All You Need to Know About Running a Background Check in Utah

Brandon Way - June 10, 2025

Background checks are a core component of many important decisions, whether related to employment, housing, personal safety, or social interactions. Each of these facets of our lives involves a fundamental need to gather more information about the people we engage with.

Utah governs the background check process with state-specific rules and offers multiple channels to help you obtain relevant information. This article will break down everything you need to know about conducting a background check in Utah, including the types of background checks available, how to perform one, and what steps to take if you find any errors in your report.

Types of Background Checks Available in Utah

Here are the different types of background checks available in Utah.

Criminal Background Checks

One of the most common types of background checks in Utah is a criminal background check. It reveals whether or not a person has been convicted of any crimes in the past, including any misdemeanors and felonies. Your check will include arrest records, pending charges, conviction history, incarceration information, and other related details from the Utah Department of Public Safety.

Employment Background Checks

These checks are specifically targeted towards a person’s history and qualifications for the purpose of a job application. They can include criminal records, employment history, education credentials, and professional licenses. 

All employers in Utah need to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) when going ahead with these checks. This means the person being checked has to give written permission and should be told if any negative decision is made because of something in the report.

Tenant Background Checks

Landlords in Utah often request tenant background checks to screen applicants before short-listing them for rental properties. Records in this area often include eviction history, credit reports, financial details, and criminal background information.

The Utah Fit Premises Act allows landlords to take a tenant’s history into consideration as part of the appraisal process, as long as they do it lawfully and without unfair discrimination.

Non-Profit Background Checks

Many volunteer organizations based in Utah require background checks when clearing people who need to work with the vulnerable population, i.e., children or the elderly. These checks usually focus on criminal history and sex offender registries. It’s usually part of a standard onboarding process for many non-profits. 

Personal Background Checks

The final type of background check you can do in Utah involves reviewing your own records. This is often done to identify any errors in your publicly available information before applying for a job, visa, or loan. Viewing your information from a third-party perspective can help you understand what may need improvement or reveal any inaccuracies that should be corrected.

How to Do a Background Check in Utah

There are various methods you can use to run a background check in Utah. Here are some of the most commonly used options:

1. Contact the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)

If you want to do an official background check, the most reliable method is to consult the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), a division of the Department of Public Safety in Utah. The BCI offers fingerprint-based and name-based checks that are widely accepted by employers, licensing boards, and government organizations.

Using this service is straightforward. All you have to do is complete a form available on the website, provide a set of fingerprints, and submit the documents either in person or by mail. Once submitted, you will receive your legally verifiable results within 7-10 business days.

2. Check the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Child Abuse and Neglect Registry

If you’re working with children in daycare centers, schools, foster care, or adoption services, you can access the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry maintained by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This registry provides important information about reported cases of child abuse and neglect.

To start the background check, you’ll need to submit a background screening authorization form along with a copy of the person’s government-issued ID. If it’s for employment, make sure to include proof that your agency is allowed to access this information under Utah law. The process usually takes 5 to 10 business days.

3. Use a Reverse Lookup Tool

Reverse lookup tools are great for quick, informal background checks. One of the most popular sites for doing a background check in Utah is CheckPeople.com. This site pulls public records from databases, social media, and phone history into a single report.

These tools make it incredibly easy to gather information from multiple sources. Just enter the person’s name, address, and phone number into the search bar, and you’ll get a detailed report that includes criminal records, past addresses, education and work history, contact information, and social media profiles. It usually takes just a few minutes to get all the data you need.

While these tools can be really helpful, remember they can’t be used for official employment or tenant screenings, or credit-related decisions. They’re best for when you just want to learn more about someone without dealing with a lot of legal stuff.

4. Check Social Media Platforms

Another quick and informal way to do a background check is by checking someone’s social media profiles. Social media checks are common for getting an idea of someone’s character, lifestyle, communication style, and how they act in public.

Which platform you check depends on the type of background check you’re doing. For example, if you’re an employer, you might look at someone’s LinkedIn to check their job history and education. However, if you’re trying to get to know a potential roommate, you might scroll through their Instagram or X to get a feel for who they are.

Just keep in mind that what you see online isn’t always a true reflection of someone’s real life. People tend to post carefully curated versions of themselves, so take it all with a grain of salt.

5. Check News Archives

Running a quick Google search and checking the Google News tab using a person’s full name can help you find important background information. This method works especially well for small towns and communities in Utah that have local news coverage. The archives of local outlets like The Salt Lake Tribune can also provide a detailed history of any media coverage related to a specific person.

News searches can be useful for understanding a person’s public reputation, finding controversial history, and verifying stories you might have heard in passing. However, it’s important to cross-check any information you find through this method. People with common names can easily be confused with others, so make sure you’re looking at the right person before drawing conclusions.

How to Dispute or Correct Background Check Information

Errors in background check reports can occasionally occur, and when they do, they can have significant consequences for everyone involved. Thankfully, both Utah state law and the Fair Credit Reporting Act give people the right to dispute any inaccurate information found in these reports.

Here’s how it works:

1. First, identify the inaccurate information, such as a false criminal charge or outdated employment history that’s no longer relevant.
2. Note who created the report. If it’s the Utah BCI, you’ll need to submit a correction request along with the necessary documentation to support your claim. If the incorrect information comes from a third-party service, you can file a formal dispute in writing, providing the relevant evidence.
3. Wait for a response from the concerned party. The BCI usually investigates and corrects verified errors within 30 days. While the timing may vary for third-party companies, don’t worry, as they are legally required to make corrections when necessary.
4. If errors remain even after you’ve provided proof, you have the right to add a “Statement of Explanation” to your file. This statement can provide context and clarification for future employers, landlords, or creditors who review your information.
5. Keep a record of everything related to the process. This means saving screenshots, PDFs, Word documents, photos, videos, audio files, and anything else tied to the incident. Having all this information ready can help if anyone questions your background later.

Running a Background Check in Utah Isn’t a Complex Process

As you can tell, there are several ways to conduct a background check in Utah. While it’s not a difficult process, the time it takes can vary depending on the method you choose.

Fortunately, you can use free online people lookup tools like CheckPeople.com to run a background check on anyone quickly. These sites gather data from social media platforms and other public databases.

Whether you’re an employer, landlord, creditor, or just someone looking to learn more about a person, background checks are available to anyone. However, with the power these tools hold, it’s important to use them responsibly and ethically.

Now that you’ve learned more about the process, you’re better prepared to make informed decisions and protect yourself and your interests in Utah.