Nevada Criminal Records Online

Are Nevada Criminal Records Public?

Yes, pursuant to Chapter 179A of Nevada state law, anyone may obtain a copy of their criminal record or notice of the absence of a criminal history record. While the protocol for criminal record assemblage and management varies between jurisdictions, most Nevada criminal records are organized and maintained by the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Through these depositories, state public criminal records are available in the form of a Criminal Background Report. Interested public members may apply for criminal records or notice of the absence of a criminal history record in person or by mail.

Criminal records, considered public in the United States, are made available through some third-party aggregate sites. Searching with third-party websites is often easier as the information is not limited to geographic record availability. Information found on third-party websites can serve as a jumping-off point for parties searching for a specific record or multiple records. Typically, requesters must provide the following information to gain access to these records:

The record subject’s name, unless the subject is a juvenile.
The record subjects’ last known location, including cities, counties, and states.

Third-party websites offer these search services, but they are not government-sponsored. Availability of records may vary.

What is Considered a Criminal Record in Nevada?

Also known as rap sheets, criminal records are official documents containing all crime-related data and criminal history information of persons in Nevada. The information in Nevada criminal records is assembled from various sources, including local, county, and state repositories, trial and appeal courts, and county and Nevada correctional facilities.

What Shows Up on a Criminal Record in Nevada

Nevada residents can access criminal records. Persons who obtain these documents can expect to find the following information:

The full name of the subject of the record (including any aliases)
A mugshot of the subject and details of unique physical descriptors
The birth date of the offender
A full set of fingerprints
All indictments (both past and most recent)
Arrest information as well as past/outstanding warrants
Dispositions and conviction information

How to Obtain Criminal Records in Nevada?

The Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History makes Nevada criminal records available to the public. Individuals interested in applying for their criminal records or notice of the absence of a criminal history record may do so in person or by mail. Requesters must complete a criminal history records request form, attach a fingerprint card (if applying for a record) and $27 in payment, and submit the package to:

Department of Public Safety
Records, Communication and Compliance Division
333, West Nye Lane, Suite 100
Carson City, NV 89706

The public can also go to the local sheriff or police department for a criminal record search. Such records, however, will be specific to that office or department. Another option for obtaining criminal records at the county level is to visit the courts for on-demand court records. Finally, individuals that wish to run a free public criminal record check may visit third-party sources. However, the information that third parties offer may be out of date.

Are Nevada Arrest Records Public?

Yes, Nevada arrest records are public property - according to the state’s public records laws. While the Nevada Department of Public Safety collates arrest and criminal records, Nevada Police Departments and Nevada Criminal Courts also maintain public arrest records.

Members of the public may obtain free arrest records by running an arrest search at local police departments or criminal courts.

What is Considered an Arrest Record in Nevada?

Nevada arrest records are official documents that provide information regarding a person's apprehension and detention following their alleged involvement in criminal activity within the state. While these records indicate that the subject is/was detained or questioned, they may not be used to prove their involvement in the alleged crime. Arrest records differ from indictment or criminal records in that the subject of an arrest record may or may not be guilty or charged with an offense.

Arrest records in Nevada typically feature details of the alleged crime as well as:

The personal information of the subject
The place, date, and time of the arrest
The location of the holding facility
The case status
The names of the arresting officer and issuer of the warrant

Nevada Arrest Warrants

Nevada arrest warrants are notarized court orders providing the bearer with legal authorization to arrest or detain persons named on the document. A warrant is typically issued in connection with an alleged criminal offense. They are also signed and issued by a judge or magistrate for local or state law enforcement agencies. Nevada arrest warrants typically indicate the name of the suspect to be arrested as well as other relevant arrest-related details such as:

The alleged criminal offense of the individual
Restrictions on the authority of the arresting officer
The place, date, and time restrictions for the arrest
An expiry date
Any applicable bail/bond terms

As per Nevada state laws, the police can arrest a person for committing a crime even without an active warrant. This can be the case if an officer of the law is a witness to the crime or if the individual is alleged to have committed a felony. Sheriff offices and police departments routinely publish a list of active warrants on their official websites. Interested persons may perform an active warrant search on such websites to see information about a person’s alleged crimes.

How to Lookup Nevada Inmate Records

Nevada inmate records refer to documents that detail information regarding prisoners of the state and correctional institutions within the jurisdiction of the state. While these records are primarily generated by the various jurisdictions and their correctional facilities, detention centers, and housing units, these institutions are unified under the state's Department of Corrections. Jail records in Nevada typically include the full name and alias of the inmate, convicted offense, the prisoner’s biodata, the rate of incarceration and prospective release date, and the location of the correctional facility and the security level. The Nevada Department of Corrections maintains a database containing inmate search information. Interested persons can carry out an inmate lookup by name or DOC number.

How Do I Find Sex Offenders in Nevada

The Nevada sex offender registry provides public access to information pertaining to registered sex offenders in Nevada. These are typically compiled by various jurisdictions, and the data available usually include the full names and aliases of offenders as well as their bio-address, home/work/school addresses, criminal histories, and compliance status. Who is eligible to be listed on a sex offender registry is often decided by a judge who has discretion as to whether they need registration for crimes besides the charges listed under the sex offender registration law. In addition to the listings maintained by law enforcement agencies in various jurisdictions, the state Department of Public Safety maintains the Nevada Sex Offender Public Registry.

Understanding DUI Laws in Nevada

A DUI in Nevada is one of the most serious traffic violations a driver can commit. Alcohol impairs a driver’s ability to drive properly, and this could lead to life-threatening accidents. Nevada’s police officers regularly scan the streets for vehicles with seemingly impaired drivers and subject them to field sobriety tests.

Any driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above 0.08% (0.04% for commercial drivers or 0.02% for underage drivers) is immediately placed under arrest for drunk driving. The penalties for driving under the influence in Nevada range from $400 to $2000 in fines, 48 hours to 6 years in prison, or 185 days to three years without a driver’s license.

Nevada Misdemeanors Laws: Offenses and Penalties

Nevada state misdemeanors are non-indictable offenses that are known to be less severe than felonies. They are typically distinguished from felonies by the damage caused to persons or property and whether there is proof of intent to sell or distribute the drugs. In the state of Nevada, misdemeanors are categorized as gross misdemeanors (more serious crimes, but not felonies) and misdemeanors (less serious crimes). In most cases, the penalties for this crime are impacted by the criminal history of the offender.

Some examples of gross misdemeanor crimes in Nevada include:

Stalking without the use of the internet
Indecent exposure,
Crimes against government property (resulting in damage between $250 and $5,000)
Carrying a concealed weapon (first offense).

Misdemeanors in Nevada include:

Assault without a deadly weapon
Battery without a deadly weapon
Prostitution
Petty larceny (shoplifting an item or items valued at less than $650).

Nevada Felony Laws: Offenses and Penalties

Nevada felony offenses are crimes that often attract penalties of a jail sentence of more than one year, which may be served in a county jail or state prison. In some cases, a felony conviction may be punishable by the death penalty. As per Nevada state law, felony crimes are organized into categories from Category A through E. Category A felonies are the more serious felonies in Nevada, and Category E felonies are the least serious. Category A felonies in Nevada are punishable by the death penalty, life in prison without parole, or life in prison with a possibility of parole. On the other hand, a Category E felony is punishable from 1 year to 4 years. Some examples of Nevada felony crimes include:

Category A Felonies: First- and second-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault
Category B Felonies: Assault with a deadly weapon, battery (with the intention to kill)
Category C Felonies: Stalking, violation of restraining order
Category D Felonies: Manslaughter, third-degree arson
Category E Felonies: Gang recruitment

Are Nevada Probation Records Open to the Public?

Nevada probation records are official documents detailing that a person has been offered probation as an alternative to prison. Probation allows people convicted of a crime in Nevada to serve their sentences out of custody as long as they follow probation conditions imposed by the judge and probation officer. In Nevada, the probation office issues probation in proportion to the crime, so the length and nature of probation differ between offenders. Probation may be minimally supervised, supervised, or intensive. Intensive probation is a form of very strict probation that has conditions that vary from state to state but that emphasize punishment and control of the offender within the community.

Are Juvenile Criminal Records Public in Nevada?

A juvenile criminal record is an official record of information about criminal activity committed by children or adolescents who are not yet of legal adult age. Juveniles are not considered convicted of a crime like an adult but instead are tried in a juvenile court and found to be “adjudicated delinquent”. These criminal records are often mistakenly erased or expunged once a person becomes of legal adult age. Still, the record remains in the juvenile justice system unless the person petitions to have it expunged.

What are Nevada Conviction Records?

Nevada state conviction records are official documents that indicate that a person was found guilty of a criminal offense following their indictment and court hearing. This document details the alleged offense, the convict’s plea at the time of the court proceedings, and the judgment delivered. Mostly, conviction records only include information regarding cases where the subject was found to be guilty of the crime. The records also feature details such as the personal data of the accused, details of the indictment, and the court’s final judgment. It will also include information on fines, sentences, community service, and mandatory counseling sentences that resulted. The record also contains details of dishonorable discharges, probation, and paroles. However, judgments that are reversed or pardoned may be excluded from the record.

History and Accuracy of Nevada Criminal Records

The accuracy of criminal records depends on the recordkeeping and technological capabilities of the jurisdiction where the record is assembled and later digitized. Nevada criminal records archives usually tend to go back as far as the 1970s. This is when criminal and arrest data started to be centralized and compiled into an organized database, much like we use today. Accuracy was more commonly affected by human error in the past, but in the 1990s, the quality and accuracy of record-keeping improved exponentially due to the advent of the computer.

How to Find Nevada Criminal History Records for Free

Nevada criminal records can rarely be obtained for free. These records are available to the public through the Nevada State Police Records, Communications and Compliance Division (RCCD). Anyone requesting for the notice of absence or criminal history record of an individual may do so in person or by mail. The requester must complete a criminal history records request form, attach a fingerprint card, and pay $27 before submission of the request form.

The public can also visit the local sheriff or police department to search for a criminal record. Such records, however, will be addressed to that office or department. Alternatively, one can also obtain criminal records at the county level by visiting the court for on-demand court records. Finally, anyone that wishes to conduct a free public criminal record enquiry may also visit third-party sources. However, the information that third parties provide may need to be updated.

Are Police Records Public in Nevada?

Yes, to some extent. Police records are public property in accordance with the State’s public records laws. Police records refer to a formal document containing the criminal profile of an individual. This is actually different from a police report, which is just an account of a single account of crime or felony. The most effective method to obtain information about an individual’s previous records of arrests, charges, jail terms, active warrants, the arresting officer, the agency, mugshots, and every other recorded information is by online search through the police records. The Nevada Police Departments and Nevada Criminal Courts maintain possession of public arrest records, while the Nevada Department of Public Safety collects and stores arrest and criminal records.

The public may access free arrest records by running an arrest search at local police departments or criminal courts.

Law enforcement agencies, like the police, examine and collate reports for every single criminal case or incident that occurred. These are records with genuine information concerning individuals and the incident involved. Police records include: Police reports, arrests logs and police response in the incidents, respectively, in addition to any type of warrants issued.

Police records may not be part of the judicial system and as such may not be public. Nevertheless, many jurisdictions assist public entry for law enforcement information. Many law enforcement agencies deliberately exclude particular files from being public because of the awareness of the information required. For instance, an arresting agency may not disclose an arrest record to the public, if public disclosure of the document will jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation. Moreso, if access by the public to the arrest record will put a witness in danger. On that occasion, the arresting agency will not allow access by the public to the police record.

How to Obtain Police Records in Nevada

Police reports are public records, but the possibility of getting a copy depends on the law enforcement agency. It is also imperative to note that to be able to have access to the police records of someone, you must be the subject requesting for the records. This implies that you alone can request for your own criminal records and not somebody else.

The following step should be taken into consideration in other to successfully obtain police records in Nevada:

Fill a record request form: Completely fill an Identification File Request Form (DPS-006). Please note that someone cannot request for another person’s records. Every person must request their own record. Ensure the form is properly filled completely and written clearly, so as not to be rejected.
Obtain fingerprint: Establish fingerprinted by any fingerprinting service on FD-258 standard fingerprint card. The card must reflect all the ten fingerprints scanned simultaneously. The card must include the following: Name, Date of birth, Place of birth, Sex, Race, Height, Weight, Hair color, Eye color and Signature.

Lastly, it is important to ensure that the card is original, and should have a date and signature of the fingerprinting technician.

Payment: The cost for Nevada criminal history records is $27. Payment should either be through Money order or Certified check. These payments must be made to the Nevada Department of Public Safety. It should be signed, and must be $27. However, if many people are mailing in a record request in one envelope, separate money orders or certified checks for each person must be included. The state does not accept cash payment or deposit of personal checks.

Paperwork preparation and mailing: Attach the request form together with the fingerprint card and fee. Thereafter, mail it to the Department of Public Safety.

Response: A minimum of 45 days is required for the Repository to respond back either: To provide the criminal record, or A letter stating that there is no criminal record. After 45 days, call the Repository to enquire for an update. The phone number is (775) 684-6262. Normal office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Sealing the record petition: Everyone is strongly advised to seal their criminal records if possible. This process may require extra paperwork and can take many months to accomplish. Once it is done, it will no longer reflect on the background checks again.

Are Police Reports Public Records in Nevada?

A Police report is an official document that describes all of the circumstances, timeline, and facts of an event surrounding an (illegal) incident. Usually, it is used by the police department, the victim of the crime, and the court personnel. The report is always written by the responding officer then turned into the department for review. Immediately after it is completed, it is filed and taken out if the incident requires review. A police report provides the investigating officers with a point of reference and can be used by the victim for insurance claims. If criminal charges emerge, the court staff makes use of them.

Types of Police Reports

The procedures of how to complete a police report and the style of the report vary for different agencies, but the function and overall information of a police report are generally similar. There are specifically four main types of police reports:

Arrest report: This type of report describes the arrest information of a person, including the time, place, and personal description. It contains the reason for the arrest and information on the officer who conducted the arrest. Arrest reports are helpful in court and can be obtained from the arrestee.
Incident report: This style of report is a summary and description of a call an officer responds to. It is usually one page or less and contains information, such as the time and date of an incident, as well as the place and name of officers who responded to the scene.
Crime report: This type of report contains an overall description and suspect information for a crime. This can be a robbery attack, a burglary, a car-jacking, a kidnapping, etc. The crime report is significant in court if it comes to prosecution.
Accident report: This style of report is recorded at the scene of an accident. This can be a motor vehicle accident, a machinery accident, an accident at a workplace, etc. Special details of the accident and the victim involved can be revealed in this report.

How to File a Police Report with Nevada Law Enforcement

A police report can be filed with Nevada Law Enforcement by calling 911 in an emergency. An individual can freely submit a police report online and immediately print a copy of the report. The police have an obligation to investigate all reports of suspected criminal activity, and the report can be filed online, which is afterward transferred to a competent police jurisdiction. Some police reports are filed by police officers themselves, especially when a unit responds to the venue of the incident.

To register a police report online, the individual must ensure the incident is not an emergency, is not ongoing, has not been reported by someone else, and has no evidence or fingerprints.

The category of misconducts to be reported using the online platform can be lost property, vandalism, harassing phone calls, theft, hit & run or minor traffic collisions, and so on.

Upon submission of the report the individual will receive a temporary report number, the report filed by the individual will be reviewed. If approved, it will become an official police report.

Online police report filing is properly done if the following conditions are met:

If the report is not an emergency?
If the incident occurred within the Nevada City Police Department City limits?
If there are no known suspects?
If the incident did not occur on a state freeway?

When the report process has been completed, you will receive a response showing that your police report has been completed, then you’ll be given a police report case number and you can proceed by printing a copy of the police report to keep for record purposes.

It is very important to note that:

Any case filed by using the Online Police Reporting System will be reassessed.
After assessment, if further investigation of your case is required, you may be contacted.
Creating a false police report can attract a penalty.

Using the Nevada Police Department Police Online Citizen Reporting System, anyone can file a report of the following incidents:

Where to Find Free Public Police Records in Nevada

Public police records can be accessed through local, state, or federal platforms, which are open to the general public through the Freedom of Information Act. Anyone can write a letter officially to the government asking for public record data. Alternatively, one may be required to visit the local county office personally. In most cases, someone will be required to visit lots of different public and private websites to get a simplified report that Private Records can provide.

It is imperative to note that under the Nevada Public Records Act, individuals can freely have access to public records since the Act instructs local and state law enforcement agencies to make certain police records accessible, but fees are applicable for reproducing these records. However, to freely inspect a public police record, an individual must go to the records section of a law enforcement agency at regular business hours.

Also, to find free public police records in Nevada, one has to properly utilize the online public records information made available by the local police departments and sheriff's offices. For instance, a public police record that can be published online by a law enforcement agency is incident logs, arrest logs, etc. Upon reviewing such records, someone can find information about an incident that had occurred or an individual’s arrest in a specific location or county freely.

How to Find Mugshots in Nevada

Mugshots are close-up images taken by law enforcement to identify a person who was arrested or charged. It may show the victim’s front and profile view from the shoulders up. Mugshots are public in Nevada and are accessible to anyone. They will appear on arrest records, as well as one's inmate record and sex offender registry profile if they have one. They are used to help identify offenders and establish their true identity when prosecuting them.

Mugshots are usually available on online databases managed by certain criminal justice agencies to find mugshots. However, mugshots are published at the discretion of these agencies.