Search free Idaho arrest records and criminal records in every ID county, whether you’re seeking information about a loved one, family member, friend, colleague, or neighbor.
While the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Idaho Public Records Act, I.C. §74-102, make most Idaho criminal records available for public viewing, the process for obtaining this information can be unclear due to the variety of agencies and organizational structures involved.
To simplify this process, this resource has created a how-to guide that specifies the exact agencies that reveal criminal records, the steps to view them, and other nuances, such as restrictions on certain records and instances when multiple agencies host the same information.
This resource will shed light on how to:
- Check recent arrest logs, determine why someone was arrested, and view mugshots.
- Contact someone in jail and initiate the bail process.
- Access criminal records, information on probation and parole, and check for arrest warrants.
- Determine if someone is in an Idaho state prison or federal prison facility.
- Obtain a background check for professional and/or personal uses.
- Navigate the National and Idaho Sex Offender Registry.
Additionally, this guidance discusses statutes about obtaining and using public criminal records for professional and personal purposes, ensuring that citizens who have a criminal record are aware of their rights.
Accessibility of Criminal & Arrest Records in Idaho
Idaho arrest and criminal records, also known as rap sheets, are considered public records in the State of Idaho as per the Idaho Public Records Act, I.C. §74-102.1
These records are maintained by state and local agencies and are subject to and in spirit of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)—allowing them to be accessed by members of the public without the need to provide any reason for access, albeit with some exceptions.2
These exemptions include:
- Search and arrest warrants that have not been returned.
- Records of proceedings that identify jurors of grand juries.
- Juvenile court records.
- Law enforcement records.
- Classified information.
- Medical files.
- Case records are a mental commitment.
- Records and documents that are restricted by state and federal law, etc.
The request to grant such said records must be either granted or denied within 3 days—they may however take up to 10 business days if the agency required more time to furnish them.3 This time stipulation applies only to this public records request. Under federal law, all federal agencies are mandated to respond to FOIA requests within 20 business days.
Additionally, mandates from two federal government agencies—the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ensure that discrimination does not take place in the workplace and statutes of limitation that will curtail the information in criminal records that can be released to the public.4, 5
What Information Is Shown On Criminal Records & Arrest Records in Idaho
When requesters are looking to obtain criminal record history information, also known as rap sheets, they can execute criminal and arrest records searches through state and local law enforcement agencies.
Arrest records will have information pertaining to a recent arrest for an individual, such as the reason for the arrest or the name of the arresting agency (police department). Criminal record searches show information such as mug shots (photographs) and date of conviction.
Below is a breakdown of what each search yields:
Criminal Records Contain:
- Full names
- Date of birth (DOB)
- Biodata such as age, sex and race
- Case numbers
- Addresses
- Conviction type and dates
- Guilty pleas
- Charges of the court
- Date of release
- Mugshots
- Any previous arrest records
Arrest Records Include:
- Full names
- Booking number
- Age
- Sex
- Booking agency
- Arrest date
- Status
- Bail amount
How To Find Idaho Arrest Records & Mugshots for Free (Check the Reason for Detainment)
Idaho arrest records can be retrieved via the county’s sheriff’s offices, local city jails and police departments, and what’s more, these can be done at no cost to the requester.
Current and recent rests can be found by making an in person visit to the law enforcement agency, calling or accessing the rosters that are available online for concerned citizens who may be wondering how do I know if I have been charged with a crime.
These records are available to the public without needing to obtain authorization or permission from the subject who is being searched. Idaho criminal records for arrests that do not result in a court appearance are only available if they are less than 12 months old.6
Use Idaho County Sheriffs’ Free Inmate Rosters or Contact Them
Locating arrest records in the county will typically fall onto the sheriff’s offices for the respective county. Many of these will have an online search feature that will allow interested individuals to comb through inmate rosters, which also serve as a mugshot database in some jurisdictions.
Locating daily arrests is not only free, but it’s usually one of the fastest ways to determine if someone is in jail and the reason for the arrest.
For example, the Ada County inmate roster can be searched by last name to provide quick results, and the resource on tracking down all public information in Ada County offers more arrest lookup options as well as various other countywide public records (i.e. probation, warrant, and criminal history details).
Similarly, the Canyon County arrest log shows who’s in jail, the reason for detainment, and their mugshots. Find more various public records throughout Canyon County for free via this streamlined resource; steps for obtaining arrest reports, court documents, marital records, and more can be found there, along with the agencies that host each record type.
Interested individuals may find recent arrests by making an in person visit to the sheriff’s office or by making a phone call when they are not able to find information on who’s in jail online.
The table below provides a summary of all 44 counties and their respective sheriff’s departments—the links will point to an inmate roster that allows requesters to locate arrest records.
Counties that do not have either of these tools will have an (*) indicating the link only points to a contact page. In addition, the table will have the phone number of the sheriff’s office and if mug shots are available to view on the record:
Some states have city jails in which recent and current arrests can be determined and in which citizens can obtain arrest reports. However, this isn’t applicable to Idaho since the state operates on the county level.
How To Reach Someone in an Idaho Jail & Bail Them Out
Contacting an inmate in jail and bailing them out in Idaho is a simple process that first starts in determining where the inmate is located—that is if they are located in a local city jail (when applicable), a county jail, state or federal prison. In addition to the aforementioned methods, more ways to perform an inmate search are delved into below.
Contacting an Inmate Lookup
The Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) and Idaho County jails make it possible for family and friends to contact inmates through mail and emails; this is an important component of the rehabilitation of inmates.
It is also possible to send books, magazines, newspapers and to send money to inmates for their commissary requirements. Inmates can generally receive letters and a maximum of twenty 4″x 6″ photographs. All mail destined for inmates is opened and inspected.
Inmates can receive email through the ICS Corrections’ partner JPay, where Email is purchased in packages of “stamps.” These stamps allow for the sending and receiving of emails by those on the outside and inmates who use kiosks installed at IDOC facilities.
To send mail to offenders, the following format must be employed:
- Facility Name
- Full Inmate names
- Department of Corrections ID number
- Inmate’s housing number (if known)
- P.O. Box or street address
- City, state, zip code
Bailing Out an Inmate
Individuals looking to bail an inmate out of jail can either pay the full amount or employ the services of a bail bonds agent.
Paying the Full Amount:
This is the simplest option for those who can afford to pay the full amount that is set by the courts and/or county jails. Once the payment is made in either cash, money order or cashier’s check, the offender is released from jail. There is also a $10.00 sheriff’s bond that is attached to each bond amount, which must be paid separately from the bond charge in the exact change.
Upon attending all court hearings, the full amount is either returned or as per Idaho Code Sec. 19-2923 used to offset any fees incurred due to court proceedings.7
Using a Bonds Agent:
Bail bond agents can process a surety bond to guarantee that the defendant will appear in court. This often takes place when the bail amount is too high to pay in cash with the other means of payment. The bail bonds agent will post the bond and will charge 10% of the amount of the total bond amount. This money, however, will not be returned as it is a form of income to the bondsmen.
The bail bondsmen then pay the rest, hoping the defendant will show up in court. Sometimes, they may require collateral depending on the bond amount. It should be noted that the bond amount is not a payment that clears a defendant of their charges. The bond is simply a guarantee for the offender to appear in court on the date provided by the jail.
Failure to appear on this date violates Idaho Code Sec. 19-3901A which is punishable by a maximum of 6 months in jail and a $300.00 fine notwithstanding the original charge.8
A warrant will also be issued for the arrest of the defendant. Therefore, every effort must be made to attend the court date.
How To Search for Criminal Records in Idaho
Along with obtaining criminal records in Idaho from local, state and federal agencies outlined in the sections below, requesters can access Idaho arrest records from:
- Searching the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC), which will be elaborated in the subsequent sections.
- Employing the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database to access appellate court records and searching federal offenses. While searching is free, the records may incur a nominal cost.
- Lastly, requesters can find criminal records through county courts, which contain court records and data on ongoing cases.
In addition to online methods, requesters can call the county court to access public terminals at the court to view court records.
To print the copies, interested individuals will be charged a copy fee of $0.10 per page if using the computer at the library. A copy fee of $0.50 applies if the clerk makes the copies and certified copies incur a $11.00 charge for each document.
Utilize the County Court Case Access or County Clerks of Court in Idaho To Access Criminal Records
The public maintains the right to access records of all court proceedings as well as the judicial department’s declarations of law and public policy as mandated by the Idaho Public Records Act, I.C. § 74-104.9
Idaho courts have recently transitioned from a paper-based system to a modern electronic online judicial system that is statewide and allows citizens to search for court records—this system is known as iCourt.10 The system is a public records repository that provides a one-stop point to access court records from all counties—it is likely not, however, suitable for those looking at how to find recent arrests.
Users simply need to choose the county for which the court case took place and what type of service is being sought:
- Records Search
- Payments
- County contact info
While the service is free to use a search tool, there is a 3.5% credit card transaction for online payments made.
| County | County Courthouse Address | Phone Number |
| Ada County | 200 West Front St. Boise, ID 83702-7300 |
(208)287-6900 |
| Adams County | 201 Industrial PO Box 48 Council, ID 83612 |
(208)253-4561 |
| Bannock County | 624 E. Center Pocatello, ID 83201-6274 |
(208)236-7342 |
| Bear Lake County | 7 East Center St, PO Box 190 Paris, ID 83261 |
(208)945-2212 |
| Benewah County | 701 College Avenue St. Maries, ID 83861 |
(208)245-3212 |
| Bingham County | 501 N. Maple #205 Blackfoot, ID 83221-1700 |
(208)782-3147 |
| Blaine County | 206 1st Avenue South Hailey, ID 83333 |
(208)788-5505 |
| Boise County | 420 Main Street, PO Box 1300 Idaho City, ID 83631 |
(208)392-4431 |
| Bonner County | 215 South 1st Avenue Sandpoint, ID 83864 |
(208)265-1432 |
| Bonneville County | 605 North Capital Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 |
(208)529-1350 |
| Boundary County | 6452 Kootenai Street, PO Box 419 Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 |
(208)267-2242 |
| Butte County | 326 W. Grand Avenue, PO Box 171 Arco Idaho 83213 |
(208)527-3021 |
| Camas County | Corner of Soldier & Willow Streets, PO Box 430 Fairfield, ID 83327 |
(208)764-2242 |
| Canyon County | 1115 Albany Street Caldwell, ID 83605 |
(208)454-7300 |
| Caribou County | 159 South Main, Room 202, PO Box 775 Soda Springs, ID 83276 |
(208)574-4324 |
| Cassia County | 1459 Overland Avenue Burley, ID 83318 |
(208)878-7351 |
| Clark County | 320 West Main, PO Box 205 Dubois, ID 83423 |
(208)374-5304 |
| Clearwater County | 150 Michigan Room 201, PO Box 586 Orofino, ID 83544 |
(208)476-5615 |
| Custer County | Main Street ,PO Box 385 Challis, ID 83226 |
(208)879-2360 |
| Elmore County | 150 South 4th, East, Suite 3 Mountain Home, ID 83647 |
(208)587-2130 |
| Franklin County | 39 West Oneida, Room 2 Preston, ID 83263 |
(208)852-1090 |
| Fremont County | 151 West 1st North St, Rm 12 Saint Anthony, ID 83445 |
(208)624-7332 |
| Gem County | 415 East Main Street Emmett, ID 83617 |
(208)365-4221 |
| Gooding County | 624 Main Street, PO Box 417 Gooding, ID 83330 |
(208)934-4221 |
| Idaho County | 320 West Main Grangeville, ID 83530 |
(208)983-2751 |
| Jefferson County | 210 Courthouse Way, Suite 120 Rigby, ID 83442 |
(208)745-7756 |
| Jerome County | 233 W. Main Street Jerome, ID 83338 |
(208)644-2600 |
| Kootenai County | 324 West Garden Avenue, PO Box 9000 Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816-9000 |
(208)446-1000 |
| Latah County | 5th & VanBuren, Room 119, PO Box 8068 Moscow, ID 83843-0568 |
(208)882-8580 |
| Lemhi County | 206 Courthouse Drive Salmon, ID 83467 |
(208)756-2815 |
| Lewis County | 510 Oak Street Nez Perce, ID 83543 |
(208)937-2661 |
| Lincoln County | 111 West B Street, Suite C Shoshone, ID 83352 |
(208)886-7641 |
| Madison County | 134 East Main, PO Box 389 Rexburg, ID 83440 |
(208)356-3662 |
| Minidoka County | 8th & G Streets, PO Box 368 Rupert, ID 83350 |
(208)436-9511 |
| Nez Perce County | Nez Perce County Courthouse, PO Box 896 Lewiston, ID 83501 |
(208)799-3020 |
| Oneida County | 10 Court Street Malad, ID 83252 |
(208)766-4285 |
| Owyhee County | PO Box 128 Murphy, ID 83650 |
(208)495-2421 |
| Payette County | 1130 3rd Avenue N., Suite 104 Payette, ID 83661 |
(208)642-6000 |
| Power County | 543 Bannock, Room 101 American Falls, ID 83211 |
(208)226-7611 |
| Shoshone County | 700 Bank Street, Suite 120 Wallace, ID 83873 |
(208)752-1264 |
| Teton County | 150 Courthouse Drive, Room 306 Driggs, ID 83422 |
(208)354-2239 |
| Twin Falls County | 425 Shoshone Street North, PO Box 126 Twin Falls, ID 83303-0126 |
(208)736-4004 |
| Valley County | 219 Main Street, PO Box 1350 Cascade, ID 83611 |
(208)382-7100 |
| Washington County | 256 East Court, PO Box 670 Weiser, ID 83672 |
(208)414-2092 |
Perform a Criminal Record Search in Idaho Through iCourt
As mentioned before, Idaho has a unified automated system that provides access to all court records in the state that are mandated by law to be public information, known as iCourt. The service is free to use by the public, and all that’s needed is the person’s first and last name.
How To Obtain Copies of Criminal Records via the State Police & Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification
Idaho criminal records are public information in the state of Idaho, and the primary repository for these records rests with the Idaho State Police and the Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification—they can also be requested through the county law enforcement agencies, which do send the same information to these two primary repositories.11, 6
This database can be employed as a method to see if someone was arrested, and what for. The searched can be performed with either the subject’s first name, or the subjects fingerprints.
Citizens who are looking to obtain copies of criminal records can use these two types of searches, which are also a form of background check. These two methods are covered in depth below.
How To Find Out if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Idaho
It is a very simple and straightforward process to make a determination of whether an offender is on probation or parole—this is because the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) maintains a felony registry and parolee database of not only its residents (inmates) but those who are on probation and parole.
This can be accessed through its Idaho Probation Search Tool, which can query offenders using either their last name or IDOC number. A sample result after a probation search is found below, showing two inmates who are on probation.
In the state of Idaho, probation is governed by the courts and occurs when a sentence is suspended for an offender convicted of a felony offense and is granted an opportunity to remain in the community rather than prison.12
Parole on the other hand is governed by the Commission of Pardons & Parole.12 Parolees are offenders who are released into the community under supervision before the expiration of their sentences.
In either case, the following image displays the total number of probationers and parolees in Idaho and compares it with other states across the United States.
Additionally, it showcases the ethnicities of individuals on community supervision in Idaho, including probation and parole.
Further information on how to look up probationer details in Idaho can be viewed will come in handy when trying to run a seamless search; similarly, the instructions for searching ID parole records enable citizens to streamline the process of obtaining their desired information.
How To Go About Sealing or Expunging a Criminal Record in Idaho
Idaho allows the sealing and expungement of Idaho arrest records in a few circumstances, including:
- Juvenile convictions.
- Persons who have been acquitted of an offense arising from an arrest can have their fingerprints taken and their criminal history expunged.
- Individuals who were either arrested or served with a criminal summons and not charged by either indictment or information within 1 year of the arrest or sermons.
- Offenders who have been granted exemption from registering as sexual offenders.
When records are sealed, they are not accessible except by court order—however, a record that has been expunged is one that has been physically and electronically been deleted.
To apply for expungement, citizens should take the following steps:13
- Establish eligibility by visiting the Idaho State Police and viewing the Expungement Flow Chart.
- Fill out the Expungement Application Form.
- Obtaining supporting and certified documents from the arresting government agency and courts proving eligibility. This includes court orders or acquittals (dismissals), criminal complaints, criminal citations and summons, information or indictment.
- Requesters will need to make copies of all documents and retain one set for themselves.
- Mail the expungement application form and the supporting documentation to the Idaho State Police at:
Idaho State Police
700 South Stratford Dr., Suite 120
Meridian, ID 83642
This type of expungement requires no fee.
Petitioners for the expungement of juvenile criminal records will need to submit their requests at the juvenile court to have their records expunged. The court will only consider these petitions if the offender has served the sentence and has not been convicted of any other crime since their release.
Records, whether physical or electronic, are sealed by order of the court. The petitioner must file a motion to seal, after which the court will hold a hearing on the motion to seal. Before making a ruling, courts will make a determination on whether privacy vs. public disclosure dominates. It does this based on certain factors such as:
- There are facts and statements that may endanger the safety of individuals.
- Documents or facts that courts may find defamatory.
- It is necessary to seal records to uphold a fair trial, etc.
Sealing records is typically a rare phenomenon in Idaho as the courts are unwilling to grant these requests. In any case, even if the records were sealed, there would still be a record at the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC), which law enforcement officials have access to.14
Even though expungement and sealing are not likely in Idaho except under the conditions mentioned above, once granted, offenders can now legally deny being convicted of a crime before and having a criminal record. This is because the record cannot be seen without a court order.
How To View Details of Prisoners Held in Federal & State Facilities
Requesters who may be looking for missing persons, whether they are relatives or family, have a simple and easy process when searching for either state or federal prison records. To find prisoners in both federal and state prisons, interested individuals should turn to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Idaho Department of Corrections, respectively.
Federal Prison Search
Idaho has no federal prisons. However, interested individuals can still search for federal inmates who may be residing in facilities that are out of state. Federal prisons are typically maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).15
The BOP has a Federal Prison Inmate Locator on its website which is free to use for the public, and interested individuals may perform offender queries using either the inmate’s name or inmate number.16 This tool can be used to search for federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to present.
Idaho State Prison Search
The Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) has 9 state-owned prisons as well as 5 community re-entry centers, which offer residents who are near their release dates a chance to prepare themselves before release.
IDOC makes it very easy to locate the approximately 8000 state inmates it houses using its Resident Search Tool, which can be queried using the inmate’s last name or IDOC number.17, 18 This service is free to use for the public with no need to register and makes for a viable people finder.
Interested parties can follow the steps for looking up inmates throughout Idaho for further guidance.
How To Check if You or Someone Else Has a Warrant in Idaho
Active warrants are not issued by the sheriff’s office or any other law enforcement agencies but are rather issued by the courts in the state of Idaho. However, citizens looking to find a warrant issued in Idaho will need to seek information on outstanding and active warrants from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Idaho State Police.
The BCI is the central and statewide repository for criminal records drawn from all state law enforcement agencies and judicial government agencies.
- This process is similar to running a name-based search for a background check, which involves filling out the Name Based Criminal Background Check Form to verify the criminal history, which will involve warrants. Using this method incurs a $20.00 charge.
- Alternatively, the county sheriff’s office may also be contacted that usually maintain lists of individuals with warrants, an example being Canyon County that maintains a warrants unit.19 Use the table above to locate the county contact information to establish warrant information.
- Lastly, it is also possible to obtain a warrant list from the office of the clerk of the court who maintains court dockets that have court records with data on civil and criminal cases.
A Summarization of Idaho Background Checks
There are a number of agencies in the state of Idaho that require certain professions, such as caregivers and those performing volunteer work, to have background screenings. This is also typical for the issuance of state licenses such as real estate appraisals and medical doctors.
These screenings are mandated to ensure public safety and to maintain high quality of professionalism in related work environments. They are typically completed through the Idaho State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Statewide Sex Offender Registry — the background check process for each is outlined in the following sections labeled name-based background check and fingerprint-based background check.
The table below summarizes the different government agencies and the professions and volunteers that fall under them who are mandated to have background checks. Links in the table provide more detailed information on the submission process for background checks for the respective agencies.
| Agencies That Require Background Checks | Screening Reasons |
| Idaho State Department of Education |
|
| Idaho Department of Health & Welfare |
|
| Idaho Division of Occupational & Professional Licenses |
|
| Idaho Board of Medicine |
|
While it is possible for anyone to perform a background check on someone else in the state for personal reasons, background checks that are completed for professional purposes, such as above, must conform to the guidelines set by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Fair Credit and Reporting Act (FCRA).
Guidelines such as those set forth by the EEOC prohibit employers from conducting background checks and using the information gathered to undermine equal employment opportunities for potential employees.
The FCRA also mandates that employers obtain consent to conduct background checks from potential employees. In addition, it gives employees the right to review the results from the checks and rectify any mistakes and also to appeal any decisions that have been made as a result of the background checks which may affect them severely.
As discussed earlier, there are two ways that background checks are completed: using either the name or the fingerprints on the subject of the record.
Idaho Named-Based Background Check
This type of search is not very accurate because oftentimes criminals may use aliases and false date of birth (DOB), which would affect the accuracy of the records being retrieved—it is for this reason that these types of searches are known as possible matches.
- To perform a name search, requesters are required to fill in the Name Based Criminal Background Check Form.20
- Requesters should then furnish a $20.00 processing which is payable in either cash, debit/credit or check. There is an added processing fee of $1.00 plus 3% of the total transaction amount for payments made by debit or credit card.
- All requests will need to be mailed to the address noted below.
Idaho Fingerprint-Based Background Check
A finger print based search is the most accurate way to obtain criminal records in Idaho and is also known as a positive match search. These searches are far more insensitive since they check against criminal databases across the nation through the FBI. To obtain a fingerprint background check in Idaho, follow the steps below:
- Requesters will need to have their fingerprints taken at 700 S. Stratford Dr., Suite 120, Meridian, ID 83642, or they may also contact the local sheriff’s office or police department. This can be done between 8 AM-4.30 PM on the weekdays except on holidays with no need for an appointment. The fees are $10.00 for the first card and $5.00 for each additional card.
- Fingerprint cards should have a date that is 180 days after the fingerprint check submission.
- They should then submit their request by filling out the Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Form.
- This form should be filled out with the subject’s full name, any alias names, DOB, current address, citizenship, place of birth, reason for the fingerprinting and signature.
- The required fee for the fingerprint search is $20.00, and payments can be made through cash, check or debit/credit card. An additional processing fee of $1.00 plus 3% of the total transaction amount for payments made by debit or credit card.
- The payment authorization form must be completed and sent with the Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Form, the fingerprint card, and the required fees.
Requesters should mail both the named-based search and/or fingerprint-based search to the address below:
Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)
700 South Stratford Drive
Suite 120
Meridian, ID 83642
All background checks results will then be mailed back to the requesters and it should be noted that the BCI does not fax or telephone results. It is imperative that all instructions be followed on all forms to prevent any delays—Idaho arrest record requests with data missing and/or wrong payment will be returned.
Personal Background Checks
Personal background checks are essentially public record searches that are seeking criminal records. The agencies and resource in this guide is the best way to run a background check on someone for personal reasons and anyone can check these databases for free or at little cost – and without stating a reason why or obtaining consent from the subject.
Third-party sites may also be utilized to run personal background checks on another person and have the added benefit of being able to check for criminal and other public records from across the nation.
Note that it’s imperative that professionals and employers use accredited background check companies to ensure the records are obtained and used ethically and in compliance with federal, state and local laws.
An Overview of the National & State Sex Offender Registries (Idaho)
Sex offenders are individuals who have been tried and convicted of a sex offense, and to ensure the well-being of communities in the state, the BCI maintains a sex offender registry, which is an online directory that is separate from the criminal history record system.
The Idaho Sexual Offenders Registration Notification & Community Right-to-Know Act recognizes that these offenders have a high risk of re-offense and thus makes it possible for the public to access the Idaho Sex Offender Registry (IDAHO SOR) at no cost.21, 22
This new act mirrors the Juvenile Sexual Offender Registration Notification & Community Right-to-Know Act which also mandates juveniles who are sex offenders to register.
Interested individuals can use the IDAHO SOR search tool to locate sex offenders by name, city, county, zip code, or map area—either the adult or juvenile database can be selected.23 Searching the registry using the map is very useful for locating offenders in a community without having to know the name of the offender, thus ensuring public safety.
Idaho Laws About the Fair Use of Criminal Records & Arrest Records
Members of the public have access to a large swath of public records in the state, whether they may be Idaho criminal records, sex offender registries, arrest records or warrant information as a result of the Idaho Public Records Act, I.C. §74-102.
These state laws have been set up in the spirit of the Freedom for Information Act (FOIA), but there are certain laws in the state that also limit the retrieval of these otherwise accessible public records. There may also be time constraints when accessing certain public records.
Citizens are protected by federal statutes found in anti-discrimination laws mandated by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Fair Credit and Reporting Act (FCRA), which makes it illegal to look at non-convictions that exceed seven years.
Certain records such as juvenile records with the exception of felonies or those that are extreme in nature such as murder cases cannot be accessed in the state of Idaho as per Idaho Public Records Act, I.C. § 74-104.
Once records are sealed and/or expunged, offenders may deny conviction. However, it should be stated that law enforcement agencies will still have access to these records through the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
The state of Idaho does not have a ban-the-box law in place but is considering passing it in a bill dubbed SB 1318 (Fair Chance Employment Act).24 After passage in the Senate House and receiving a signature from the governor, it can become law.
Ban the box is a law pertaining to criminal background checks which prohibits employers from requesting potential employee’s criminal background and history in the application—rather this is reserved later in the hiring process, as a conditional offer of employment. In this way, job applicants are first judged by their qualifications minus the stigma of a criminal past.
It is permissible to perform personal criminal background checks without someone’s consent in Idaho, but if the checks are being done for professional purposes such as employment, property management, licensing etc., then requesters must abide by federal and local laws.
Despite these protections, Idaho criminal records, including probation and parole details, can be access through the Idaho State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Idaho Department of Corrections, iCourt, the County’s Court Case Access and the County Clerks of Court.
Idaho arrest records are primarily obtained through the county sheriff’s offices who also provide warrant information.
References
1Legislature, I. (2023). Idaho Statutes. Retrieved 2023, from <https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title74/t74ch1/sect74-102/>
2State, U. D. (2023). The Freedom of Information Act. Retrieved 2023, from <https://foia.state.gov/learn/foia.aspx>
3Falls, C. o. (2023). Public Records Request Policy. Retrieved 2023, from <https://idahofallsidaho.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1312/Public-Records-Request-Policy-PDF?bidId=>
4Commission, F. T. (2023). Fair Credit Reporting Act. Retrieved 2023, from <https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act>
5Commission, U. E. (2023). Overview. Retrieved 2023, from <https://www.eeoc.gov/overview>
6Police, I. S. (2023, April 12). Bureau of Criminal Identification. Retrieved 2023, from <https://isp.idaho.gov/bci/>
7Legislature, I. (2023). IDAHO BAIL ACT. Retrieved 2023, from <https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title19/t19ch29/sect19-2923/>
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