If you've been arrested in Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo or anywhere in Utah, the next 48 hours move fast: a jail booking, a bail decision, and a first appearance where the charges are read. What you say and do now shapes everything that follows. Before you guess, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7. Our AI legal assistant is trained on Utah's criminal code and federal law and can explain what you're facing in plain English. It's legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship, but it tells you what to do tonight.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Utah.
Right now: stay silent beyond giving your name. You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments, and anything you say to police can be used against you. Do not consent to searches and do not try to talk your way out of it. Write down everything you remember while it's fresh, including officer names and what was said. If you're in custody, ask whether a bail or pretrial-release decision has been made yet. Then call 1-844-690-0555 free to find out what your charge level means, what your first appearance involves, and whether you qualify for a public defender. It's information, not advice, available any hour.
Most states cap a top misdemeanor at one year. Utah deliberately does not. Under Section 76-3-204 a class A misdemeanor maxes out at 364 days in jail, one day short of the 365-day threshold that turns many offenses into an 'aggravated felony' under federal immigration law. The Legislature set it there on purpose (HB 244, 2019) so that a Utah misdemeanor wouldn't automatically trigger removal for a non-citizen. That single day means a plea or sentence negotiated without watching the calendar can quietly cost someone their lawful status, even a green-card holder. If you or a family member isn't a U.S. citizen, the immigration stakes of a Utah plea are real and often invisible. Call 1-844-690-0555 free before you agree to anything.
If you can't afford a private lawyer, Utah has real options, from court-appointed public defenders to these free and low-cost resources. Use them, then call 1-844-690-0555 to understand how they fit your situation.
I was just arrested in Salt Lake City. What's the very first thing I should do?
Stay silent beyond giving your name, don't consent to any search, and don't explain yourself to police. Ask whether a bail or pretrial-release decision has been made. Then call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, to learn what your charge level means and what your first appearance involves. It's legal information, not legal advice.
What's the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Utah?
Felonies (first, second or third degree) carry potential prison time and are heard in District Court; misdemeanors (class A, B or C) carry jail, not prison, and the lower classes are handled in Justice Courts. The line drives everything from sentencing to your right to a preliminary hearing. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to find out exactly where your charge falls.
How long could I actually go to prison for a Utah felony?
Utah uses indeterminate sentencing under Section 76-3-203: third-degree up to 5 years, second-degree 1 to 15 years, first-degree 5 years to life. The judge sets the range, but the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole decides your real release date. To understand the range you're facing, call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour.
Will I get a public defender?
If you can't afford a lawyer, the court can appoint a public defender for charges that carry possible jail. Eligibility is based on income and the charge. Court-appointed counsel handles the case itself; our hotline is a separate free way to understand your situation fast. Call 1-844-690-0555 to learn what to expect, then decide on representation.
Why does a class A misdemeanor in Utah max out at 364 days?
Because one extra day matters. Federal immigration law treats many offenses with a one-year (365-day) sentence as an 'aggravated felony' that can trigger removal. Utah set the class A cap at 364 days (HB 244, 2019) to avoid that. If you're not a U.S. citizen, this is critical, so call 1-844-690-0555 free before agreeing to any plea.
Can I clear my Utah record, and does it happen automatically?
Sometimes. Utah's Clean Slate program (Title 77, Ch. 40a) automatically expunges many class B and C misdemeanors and infractions after a waiting period, but it excludes DUI, violent, sexual, domestic-violence and weapons offenses, and all felonies. Other cases need a BCI certificate of eligibility and a court petition. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to find out which path fits your record.
How long do I have to wait before I can expunge a conviction?
For petition expungement the clock starts after your case fully closes: roughly 3 years for a class C misdemeanor or infraction, 4 for a class B, 5 for a class A, 7 for an eligible felony, and 10 for a DUI. Once BCI issues your certificate, you have 180 days to file it. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to map out your timeline.
What is a plea in abeyance and can I get one?
Under Title 77, Chapter 2a a plea in abeyance holds your plea while you complete conditions; finish them and the charge is dismissed, leaving no conviction. It's a powerful option for lower-level charges but isn't offered in every case and depends on the prosecutor. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to learn whether it might apply to yours.
Does Utah have a 'stand your ground' law if I acted in self-defense?
Yes. Under Section 76-2-402 a person may use force, including deadly force, when reasonably necessary against imminent unlawful force, with no duty to retreat from a place where you lawfully are; Section 76-2-405 covers defense of your home. Whether it applies turns on the facts. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to talk through your situation, as legal information, not advice.
What happens at my first appearance, and how fast does it come?
It comes quickly, often within a day or so of arrest. The judge reads the charges, addresses your right to counsel and sets your pretrial-release conditions under Utah's bail rules in Title 77, Ch. 20. In felony cases a preliminary hearing follows. Don't walk in unprepared, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, to know what's coming.
My charge involves alcohol and driving. Is that covered here?
DUI is its own area of Utah law (Utah is the only state with a 0.05 limit), so it has a dedicated page. If you're facing a DUI alongside or instead of other charges, start by calling 1-844-690-0555 free, and the assistant will point you to the right Utah information for your situation.
Is the Legal Hotline a law firm or a public defender?
No. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender, and it does not represent you. It gives free legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship. If you want representation, we can help you book a paid consultation with a Utah-licensed attorney. Call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7.
We connect frightened, searching Utahns with vetted criminal defense lawyers across Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, St. George and statewide. If you're licensed in Utah and want qualified, ready-to-talk referrals, join our network. It's a separate path from the free client hotline above and never competes with it.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
The hours after an arrest are when the wrong move costs the most, and the right information costs nothing. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, and tell our AI assistant, trained on Utah's criminal code and federal law, what happened. You'll get plain-English answers about your charge, your first appearance and your options, in English or Spanish. It's legal information, not legal advice, and creates no attorney-client relationship, but it's the fastest way to know what to do next.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.