Idaho Criminal Court Records

    Please enter a valid first name
    Please enter a valid last name

    IdahoStateCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on IdahoStateCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

    Idaho criminal court records are the official documentation of criminal case prosecutions. They serve to protect due process and promote transparency within the judicial system. These records ensure that courts, litigants, the public, and researchers can monitor the administration of justice.

    The Idaho Judiciary, specifically the district courts and magistrate divisions, maintains custody of criminal court records generated in the state. Idaho statutes and court rules govern access to these records.

    Are Criminal Court Records Public in Idaho?

    Yes. In Idaho, criminal court records are open to the public under the Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32. This rule permits the public to inspect or duplicate court records, except where otherwise stated. This presumption of openness supports accountability in the criminal justice system and ensures the public can monitor the operation of the courts.

    Categories of records typically restricted from public access include

    • Sealed or expunged information
    • Sensitive information, like financial account numbers
    • Juvenile court proceedings
    • Mental health evaluations
    • Medical records
    • Victim identifying details, especially those of victims of sexual or violent crimes

    What Criminal Court Records Contain in Idaho

    Criminal court records in Idaho are structured to document the progress and outcome of a prosecution. The information available in public-facing records typically includes

    • Case numbers
    • Names of the parties (defendants and prosecuting authorities)
    • Criminal charges filed
    • Dockets, reflecting case hearings, filings, events, and actions of the court
    • Calendars of scheduled hearings or trial dates
    • Court rulings and orders
    • Jury verdicts
    • Sentencing information, including fines, probation, or incarceration terms
    • Appellate court actions, if the case proceeds beyond the trial court system

    Idaho Criminal Court Records Search

    Criminal court records in Idaho may be located through multiple channels, depending on the level of the court and the type of case. The primary statewide resource is the iCourt Portal, which the Idaho Judicial Branch manages. Through this portal, users can search for criminal case records by case number, party name, or filing date.

    For county-level access, Idaho's district and magistrate courts provide records through the same iCourt system, although some instances may only be available at the courthouse. Criminal opinions published by Idaho's Supreme Court and Court of Appeals can also be located online. At the time of publishing, there is no appellate case tool maintained by the Idaho Judiciary.

    In-person searches are available at the courthouse clerk's offices. Public terminals provide access to registers of actions, calendars, and other case information. Requests for physical or certified copies may be made directly to the clerk, subject to the applicable copy and certification fees.

    Free Access to Criminal Court Records in Idaho

    Free access to criminal court records in Idaho is available through both online and in-person avenues. The iCourt portal allows free searching and viewing of registers of action, hearings, and calendars. Public terminals at the Clerk's Office provide similar no-cost access to electronic case records.

    However, this access is limited. Older case files may not be digitized and, therefore, require manual retrieval. Supporting exhibits, transcripts, or certified copies carry mandatory fees. Fee waivers are available for qualifying individuals, as permitted by governing laws or regulations.

    Sealing and Expungement of Criminal Court Records in Idaho

    Idaho law distinguishes between sealing, shielding, and expungement of criminal court records.

    Sealing: In Idaho, nonconviction records may be sealed, or access to them restricted, as per I.C. 67-3004(10). This statute allows for the expungement of fingerprints and criminal history records, and the sealing of the official court file, for individuals who were arrested/served with a criminal summons but not subsequently charged within one year, or who were acquitted or had all charges dismissed.

    Shielding: This was introduced more recently through the Clean Slate Act, codified in I.C. 67-3004(11). Under this law, some convictions become eligible for shielding from public disclosure (i.e., treated "as though never occurred" in public view) if specific criteria are met.

    Expungement: Under Idaho law, this is more limited. It generally does not apply to convictions (except via Clean Slate shielding). Instead:

    • Under I.C. 67-3004(10), nonconviction records may be expunged via a written request to the Idaho State Police, and court files may be sealed accordingly.
    • Juvenile adjudications may be expunged under the Juvenile Corrections Act (I.C. 20-525A) and I.J.R. 28. When granted, records will be sealed and treated as though they never occurred for public purposes.

    Expungement under § 20-525A is subject to statutory limits and exclusions for serious offenses, subsequent offenses, and pending charges.

    How to Seal Criminal Court Records in Idaho

    The process of sealing criminal court records in Idaho is governed by I.C. 67-3004(10) and I.C.A.R. 32(i).

    1. Eligibility: Sealing is available when no charges are filed within one year, or when all charges are dismissed or an acquittal is entered. Cases dismissed under I.C. 9-2604(1) are excluded.
    2. Petition Filing: A written petition must be filed in the court that handled the case. The petition should cite the relevant statute(s) and provide detailed case information.
    3. Service on Prosecutor: The prosecuting attorney must be served with the petition. Proof of service is filed with the court.
    4. Court Hearing: A judge may hold a hearing to review statutory compliance and consider the arguments presented. Some petitions may be resolved without a hearing.
    5. Court Order: If granted, the order directs the court clerk to seal the file and remove references from public indices. A special nonpublic index is retained as required by law.

    Filing fees may be assessed, but fee waivers may be available to indigent applicants.

    How to Expunge a Criminal Record in Idaho

    Expungement in Idaho is limited to nonconvictions under Idaho Code 67-3004(10), shielding of certain convictions under Idaho Code 67-3004(11), and juvenile cases under Idaho Code 20-525A and Idaho Juvenile Rule 28.

    • Eligibility: Nonconviction records may be expunged if no charges were filed, all charges were dismissed, or an acquittal was entered. Juvenile expungement and Clean Slate shielding have separate statutory criteria.
    • Petition Filing: File a written petition in the original court (or submit the required form to the Idaho State Police, if applicable, such as for nonconvictions). The petition must cite the relevant statute and include supporting documentation to substantiate claims.
    • Service on Prosecutor: For convictions, the prosecuting attorney must be notified of the petition. In juvenile cases, all agencies holding records must be served.
    • Court Hearing: The court may hold a hearing to decide the matter. Hearings are common for shielding petitions and juvenile expungements.
    • Court Order: If an expungement is granted, the court will enter an order to seal or expunge the relevant records. The Idaho State Police will be notified to update criminal history files accordingly. While these records will be removed from public access, they will still be accessible to law enforcement.

    Criminal Records in Idaho vs Court Records

    Criminal records and court records are distinct documents in Idaho.

    • Criminal records are comprehensive histories maintained by the Idaho State Police's Bureau of Criminal Identification. They include arrests, charges, dispositions, and incarcerations reported statewide.
    • Court records are the case information, documents, and files created during a prosecution. These are maintained by the Idaho Judiciary.

    Requesting an Idaho Criminal History Record

    Idaho criminal history records, also known as RAP sheets, are maintained by the Idaho State Police's Bureau of Criminal Identification. Under Idaho Code 67-3008, individuals may request their own records. Public access to another person's records is restricted except for authorized entities such as law enforcement and licensing agencies.

    Requests must include a completed form, fingerprints, and a $20 fee, as outlined by the Idaho State Police (Idaho BCI Criminal History Checks). Results are sent directly to the requester.

    How to Request an Idaho State Background Check

    The Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification manages the official criminal history database. Background checks can be sought by subjects, employers, licensing agencies, and other qualifying entities. The two methods available include

    Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Check

    This method offers the highest accuracy, directly comparing prints with state and FBI records. To retrieve these records, the subject will need to submit a complete set of inked and rolled fingerprints on an Applicant Fingerprint Card, a Fingerprint-Based Criminal Background Check Form (including the Payment Authorization Form), and the required payment. It costs $20 per request, but an additional $1 plus 2.5% of the total transaction applies for payments made via credit/debit card.

    The Fingerprint Card can be obtained from the BCI or an authorized provider. Fingerprint cards must include the record subject's name (print), alias names (including maiden & former married names), current address, citizenship, descriptive data, date of birth, place of birth, the reason for fingerprinting, and the subject's signature.

    Name-Based Criminal History Check

    When fingerprinting is not feasible, a name-based check may be requested. However, it is a less reliable option because it relies on personal identifiers rather than biometric matching.

    Steps include:

    • Complete the Name-Based Criminal Background Check Form, available via the BCI website.
    • Pay the $20 processing fee (plus any additional charges).
    • Submit the form.
    • BCI reviews available records and returns results to the requesting entity. Because name-based checks cannot accurately confirm identity, results cannot be certified.

    Active vs Archived Criminal Cases in Idaho

    Criminal case records in Idaho are managed differently depending on whether the matter is active or archived.

    Active Cases: Managed directly by trial courts, active cases are listed on district and magistrate court calendars. These can be accessed via the Idaho iCourt Portal or, at no cost, through public terminals in clerk's offices, which also provide access to registers of actions and docket updates.

    Archived Cases: These are closed criminal case files that have been moved to an archives center for permanent storage. Each judicial district adheres to court-established record retention schedules, which dictate the minimum time before case records can be preserved (as original documents, microfilm, or other media) or destroyed.

    Archived records may be transferred to county-controlled archival facilities. Certain permanent and inactive documents with legal, administrative, or historical significance may also be sent to the Idaho State Archives, in accordance with Idaho Code 67-4126. To retrieve these records, a written request can be submitted to the court clerk or the archives; however, fees and longer processing times may apply.