People arrested in Las Vegas automatically have the incident recorded in their criminal records. And anyone who conducts a background check can see the arrest, even if the case does not result in a charge or a conviction. But it may be possible to get the arrest records sealed.
Are Las Vegas arrest records public?
Las Vegas arrest records are generally not public … but there are exceptions.
Criminal background checks in Nevada show arrests from the preceding seven years. In most cases though, you need to give your permission before an employer, landlord, or other person can run a third-party background check on you. (Note that background checks in Nevada show all of a person’s convictions, even if they go back for more than seven years.)
In addition, the arrest records of people currently in custody at the Clark County Detention Center or Las Vegas City Jail are viewable online when you search their names. When the inmate is released from custody, then their arrest record disappears.
Finally, the booking records of people currently in custody or under supervision are available through Nevada’s VINElink system or by calling (888) 268-8463. (VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday.)1
How do I find recent arrests in Nevada?
You usually cannot find another person’s arrest records in Nevada unless they give you their permission to run a third-party background check. If the person is currently in custody, you can try running the person’s name at the jail’s inmate search page or through Nevada’s VINElink system .
To purchase a copy of your own arrest records for $11, you can go to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department at:
400 South Martin Luther King Boulevard
Building C
Las Vegas, NV 89106
The Records Department is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on weekends from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. (The Bureau is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.)
Call ahead of time at (702) 828-3271 to make sure they are open.2
How do I look up criminal records in Nevada?
To obtain an official copy of your Nevada criminal history report (which includes both arrests and conviction records), you need to:
- complete this form (DPS-006);
- get fingerprinted;
- get a $27 money order or certified check; and
- mail the above materials to the Nevada Department of Public Safety at:
Records, Communications and Compliance Division
333 West Nye Lane, Suite 100
Carson City, Nevada 89706
Note that you can only obtain your own criminal history report. You may not request someone else’s.3
Can employers ask about my arrest records?
Nevada’s “ban the box” law prohibits most employers from asking you about your criminal history (including past arrests) on the initial job application. Employers must also:
- obtain your written consent before conducting a third-party criminal background check; and
- notify you if your criminal record is the reason you were not hired.4
What is the waiting period to seal arrest records in Las Vegas?
The waiting period to seal arrest records depends on how the case turns out. If the charge was dismissed – or if the defendant was acquitted at trial – then there is no waiting period to petition for a record seal. But if the case results in a conviction, the waiting period turns on the severity of the crime. And some convictions are unsealable.
| Nevada arrest records | Record sealing waiting period |
|---|---|
| The majority of misdemeanors | 1 year after the case closes |
| Gross misdemeanors, category E felonies, and misdemeanor-level battery, harassment, stalking, and violation of a protection order | 2 years after the case closes |
| Most category D felonies, category C felonies, and category B felonies | 5 years after the case closes |
| Misdemeanor-level battery domestic violence and DUI | 7 years after the case closes |
| Category A felonies, felony “crimes of violence”, and burglary of a residence | 10 years after the case closes |
| Felony DUI, sex crimes, crimes against children, and invasion of the home with a deadly weapon pursuant to NRS 205.067 | Never |
In some cases, people get arrested … and prosecutors do not bring charges right away. This is because prosecutors typically have a year to decide whether to bring charges, and occasionally they take this extra time. During this limbo period, arrestees cannot petition for a record seal.5
The instructions for sealing Las Vegas Justice Court arrest records are here. And the instructions for sealing Las Vegas Municipal Court arrest records are here. These instructions include template forms.
From start to finish, sealing criminal records takes about a year in Nevada. It is recommended that people hire a criminal defense attorney to handle the entire paperwork-heavy, time-consuming process.
Legal References
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c (Fair Credit Reporting Act).
- LVMPD Records and Fingerprinting Bureau.
- Nevada State Police Records, Communications and Compliance Division, Nevada Department of Public Safety.
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681.
- NRS 179.245; NRS 179.255. See also Tiffee v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Ct., (2021) 137 Nev. Adv. Op. 20; see also Aragon v. State (In re Aragon), (2020) 476 P.3d 465, 136 Nev. Adv. Op. 75.
