In Nevada, criminal records are available for any individual that is arrested and convicted of a crime. These records are initially created by local law enforcement when an individual is arrested for the suspicion of committing a crime. The report will contain information describing the individual as well as the incident. Over the course of a person's lifetime, any additional arrests or convictions, including all misdemeanor charges and felonies are recorded in this file. The file is accessible throughout the state of Nevada and from outside sources through a computerized database. Individuals requesting this information will need to do so in the proper way.

Nevada is an open records state. This means that, under law, all records having to do with public safety information is available to anyone in the state who requests the information. However, in some instances, it is necessary to obtain a waiver signed by the individual. This will occur most commonly in third party searches in which the individual is applying for a job, a contract, a business partnership or other legal matters. However, any citizen can request a copy of a criminal record within the state. This information can provide very detailed information about the incidents these individuals are involved in. Therefore, it is also a good idea for individuals to get a copy of their own criminal record to ensure it is accurate.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety maintains Nevada criminal records. This agency, also known as the DPS, governs the Records and Identification Bureau of the state. The county sheriff is also charged with the requirement of keeping this information accurate and up to date. For individuals who wish to access this information, the first thing to do is to contact this agency and request the information. This is done with a name search (in most cases) or with the use of a fingerprint scan. It is likely that individuals will need to pay a fee of $21 per search to get these records. Mail or visit the following address:

Nevada State Criminal Records

Nevada Records Bureau

333 West Nye Lane

Carson City, Nevada 89706

It is possible to request information as well as fingerprint kits by calling the agency at 775 684-6262. To obtain any type of record by mail, it can take up to three weeks to occur, or longer. The processing time does not include mail time. In some cases, it is best to use an online database to gather these records instead. That can make it easier to get information in a faster manner.

The Nevada criminal records available through this type of search do not include all types of records. Data that is at the federal level is not contained here. This includes any arrest or charge through the federal court system or law enforcement. Records of juveniles under the age of 18, or those records from when an individual was that age, are not available in this way either. Most other criminal records are available for public search.

 

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