All sorts of public information are readily available through government databases, but searching Idaho state records can be frustrating and time-consuming if you don’t know where to look or how to find them.
Records Page: is here to make this process easier by making public records more accessible, free, and straightforward through step-by-step public record request guides.

Click Here to Search this form:https://idaho.recordspage.org/

Navigating Idaho’s Public Records & Associated Laws

The Idaho Public Records Act in the Idaho Code §74-102 presumes all records maintained by state and local bodies to be public records, with some exceptions to protect confidentiality[^1^]. Any person can request access to these records, and the request must be granted or denied within three days but could take up to 10 working days if the governing body dictates they need longer to retrieve the document.

Public records: include records such as criminal, court, vital, inmate information, and more. However, the requester must figure out the appropriate government agency, court, jail, or jurisdiction that hosts the information before making a public record request.
This step is where the process gets complicated, but free resources and third-party search services can guide searchers to find information on nearly anyone.

A Summary of Criminal Records in Idaho

Idaho allows its citizens to obtain their criminal records, sometimes referred to as Personal Identity Summary sheets. They include information such as:

  • Full name
  • State ID
  • FBI number
  • Race
  • Sex
  • Date of birth
  • Height and weight
  • Eye, hair, and skin color
  • Aliases
  • Arrest dates
  • Arresting agency
  • Case numbers
  • Charge level – misdemeanor or felony
  • Number of counts charged at arrest (number of distinct charges)
  • Court information
  • Charges by the court – misdemeanor or felony
  • Number of counts charged by the court
  • Disposition or if someone was charged with a crime

Criminal records can be helpful for employers when screening employees or landlords vetting potential tenants. However, citizens of Idaho must know that employers and landlords cannot discriminate against them based on criminal history as the Fair Housing Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act protect their rights.

Are Idaho Criminal Records Publicly Accessible?

All individuals can search for criminal records in Idaho without obtaining the subject’s authorization, so they are publicly available.
Arrests that did not go to court are only available to the public without authorization as long as they are less than 12 months old. Anyone not associated with a criminal justice agency requires a waiver signed by the subject within 180 days of the request to access such arrest records.

How to Find & Search Idaho Criminal Record Repository

The Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification under the Idaho State Police maintains public criminal records for citizens to access, so anyone can look up someone’s criminal records. It is an automated database updated using fingerprint arrest records from Idaho’s various criminal justice organizations.

They can search for documents using either the subject’s name or their fingerprints.

  • Name: Requesters must fill in the Name-Based Criminal Background Check Form and provide the processing fee of $20.00 in cash or check. They can also provide their credit or debit card information on the form, but this will cost an additional processing fee of $1.00 + 3% of the total transaction amount.
  • Fingerprint: Requesters can visit the Bureau of Criminal Identification in Meridian from 8 AM to 4:30 PM on a weekday or their local law enforcement agency to obtain a fingerprint card. They can also get an electronic fingerprint card from an authorized agency. The first card costs $10.00, and each additional card costs $5.00. The cards include the subject’s name, aliases, address, citizenship, description, date and place of birth, and reason for fingerprinting and must be submitted within 180 days. They must also complete the Fingerprint-Based Criminal Background Check Form and include the $20.00 processing fees in cash, check, or card. Cards will cost an additional processing fee like in a name-based check.

For either option, they must mail all documents and fees to:

Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) 700 South Stratford Drive Suite 120 Meridian, ID 83642

How to Obtain Idaho Arrest Records & Police Reports

Idaho’s criminal records also contain arrest records for all individuals. However, the public can also find recent arrests on the concerned county Sheriff’s website if the county hosts this information. For example, the Blaine County Sheriff’s website lists recent arrests, including names, mugshots, age, hometown, offenses, arresting agency, booking date, and the status of the detained person. How to Access Police Reports in Idaho

If this information is not available, people can contact the county’s Sheriff’s office. Many have Public Records Request forms on their website where requesters can obtain police reports, such as Canyon County.
Alternatively, they can contact the city’s police department to obtain police reports. Most will have a records request page online, such as the Nampa city police department.
To see a full list of county inmate rosters, contact information, and other agencies that furnish criminal records, visit our Idaho arrests and public criminal records access guide.

How to Find Mugshots & Arrest Pictures in Idaho

The criminal records above do not contain mugshots, but they are publicly available under Idaho state records. Many counties which feature recent arrests online will showcase a mugshot as well.
If mugshots cannot be found online, the public can obtain mugshots by requesting them from the county Sheriff’s office or the city’s police department via a Public Records Request form, such as the Boise police’s form.

Are Juvenile Records Sealed or Publicly Available in Idaho?

Juvenile records are not publicly available in Idaho unless the court tried the juvenile as an adult. Juveniles can ask the court to seal or expunge their records (remove them from their history) after they turn 18, and it has been five years since their release from a felony sentence or one year since their misdemeanor conviction.

The only exceptions are certain violent offenses like rape, murder, arson, voluntary manslaughter, drug trafficking, battery, etc., which courts cannot expunge.

Where Can I Check for Warrants in Idaho?

Any active or past warrants should appear on the person’s public criminal record, which they can obtain from the BCI. County Sheriffs’ offices may also have a search service or list of current warrants if someone does not want to pay the $20.00 processing fee for a criminal record.
Otherwise, the public can request records of any warrants out for them by contacting the concerned Sheriff’s office or police department or using the Public Records Request form on their website.
Examples of helpful county agencies and warrant lookup options can be found on our resource about locating Ada County public information at no cost, which also provides comprehensive instructions for obtaining court documents, criminal history details, background checks, and other records.

Search Idaho’s Sex Offender Registry & Map

Idaho’s Sexual Offenders Registration Notification and Community Right-to-Know Act makes sex offender registry information available to the public. The Idaho State Police maintains this registry, and the public can search through it online without any fees or extra steps.

A person’s registry entry will include:

  • Registration ID
  • Name
  • Aliases
  • Mugshot or photograph
  • Date and place of birth
  • Race
  • Sex
  • Height and weight
  • Eye and hair color
  • Current primary address
  • Last verification date
  • Offenses

How to Run an Online Background Check in Idaho

Employers can request such information from the BCI to see if someone has a criminal record by asking the applicant to provide their fingerprints. According to the Idaho Code §67-3008, they must also ask the employee for consent before conducting a background check.

Third-Party Background Check Services

Third-party websites provide various levels of background checks where some include job history verification, education verification, credit checks, etc. If the background check is being run for official purposes, the site must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and cannot provide arrest information beyond 7-10 years unless the employee earns more than $75,000.

Specialized Background Checks

People looking to work with vulnerable adults or children or with the Department of Health and Welfare will require a separate background check conducted by the Idaho Criminal History Unit. This check is more extensive and checks nurse aide registries, Medicare Exclusion Lists, etc.

Idaho Court Records Summary

Idaho court records are public information and readily available online. The Idaho court system has five levels, in ascending order of authority:

  • Small Claims Courts: Preside over cases concerning up to $4,000. No attorneys are allowed.
  • Magistrate Courts: Preside over civil actions up to $10,000, traffic cases, probates (will and estates), juvenile corrections, child protection, arrest warrants, etc.
  • District Courts: Preside over felony, property dispute, contract, and personal injury cases. Also hear appeals from magistrate and small claims courts.
  • Court of Appeals: Hears appeals from the various district courts.
  • Supreme Court: Presides over claims against the state and extraordinary writs and hears appeals from district courts and administrative agencies.

Case information from these courts usually includes:

  • Case number
  • Court
  • The judge or judicial officer
  • Filing date
  • Case type (civil, criminal, etc.)
  • Case status
  • Party names
  • Attorney names
  • Charges
  • Dispositions or judgments

How to Look Up Idaho Court Records & Cases

Idaho Courts host a public record repository on its in Court system, where anyone can look up cases by name or record number other than juvenile or sealed court records. Searches of these Idaho state records are entirely free of cost

Searching for Court Records in Idaho

Searchers must first choose the county where the case was tried and choose “Records Search” from the Service drop-down menu. They can also access e-filing services, online payment methods, and county contact information from this website and select the county from the map illustrated on the page.

Acquiring Court Case Documents

Court records can be found locally through county courts, specifically through court clerks or online databases. An in-depth description of how to acquire desired court case documents is available through our Canyon County free public information search; this resource gives clear directions for obtaining marital, probation, arrest, and other records too.

How to Look Up Bankruptcy in Idaho

The Idaho Bankruptcy Court maintains records of all recent bankruptcy cases in the state. The public can visit the Court’s page on Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) to search for case information online.
Alternatively, they can use the Voice Case Information System (VCIF) by calling 866-222-8029 (extension 44) to receive basic case details or visit the Clerk’s Office in person at the following locations:

Boise: U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courthouse 550 W. Fort St. Ste. 400 Boise, ID 83724
Coeur d’Alene: U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courthouse 6450 North Mineral Dr. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
Pocatello: U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courthouse 801 E. Sherman St. Room 119 Pocatello, ID 83201

For closed bankruptcy cases in Idaho, searchers can contact the National Archives via e-mail, post, or phone and provide the name of the court, case number, names of parties, and the time period when the case was filed. Searching is free, but records might cost a fee.

Idaho Inmate Records (Jails & Prisons)

People can look up public inmate records in Idaho to find out if someone was arrested or is in jail. County jail records are readily available online, but people might have to contact specific jails or city police departments to look for inmates. An inmate lookup may reveal:

  • Full name
  • Mailing address
  • Phone number
  • Status
  • Age
  • Offenses for which the inmate is currently being held
  • Sentencing county
  • Case numbers
  • Parole hearing date

How to Locate Idaho Inmates’ Release Dates

When searching for an inmate in state prison, the inmate record will contain a parole hearing, parole eligibility, or retained jurisdiction release date. This date is when the inmate will either be released or become eligible for parole (release).

How to Put Money on an Inmate’s Books & Visit

Visitors to inmates in Idaho must complete a Visiting Application Form and mail or submit it to the facility where the person they wish to visit resides. They can also fill out this form online, so it’s not too difficult to figure out how to get jail paperwork. For out-of-state facilities, they must mail the form to:

Stephen Grill, Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) ATTN: Out of State Facility Visiting Application 1299 N Orchard Street, Suite 110 Boise, ID 83706

Visiting applications take 2-4 weeks to process and expire in a year, and minors cannot visit without an accompanying adult. The accompanying adult must fill out the Minor Child form for the minor. Visitors to city jails should contact the facility to inquire about visiting.
A person can put money in an inmate’s trust account or pay their probation or parole fees by:

  • Downloading the Access Corrections App on iOS or Android, where they can pay by either VISA or Mastercard.
  • Visiting the Access Corrections website.
  • Calling 866-345-1884 to make a payment by card.
  • Register at Cash Pay Today to get a barcode and make a cash deposit at a local store (CVS, Dollar General, Walgreens, etc.)

Mailing checks to or money orders for prison residents to:
Secure Deposits – Idaho Department of Correct (DOC) PO Box 12486 St. Louis, MO 63132

Mailing checks and money orders for probationers or parolees:
Secure Deposits – Idaho Department of Correct (DOC) P&P PO Box 12486 St. Louis, MO 63132

Idaho Vital Record Certificates

Idaho’s Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Welfare, keeps the state’s vital records. These generally contain birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, along with some other documents specific to the state. Idaho, for instance, also issues stillbirth and miscarriage certificates.
Idaho has maintained centralized birth and death records since 1911 and marriage and divorce records since 1947. Idaho also reports this information to the United States Census, and the following image shows the divorced population of each Idaho county:

Who Can Request Vital Records in Idaho?

Birth Certificates: Birth certificates remain confidential within Idaho state records until 100 years from registration.
Marriage Certificates: No, marriage records are not public.
Death, Marriage, and Divorce Certificates: These records are all confidential for 50 years in Idaho.
Access to Confidential Certificates: Only persons with a “direct and tangible interest” can access these certificates while they are confidential. These persons include:

  • The subject of the certificate.
  • The subject’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and guardians.
  • Any person who can demonstrate that they need the record to protect their property rights.
  • A representative authorized by the people mentioned above.
  • The subject’s next-of-kin, if all other eligible persons are deceased.
  • The Idaho Attorney General and state or federal attorneys, if they need the certificate for law enforcement.
  • Any person authorized to access the record by an Idaho court.
  • Any person controlling the remains and disposal of a deceased subject.

ID Proof Requirement: Since only these persons can access an Idaho confidential vital record, people need to provide valid ID proof (like a driver’s license) when ordering a certified copy of any record, unless it is in the public domain like a public divorce record.

How to Obtain Copies of Free Vital Records Such as Marriage, Divorce, Death and birth Certificates?

Online Ordering: People can obtain copies of Idaho’s vital records online through VitalChek, which is promoted by the state of Idaho. Ordering online will be faster but will cost more. The site accepts all major credit and debit cards. VitalChek may ask requesters to fax some identification documents to verify their identity, which will add to the cost.
Mail Ordering: Alternatively, individuals can order vital records by mail. This method will take longer but is more economical.

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates will all cost a non-refundable fee of $10.50, $10.00 for an express (RUSH) order, and $19.00 for express shipping.
VitalChek takes 3-25 days to process the certificate and delivers overnight (express delivery) or in 7-10 days (regular delivery).

By mail: Requesters should fill out the Idaho Vital Records Certificate Request Form and indicate which certificate they need. Then, they should mail this form, along with a check or money order for the $16.00 processing fee made out to Idaho Vital Records and a photocopy of a government-issued ID, to:

Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS)

PO Box 83720
 Boise, ID 83720-0036
Mail requests will take 1-2 weeks (express service) or 2-4 weeks (standard service) to process.
Searching Idaho state records may be daunting at first, but with the resources above, anyone should be able to access public records quickly and easily.

FAQ’s

What types of Idaho State records can I access for free?

You can access a wide range of Idaho State records for free, including vital records like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death records. Additionally, you can obtain public records such as property records, court documents, and criminal records without cost.

How can I access Idaho State records without paying any fees?

You can access Idaho State records for free by utilizing online resources provided by government agencies. Many state and local government websites offer easy access to these records, allowing you to search and view them without any fees.

Are there any restrictions on accessing Idaho State records for free?

While many Idaho State records are publicly available, some may be subject to privacy restrictions or redaction of sensitive information. It’s essential to understand the specific rules and regulations governing access to certain records.

Can I request physical copies of Idaho State records for free?

In some cases, you may be able to obtain physical copies of Idaho State records for free by visiting government offices in person. However, there could be nominal fees for printing or copying services.

How do I start searching for Idaho State records online at no cost?

To begin your search for Idaho State records online, visit the official websites of relevant government agencies or utilize trusted online databases. You can typically search by name, date, or other relevant criteria to find the records you need.