Expungements

Utah’s Clean Slate law started on February 10, 2022. It allows the courts to automatically clear certain misdemeanor records. These include Class A drug possession charges, some Class B and Class C misdemeanors, minor rule violations, and infractions.  Learn more about Clean Slate.  

People with serious criminal offenses that are eligible for expungement will still need to go through the traditional petition-based process.  A new online, community resource for people who do not qualify for “Clean Slate” can be found within the Salt Lake County’s Expungement Tool Kit.

1. You must first get a certificate of eligibility from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) before you can file a request to clear your records. Your approval is based on your full criminal history, not only what BCI has on file. BCI will run a full background check, including records from other states and any past expungements. They will mail you a letter saying whether you are approved or denied.BCI is located at 4315 South 2700 West in Taylorsville, Utah. Their phone number is (801) 965‑4445. To begin, you can download the Expungement Application Form from the Department of Public Safety website. BCI charges a fee for the background check and the certificate.
2. Once you get your certificate from BCI, bring it to the Salt Lake City Justice Court within 180 days of the date it was issued. You must file the certificate along with your petition. The process may include these fees:
   • Filing a petition for expungement: $135
   • Certified copy of an extra expungement order: $6
3. You must select the packet that applies to the disposition of your case, and click on the packet link below.
   • Petition to Expunge Records with Certificate of Eligibility
   • Petition to Expunge Records – Traffic Conviction
   • Petition to Expunge Records – Cannabis Conviction Packet
4. Please fill out all the forms and turn them in to the court. Only sign the petition. Do not sign the order, because the judge must sign that part.
5. Under Utah’s Rule of Criminal Procedure 42, the court must send a copy of your petition to the prosecutor. The prosecutor will review it and send a response to you and to the court. You should get a response within 35 days.
6. Once the court gets the prosecutor’s response, the judicial assistant will send your completed packet to the judge for final review and a decision. After the judge signs the order, you will get a phone call or an email letting you know that your copy is ready to pick up. You are responsible for picking up your documents as soon as possible. The court will also notify BCI about the order, but you should keep your own copy in case any problems come up later.

Legal Resources

Utah State Courts Self-Help Resources
Utah Free Legal Answers

Click here for a jurisdictional map.

ADA Accommodation

ADA Notice:  If you are a party to a case, a witness or a possible juror and you need special accommodations (including communication aids and services) during an upcoming proceeding, please call the Salt Lake City Justice Court at (801)535-6300 at least three business days before the proceeding