Salt Lake City Bench Warrants
Salt Lake City bench warrants are issued when a person does not show up for a court date or fails to meet a court order. These warrant filings come from the Salt Lake City Justice Court and the Third District Court. You can search for active warrants through the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification or at the county courthouse. The local police department also keeps warrant records. This page covers how to look up bench warrants, where to go, and what to know about the court warrant process here.
Salt Lake City Police Warrant Records
The Salt Lake City Police Department is at 475 South 300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Warrant records are available here. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. You can call the GRAMA Coordinator at (801) 799-3871 to ask about bench warrant records. Officers work with the courts to serve bench warrants once they are issued. If you want a copy of a warrant or case file, you need to file a GRAMA request under Utah Code 63G-2.
This department handles law enforcement for the city. Officers carry out bench warrants issued by local courts. Court-ordered warrants go into the statewide system right away. Any law enforcement officer in Utah can then act on it. A bench warrant from here is not just a local matter. It can lead to arrest anywhere in the state. Warrants stay active until resolved.
Police records staff can help you find out if a bench warrant is on file. Bring a valid photo ID. The department accepts a current US driver's license, passport, or military ID. You can also submit a written warrant request by mail.
How Bench Warrants Work in Salt Lake City
A bench warrant is a court order. A judge issues it from the bench. In Salt Lake City, bench warrants come up most often when someone misses a court date. They also arise when a person does not pay a fine or ignores a court order. Under Utah Code 77-7, law enforcement can arrest a person on a bench warrant at any time. These warrants have no expiration date. They remain enforceable until resolved.
Bench warrants here do not go away on their own. They stay active until a judge recalls them or the person appears in court. If you have an outstanding warrant, you could be stopped at a traffic check or picked up at your home. Warrants show up in police databases across the state. They can also appear on background checks. Many residents do not know they have a bench warrant until they are pulled over for something else.
Salt Lake City Justice Court at 2001 South State Street, S4200, Salt Lake City, UT 84190 handles most bench warrants for city cases. Call the court at (385) 468-8600 to check on a case. This court deals with Class B and C misdemeanors, traffic cases, and city code violations. Missing your court date here means a bench warrant will be issued.
Note: Bench warrants issued in this area are entered into a statewide database, so they can be served by any officer in Utah.
Courts That Issue Salt Lake City Warrants
Two main courts serve this area. Salt Lake City Justice Court handles less serious cases. The Third District Court handles felonies and more serious charges. Both courts issue bench warrants. Each court type covers different offense levels.
You can look up case details through the Utah Courts XChange system. Search by name or case number. You will see case status, court dates, and whether a bench warrant is active. Cases from Salt Lake City show up alongside all other Utah court records. XChange is one of the fastest ways to check for active warrants tied to local courts.
You can submit a records request to the city through the Salt Lake City GRAMA portal. This covers city records including warrant information held by city departments. Be specific in your request. Staff need enough detail to locate the bench warrant records.
This GRAMA portal is a good option if you need written proof of a bench warrant or court record. Staff will respond within 10 business days in most cases. Warrant records are public.
Check for Bench Warrants in Salt Lake City
There are a few ways to check for bench warrants here. You can search online, call the court, or visit in person. Each method works differently. Here is what you need to know.
The Utah BCI warrant check tool lets you search for active warrants across the state. This includes bench warrants from Salt Lake City courts. Use it from any computer or phone. Enter a name to search. Results show if a bench warrant is on file. This tool is run by the Bureau of Criminal Identification.
You can also check for active warrants by doing the following:
- Call the Salt Lake City Justice Court at (385) 468-8600
- Visit the court in person at 2001 South State Street
- Use the county sheriff inmate lookup tool
- Contact the county warrants line at (385) 468-9370
- Check the Utah Courts XChange online
The county inmate lookup tool shows who is in custody. If someone was picked up on a bench warrant here, they may show up in that system. It is free to use. No login is needed.
Inmate lookup shows current bookings only. It does not list all active bench warrants. Use the BCI tool for a full warrant search. You can also call the court directly.
Warrant Records Access
Bench warrant records here are public records under Utah law. GRAMA gives the public the right to request government records. This includes bench warrant filings and court documents. Some records may have private or protected parts. However, the basic facts of a bench warrant are open to the public.
To get warrant records from the police department, fill out a GRAMA form. You can do this online or in person at 475 South 300 East. Staff at the police records desk can help you fill one out. Wait time is 10 business days. A small fee may apply for copies of bench warrant records.
Note: Some bench warrant records may be sealed or restricted if the court case involves a minor or protected party.
Resolving Bench Warrants in Salt Lake City
If you have an active bench warrant, deal with it now. Do not ignore it. The warrant will stay in the system. You could be arrested at any time. Local courts offer a few paths to resolve bench warrants.
Go to Salt Lake City Justice Court and ask to see a judge. Tell the clerk you want to address a bench warrant. The court may set a new date. In some cases, the judge handles it the same day. Bail may apply. It depends on the charge and the reason the warrant was issued. Having a lawyer helps but is not required for most bench warrant cases in justice court.
More serious cases go through the Third District Court. You or your lawyer must file a motion to recall the bench warrant. A judge then decides if you can be released or must stay in custody. Felony bench warrants are handled with more care. The court may set conditions like bail or monitoring.
Acting fast matters. Warrants get harder to resolve over time. Courts tend to work with people who come in on their own. Waiting risks arrest. If police pick you up on a bench warrant, you have less control over the outcome.
Salt Lake County Bench Warrants
Salt Lake City is in Salt Lake County. The county sheriff handles many warrant operations for the area. For more about county-level bench warrants, court contacts, and warrant-related records, see the Salt Lake County bench warrants page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Other nearby cities also have their own bench warrant processes. Pick a city below to learn more.