Idaho arrest and booking records are public records available to anyone. Learn how to search arrest records across all 44 Idaho counties, what the records contain, and how to find someone who was recently arrested in Idaho.
Yes. Under Idaho Public Records Law (Idaho Code Title 74, Chapter 1), arrest records and booking records are generally public records accessible to any person. Idaho does not require you to be a party to the case, a journalist, or a law enforcement official to access arrest records. The presumption in Idaho is that public records are open to inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies.
Idaho county jail inmate rosters - which show who is currently in custody, their charges, and bail amounts - are public documents maintained by each of Idaho's 44 county sheriffs. Many counties publish these rosters on their websites in real time. Idaho criminal court records are accessible through the Idaho Supreme Court's iCourt public portal at mycourts.idaho.gov.
However, certain arrest records may be restricted or sealed under specific circumstances: juvenile arrest records are generally confidential, records subject to active investigative exemptions may be withheld, and records that have been expunged by court order are no longer public. Mental health and some diversion program records also have specific confidentiality protections.
For arrests within the past few days, the county jail inmate roster is the most current source. Use our county directory to find the right county, or call our free line to search all 44 simultaneously.
Idaho arrest and booking records typically include: the arrested person's full legal name, date of birth, physical description (height, weight, hair and eye color), booking photograph (mug shot), date and time of arrest, arresting agency, specific charges filed, bail amount, and current custody status. Some counties also include the booking number, court dates, and case number.
Arrest records are distinct from criminal conviction records. An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody by law enforcement - it does not indicate guilt or conviction. Many people have arrest records for charges that were later dropped, dismissed, or that resulted in acquittal. Understanding this distinction is important when interpreting Idaho arrest records.
An arrest record shows someone was booked into custody. It does not mean they were found guilty. Always check the court record in the Idaho iCourt portal to understand the disposition of any case.
The most current source for recent arrests. Each of Idaho's 44 county sheriffs maintains an inmate roster showing who is currently in custody. These update continuously and typically show bookings within 2 to 4 hours of arrest. Use our county directory to find the roster for any Idaho county.
The Idaho Supreme Court's iCourt portal provides public access to criminal court case records across most Idaho counties. Search by name to find criminal cases, charge history, court dates, and case dispositions. This is the best source for the complete history of a criminal matter beyond the booking record.
The Idaho State Police (ISP) maintains statewide criminal history records through the Criminal Identification Bureau. Background checks and criminal history requests can be submitted through ISP. These records are more comprehensive than individual county rosters and include arrest history across all Idaho jurisdictions.
For individuals currently serving sentences in state prison (as opposed to county jail), the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) maintains a public offender search at cor.idaho.gov. This covers people convicted of felonies serving longer sentences in state facilities - not those held in county jails.
Idaho law provides limited pathways to expunge or seal arrest records. Under Idaho Code 67-3004, a person may petition to expunge a criminal record if they meet specific eligibility criteria, including completing their sentence or probation, having no pending criminal charges, and meeting waiting period requirements that vary by offense type.
Arrests that did not result in conviction - where charges were dropped or dismissed, or the person was acquitted - may be eligible for expungement more readily than conviction records. Idaho's 2022 Clean Slate Act (Idaho Code 67-3014) created an automatic expungement process for certain qualifying convictions after a waiting period, provided all conditions of the sentence have been met.
It is important to understand that expungement in Idaho does not completely erase a record from all systems. Law enforcement and certain government agencies retain access to expunged records. For public records searches through civilian databases, expunged records should no longer appear. An Idaho criminal defense attorney can advise on whether a particular arrest record qualifies for expungement.
For recent arrests (within days), check the county jail inmate roster using our county directory or call our free line at (208) 991-4676. For arrest history and court records, use the Idaho iCourt portal at mycourts.idaho.gov. For comprehensive background information, contact the Idaho State Police Criminal Identification Bureau.
Yes. Idaho Public Records Law (Idaho Code 74-101) makes arrest records and booking records available to the general public without requiring a specific reason or legal standing. You do not need to be involved in the case or related to the arrested person to access these records. Some records are exempt, including juvenile records, certain investigative records, and records that have been expunged by court order.
Arrest records in Idaho remain on file indefinitely unless expunged by court order. Even arrests that did not result in conviction remain public unless the person successfully petitions for expungement. Conviction records are permanent and generally cannot be expunged, though Idaho's Clean Slate Act created limited automatic expungement for certain qualifying older convictions.
An arrest record documents that a person was taken into custody by law enforcement and booked into jail. It includes charges alleged at the time of arrest but does not reflect the outcome of the case. A criminal record (or conviction record) documents that a person was found guilty of a crime through a court proceeding - either by plea or trial. A person can have an arrest record without a criminal record if charges were dropped, dismissed, or resulted in acquittal.