court in St. George. With about 190,000 residents, Washington County is the fastest-growing county in Utah. St. George serves as the county seat and the administrative hub for the region. Criminal history records in Washington County are generally public under Utah's GRAMA law. This page explains where to find records, how to request them, and which online tools cover Washington County.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Sheriff Criminal History Records
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is responsible for criminal history records in the unincorporated areas of the county. The office handles patrol, investigations, community policing, and record maintenance for Washington County. The office also operates the county jail and processes all arrests that occur within its jurisdiction. Arrest records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office and governed by the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act.
The Purgatory Correctional Facility is the main jail in Washington County. The facility is located at 750 S 5300 W, Hurricane, UT 84737. The facility was built in 1952 and operates with a capacity for 160 detainees staffed by 187 officers and support staff. The booking process at Purgatory includes photographing and fingerprinting arrested individuals. A daily booking report is available showing persons booked within the past 24 hours. Washington County recently removed housing location information from public inmate listings for security purposes, though basic booking data remains available.
Washington County has notable programs including a Search and Rescue team and a Drug Task Force. These units generate criminal history records that flow through the Sheriff's Office record-keeping system. You can contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office to inquire about available records and how to submit a GRAMA request for criminal history documentation.
Note: Arrest records are maintained by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and follow GRAMA rules. Records may be restricted if they involve ongoing investigations, juveniles, or other protected categories under Utah Code § 63G-2-302.
Fifth District Court Washington County Criminal History
The Fifth District Court in St. George serves as the primary judicial authority for Washington County. The court handles civil and criminal cases including felonies, serious misdemeanors, family law, and probate matters. All criminal case filings, hearings, verdicts, and sentencing orders for Washington County become court records once entered into the system. Juvenile Court matters are handled at a separate facility to protect privacy.
Criminal history in Washington County court records is searchable through the XChange Public Case Search at $30 per month. This database covers Fifth District Court records and lets you search by party name or case number. Free basic case information is available at casesearch.utcourts.gov through the MyCase portal. Public access terminals at the St. George courthouse provide in-person access during business hours. Records requests require completion of the appropriate form and payment of fees. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page.
The Fifth District Court follows GRAMA procedures for all records requests. Call the court clerk in advance to confirm current hours and fees before visiting in person.
Statewide Washington County Criminal History at BCI
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification is the official statewide repository for criminal history records including Washington County. BCI is located at 4315 South 2700 West, Suite 1300, Taylorsville, UT 84129, phone (801) 965-4445. All county agencies in Washington County report criminal history to BCI, making it the most comprehensive source for a full background check.
BCI offers three types of searches as of July 2025. Your own record costs $20. A name and date of birth check costs $20. A fingerprint-based search also costs $20. An expungement certificate from BCI costs $65. You must present a valid photo ID for any in-person request. Acceptable IDs include a driver's license, state ID, passport, or consulate ID. Third-party requests require a completed release form with the receiving address. Both in-person and mail requests are accepted.
Note: BCI records reflect criminal history from all 29 Utah counties, so a Washington County check may also show records from other jurisdictions for the same individual.
GRAMA and Washington County Public Records
Washington County public records are all written, audio, and video materials generated, used, or stored by local government agencies. Any person can access these records under Utah Code § 63G-2-201, provided there are no legal exemptions. Vital records in Washington County fall under restriction and may only be viewed by eligible requesters such as close relatives, legal representatives, or the person named in the record. Criminal history, court filings, and arrest records are generally available to the public.
Record copy costs in Washington County range from $5 to $30 depending on the type and whether they are certified copies. Standard GRAMA fees include $20 per hour for research after the first 15 minutes and $0.25 per page for basic copies. Agencies must respond within 10 business days. For records from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, write your request and send it to the appropriate records officer. For court records, contact the Fifth District Court clerk in St. George. For statewide warrant information, use the free database at secure.utah.gov/warrants.
State Corrections Records for Washington County
The Utah Department of Corrections offender search provides free public access to individuals serving sentences in state facilities for Washington County convictions. This tool shows current custody status, facility assignment, and basic case information. Search by first and last name or offender ID number. The tool is updated regularly and covers all state facilities in Utah.
The Corrections Records Bureau is located at 14717 South Minuteman Drive, Draper, UT 84020, phone (801) 545-5525. For individuals at the county jail level, contact the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane directly. The facility handles the booking process for Washington County and maintains booking records that include the arrest date, charges, bail amounts, and custody status.
Utah Criminal Identification Act and Washington County
The Utah Criminal Identification Act at Utah Code Title 53, Chapter 10 sets the legal framework for how Washington County criminal history is collected, stored, and shared. Under Section 53-10-108, BCI is the designated statewide repository. Washington County agencies including the Sheriff's Office and the Fifth District Court report criminal history data to BCI as required by this law.
The law defines what information must be included in a criminal history report and who can access different levels of data. Public records include arrest data and court dispositions. More detailed background check information may require additional authorization. The Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov has a research guide for locating historical criminal records that may include older Washington County cases not yet digitized.
Note: Washington County is one of Utah's fastest-growing areas. Criminal history data from the county is regularly updated as new cases are filed and dispositions are entered into the state system.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes St. George and other growing communities. Criminal history records for city residents may also be held by municipal police departments within Washington County.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders Iron, Garfield, and Kane counties in Utah, and also borders Nevada and Arizona. Each jurisdiction maintains its own criminal history records through local agencies and courts.