Utah Misdemeanors

A misdemeanor is a criminal offense that has fewer consequences compared with a felony, which is a serious crime. Misdemeanors are nevertheless more serious than an infraction. Utah categorizes misdemeanors into three classes—Class A, Class B, and Class C, with maximum jail terms and fines set by statute.

Class A misdemeanors carried a 64-day jail term in the county jail and up to $2,500 in fines. Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to 6 months in jail and fines reaching up to $1,000. A person guilty of committing a Class C misdemeanor faces a jail time of up to 90 days and $750 in monetary fines. Many traffic cases are classified as infractions or non-criminal violations in which fines are imposed.

What Is a Misdemeanor in Utah?

Under Utah law, misdemeanors are crimes punishable in a local county jail (not a state prison). Infractions, which are common during traffic stops, carry no jail sentences and are not classified as criminal convictions. In Utah, misdemeanor encompasses crimes such as petty theft, certain types ofsimple assault, and first-offense DUI when not enhanced.

DUI is defined under Utah Code § 41-6a-502. Penalties attached to this crime, such as jail time, fines, home confinement, and ignition interlock device requirements, are outlined in § 41-6a-505. Some first-offense DUI charges may be reduced to an Impaired Driving offense under § 41-6a-502.5

Misdemeanor Classes and Penalties in Utah

In Utah, there are three categories of misdemeanors, each with its specific sentencing limits:

• Class A: It may lead to up to 364 days of jail time in addition to a fine reaching upto $2,500.
• Class B: Offenders are subject to serving a jail time of up to6 months, including paying up to a $1,000 fine.
• Class C: This carries a jail time reaching up to 90 days and up to $750 in fines.

Courts may impose probation, restitution, treatment, no-contact orders, community service, and assessments within the Sentencing Guidelines and the Uniform Fine Schedule (guidance for judges). Most traffic violations fall under infractions or Class Cmisdemeanors and are often resolved with fines alone. Furthermore, more serious driving offenses such as DUIs carry enhanced penalties and statute-specific consequences.

DUI snapshot. A first-time DUI conviction in Utah typically carries mandatory penalties (jail or home confinement, fines, evaluation, and license sanctions). These penalties are specified under § 41-6a-505. In certain cases, first-time DUI cases may be reduced to Impaired Driving under§ 41-6a-502.5 depending on the court’s discretion.

Misdemeanor Court Process in Utah

Justice Courts (city/county) handle Class B and C misdemeanors, infractions, and local ordinance violations within their boundaries. These courts handle a high volume of misdemeanor cases within their jurisdiction.

District Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction and hear Class A misdemeanors and all felonies. They also review appeals from justice courts.

Jury size. Utah employs smaller juries compared with many states. A criminal case with a potential maximum sentence of six months or less (typical in Class B and C misdemeanors) is tried before a four-person jury. More serious misdemeanors may involve six juries, and felonies are tried before eight juries. Capital cases require the presence of twelve jurors before resolution is finalized.

Appeals. A defendant convicted in a Justice Court may appeal to a District Court for a de novo trial (or hearing). This typically requires hearing the case from the beginning, and to initiate this, a notice of appeal is filed within 28 days of judgment. Utah’s court rules and self-help resources help guide this process.

Typical Case Progression from stop to sentencing.

1. Citation or arrest: Thisis first initiated, followed by filing a complaint in the appropriate court.
2. Arraignment/first appearance: The defendant is informed of rights, release conditions are set, and they are assessed for eligibility for legal counsel.
3. Pre-trial: This includes evidence, discovery, motions, and plea negotiations. Some courts offer diversion programs or deferred pleas for eligible traffic offenses.
4. Trial: Defendants may choose between bench or jury trials. The jury size depends on the type of offense.
5. Sentencing: Penalties may include county jail time,fines,probation, and court-orderedprograms such as DUI ignition interlock devices in accordance with state law.

Misdemeanor Records in Major Utah Cities

Utah uses a combination of the statewide platform and local court portals to access misdemeanor records. The official case file is maintained by the court clerk; nevertheless, sealed and expunged records do not appear in public searches.

• Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City Justice Court allows you to search criminal cases online by case, citation, or driver’s license number. You may also pay traffic citations online. Cases finalized in the District Court are accessible through statewide tools.
• Provo. The Provo City Justice Court directs users to the Utah Courts ePayments portal for payments related to traffic citations (select the Provo Justice Court on the portal). You may also call the clerk of court or submit your request via mail. The Utah County Justice Court case filings and calendars are available via the MyCourtCase portal for viewing filings and calendars.
• West Valley City.The West Valley City Justice Court hosts a payment portal with instructions available. A case or citation number is required to process payment on the portal.

Statewide access tools.

• MyCourtCase (free): If you are a party to a case, you may view cases, see history, access documents, and pay fines or fees on this portal.
• ePayments (public): To facilitate payments, anyone may use the Utah Court ePayments portal to pay fines/fees related to the District and Justice Courts. Individuals are required to provide a citation or case number to proceed.
• XChange (paid): For a statewide public case search and for downloading court records online and case information related to the Justice Courts, the public may visit the XChange portal. Although a subscription is required and fees apply per search. (Change in fees is effective July 1, 2025).

To find historical court records, individuals may visit the Utah State Archives. Old and archived records are available for public view as well.

How to Search for Misdemeanor Records in Utah

Anyone may find misdemeanor records in Utah in the following way:

1. Identify the court. Class B and C misdemeanors are typically decided in the Justice Court. Class A misdemeanor cases are handled in District Court. Also, your citation or paperwork will list the court.
2. Choose the right portal.
   • If you are a party to the case, you may view your case, documents, and history, and make payments on the MyCourtCase portal. Although no portal usage charges are required if you are a party to the case.
   • For quick payments (anyone), you may use the Utah Courts ePayments website (case/citation required). Salt Lake City and other cities also provide local payment links.
   • For wider public searching, attorneys, journalists, and researchers may use the XChange portal (subscription/fees).
3. You may contact the clerk of the court listed on your docket. For archived records, individuals may visit the Utah State Archives.
4. For federal cases in Utah, the public may visit the U.S. District Court portal via PACER to find these records.

What is typically available online: The names of parties, charges with statute cited, Register of Actions (filings/hearings), disposition, sentence terms, and financial balances. Some document images require access through XChange or via MyCourtCase if you are a party to such a case.

How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay on Your Record in Utah?

In Utah, without acourt order, a misdemeanor remains on your record indefinitely. The state offers two main methods for clearing misdemeanor records:

Clean Slate (Automatic) Expungement

Utah’s Clean Slate law automatically expunges many non-convictions and eligible non-violent misdemeanor convictions after 5 to 7 years. This is the case if there are no new convictions within this period, although the timelines depend on the offense. Effective October 1, 2024, to January 1, 2026, the courts have put a pause on automatic processing, but individuals may submit a one-time form request. The court reviews eligibility under Utah Code § 77-40a-205 and § 77-40a-206, processes the expungement, and notifies the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

Petition-Based Expungement

If your case is not eligible for expungement or you want it cleared as soon as possible, you may apply to BCI (Utah Department of Public Safety) for a Certificate of Eligibility. Afterwards, you are required to file a petition in court once you receive the certificate. The state courts' self-help page explains the process and requirements. Expungement removes the case from public view under government records. Although news articles and private websites are not affected by the expungement. The BCI posts current processing updates and scheduling information.

Once expunged, the case is removed from public view, and you may legally state that the arrest or conviction did not occur, except in limited situations as defined by law. Until they are expunged, your case remains visible in court records and criminal history databases accessible to authorized agencies or the public. (Utah’s expungement laws are now codified under Title 77, Chapter 40a).