What are Meridian Public Records?
Meridian public records, as provided for by the Idaho Public Records Act, include any writing or form of documentation, irrespective of physical form or features, that contains information pertaining to the conduct or administration of the public’s business generated, possessed, used, or kept by any state agency, independent public body corporate and politic, or local agency.
The Idaho Public Records Act however exempts certain records from public disclosure. These records include:
- Records exempted by a federal and state statute;
- Records exempted by court order pursuant to the Idaho Supreme Court Rules;
- Preliminary documents and investigative records of law enforcement agencies;
- Evacuation and emergency response plans;
- Confidential information;
- Personnel records, personal information, or personally identifying information;
- Health records;
- Trade secrets and proprietary information;
- Any draft legislation, research, personal communications, work papers, and draft redistricting plans;
- Records related to the Uniform Securities Act.
Meridian Crime Statistics
The Idaho State Police makes yearly reports detailing the rate of crimes in the various cities and counties of the state. In 2019, Meridian City recorded a total of 1,384 crimes, including 165 violent crimes and 1,219 property crimes. Incidences of violent crimes reported in Meridian City in 2019 include four murders, 32 rapes, seven robberies, and 122 aggravated assaults. For property crimes, there were 183 burglaries, 976 larcenies, 48 motor vehicle thefts, and 12 arson cases. The crime trend for the city indicates that between 2018 and 2019, robbery, larceny, and motor vehicle theft rates fell by 53%, 9%, and 8%. At the same time, murder (100%), rape (3%) and aggravated assault (14%) rates declined. Burglary (2%) and arson (20%) rates also dropped.
Are Meridian Criminal Records Public?
Pursuant to Idaho state laws, Meridian criminal records are under the aegis of public records. Hence, criminal records are open and available to interested members of the public, except where access to them is restricted by law or court order. The Idaho State Police Office, located in Meridian City, provides copies of criminal records through criminal history checks. It carries out name-based and fingerprint-based background checks. A requester can order a name-based check by completing the Name Based Criminal Background Check form. Then attach payment to the completed form and send them to:
Idaho State Police
Bureau of Criminal Identification
700 Street Stratford Drive
Suite 120
Meridian, ID 83642
To request a fingerprint-based background check, fill out the Fingerprint Criminal Background Check form with a complete set of inked and rolled fingerprints on a fingerprint card. Send these with payment to the address of the Bureau of Criminal Identification above. The Ada County Sheriff’s Office also makes criminal records and local arrest records available on request. Interested persons can use the Online Public Request Form to make online requests.
How to Obtain Meridian Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Meridian Police Department provides records of incidents relating to law enforcement and security in the city. These records include Meridian arrest records, police reports, and vehicle collision reports. Interested persons can request copies of these records online, in person, by mail, or by fax. Requesters can make online requests by using the Online Public Records Request form. Fill out the form and provide the case number, date, time, and location of the incident. Also, requesters should provide the names of the individuals involved and their age (if known). To make specific searches, requesters also use the Meridian Online Police Report form or Meridian Online Vehicle Collision Report form to search for copies of police reports or vehicle collision reports respectively.
Requests for police reports can also be made in person, by mail, or by fax to:
Meridian Police Department
1401 East Watertower Street
Meridian, ID 83642
Phone: (208) 888-6678
Fax: (208) 846-7366
mpd@meridiancity.org
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Meridian?
The Idaho State Police maintains a public online database of registered sex offenders. Interested persons can search this database to obtain sex offender information. Meridian residents can particularly use the City Search or County Search feature to find sex offenders residing in Meridian City or Ada County respectively. They can also carry out searches on the portal by name or zip code. Alternatively, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office provides residents with an online Offender Watch page that offers updated sex offender information. Meridian residents can search the page for sex offender information by name, zip code, and street address.
How to Find Meridian Inmate Records?
Persons detained by law enforcement agencies within Meridian are incarcerated in the Ada County Jail. This jail facility is run by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office provides a regularly updated Inmate Roster that helps interested persons to locate persons detained in the jail facility. Users can search this portal with the last name of the inmate. It also provides them with information about inmates.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Meridian Jail?
Inmate visitation at the Ada County Jail is provided through the Jail’s online Video Visitation system. Each visit lasts for 25 minutes and prospective visitors are to schedule visitation. For inquiries about the online video visitation system, call (208) 577-3113.
The jail facility is located at:
Ada County Jail
7210 Barrister Drive
Boise, ID 83704
Court Records
Meridian City is part of the Ada County court system. Like most counties in Idaho, the county has a district court, juvenile court, and magistrate court. The Ada County District Court is the highest court in the county that exercises original and general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. The Ada County Magistrate Court exercises limited jurisdiction and adjudges preliminary felony hearings, infractions, misdemeanors, probates, divorces, guardianships, and civil cases involving amounts that do not exceed $10,000.
The records of the cases decided by these courts are maintained by the Meridian County Clerk of the District Court and the Magistrate Court.
Location of Courts in Meridian
The Ada County court system consists of one District Court, one Juvenile Court, and one Magistrate Court. Below are the addresses and locations of these courts:
Ada County District Courts
Ada County District Court
Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6900
Fax: (208) 287-6919
Ada County Magistrate Divisions
Ada County Juvenile Court
6300 Denton Street
Boise, ID 83704
Phone: (208) 577-4800
Fax: (208) 577-4809
Ada County Magistrate Court
Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6900
Fax: (208) 287-6919
Are Meridian Court Records Public?
By virtue of the Idaho Supreme Court Rules, most court records are considered public records and can be accessed by the public. The court may however issue an order restricting access to the records of particular cases. In instances like this, such records are exempted from public view.
Can you look up a Meridian Court Case Online?
The Ada County Clerk of District Court provides the public access to cases through the Request or Inspect or Copy Judicial Records portal. This portal provides traffic, criminal, family law, probate, civil, and juvenile case records. Requesters will be required to provide personal information like their first name, middle name, last name, e-mail address, and phone number. Requesters should also select if they want to “view the file(s) in person” or “receive copies of”. Requesters can also search for hearings and records of the Ada County District Court online. Or use the Idaho iCourt website to search county-specific court records online.
How to Obtain Meridian Civil Court Case Records?
Meridian civil court records are in the custody of the Ada County Clerk of District Court. Interested persons can obtain copies of court case records online, in person, by mail, or by email. To make an online request, use the Request or Inspect or Copy Judicial Records portal. For in-person, mail, and email requests, send a written request or contact the Clerk with the information below:
Ada County Clerk of District Court
Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6900
Fax: (208) 287-6919
Email: adacourt@adacounty.id.gov
To obtain copies of Meridian civil court case records from the Ada County Magistrate Court, make requests to the Magistrate courthouse at:
Ada County Magistrate Court
Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6900
Fax: (208) 287-6919
How to Obtain Meridian Criminal Court Records?
The Ada County Clerk of District Court maintains the criminal court records arising from cases addressed by the Ada County District Court. This includes Meridian criminal court records. Requesters can get criminal court records online, in person, by mail, or by email. Make online requests through the Request or Inspect or Copy Judicial Records portal. To make an in-person, mail, or email request, send a written request or contact the Clerk at:
Ada County Clerk of District Court
Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6900
Fax: (208) 287-6919
Email: adacourt@adacounty.id.gov
Where the Meridian criminal court case record is at the Ada County Magistrate Court, requesters can obtain copies by submitting written requests to:
Ada County Magistrate Court
Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6900
Fax: (208) 287-6919
What are Meridian Vital Records?
Meridian vital records are official documents that include details of vital events that occurred within the city’s borders. They consist of divorce records, marriage records, birth records, and death records. Meridian divorce records are kept in the office of the Ada County Clerk of District Court. The Ada County Clerk provides copies of Meridian marriage records to interested persons. The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare keeps copies of birth and death records of all counties in the state. It also has copies of marriage and divorce records for interested persons.
Pursuant to Idaho state laws, vital records are partially closed records. Meridian birth records are closed records until 100 years after the birth has been registered. At the same time, Meridian marriage, divorce, and death records are not open to the public until after 50 years. Pending the completion of this timeframe, it is only the record owner(s), their immediate family relatives, legal representatives or agents of the owner of the record that can request copies of vital records.
Where and How to Obtain Meridian Divorce Records?
The Ada County Clerk of District Court keeps copies of Meridian divorce records. Copies of divorce records are available online, in-person, and via mail requests. To make an online request, use the Request or Inspect or Copy Judicial Records portal to get copies of your divorce decree. It costs $1 per page for these records and an additional $1 per seal for certification.
To make a mail or in-person request, prepare a written request with information about the divorce. The written request may include:
- The names of the divorced persons (including the wife’s maiden name);
- The date and place of divorce;
- Contact information of the requester
Include payment and a valid ID to the written request and submit them in person or by mail to:
Ada County Clerk of District Court
Ada County Courthouse
200 West Front Street
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 287-6900
Fax: (208) 287-6919
Email: adacourt@adacounty.id.gov
The Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics also issues certified copies of Meridian divorce records filed from May 1947 to date. They are available upon request at $16 per copy. Divorce records in Idaho are closed records until 50 years after the divorce. Copies of divorce records are available only to the divorced persons, their immediate family members, their legal representative, or those who can provide documentation showing it is needed for their property right may order legally confidential certificates.
Interested persons can request copies of Meridian divorce records by mail only. To make mail requests, fill out the Idaho Vital Statistics Certificate Request form (also available in Spanish) or prepare a letter with all the relevant information about the divorce. Enclose a copy of any acceptable identification and a signed check or money order payment made to Idaho Vital Records. Submit these documents by mail to:
Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Notate and express service requests for divorce records are processed within two weeks. Non-rush requests are processed between four to six weeks. Requesters can make express or expedited service requests by writing Rush at the back of the mail request. It costs $10, payable by money order.
Where and How to Get Public Meridian Marriage Records?
The Ada County Clerk grants licenses for the performance of marriages and keeps copies of the marriage records from the marriages. Interested persons can request Meridian marriage records from the County Clerk at $2. Requesters can order copies of marriage records by submitting a public records request form. Provide the names of the married persons and the date the marriage license was issued. Pay be required fee in cash or check. If there are questions about Meridian marriage certificates, call (208) 287-6840.
The Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics processes requests for certified copies of Meridian marriage records registered from May 1947 to date. Copies of marriage records are accessible to the married persons, their immediate family members, their legal representative, or persons can provide proof showing that they need the record to establish property rights.
Interested persons may order marriage records at $16 per copy from the state department. Requests for copies of marriage records are made by mail only. To order copies of marriage records, complete the Idaho Vital Statistics Certificate Request form (also available in Spanish) or write a letter with all the relevant information about the marriage. Attach a copy of any acceptable identification and a signed check or money order payment made out to Idaho Vital Records. Make requests by sending these documents by mail to:
Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
The processing time for a Meridian marriage certificate request is between four to six weeks after receipt of the application. However, applicants can request expedited service. To request this fast service, write Rush at the back of the mail request. This service costs $10, payable by money order.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Meridian?
All marriage records in Meridian are considered confidential until 50 years after the marriage.
Where and How to Find Meridian Birth Records?
The Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics keeps copies of all birth records in the state from July 1911 to date. This includes copies of Meridian birth records. Access to birth records is restricted to certain individuals. These individuals include the record owner, their immediate family members, their legal representative, or individuals that require copies of the record as evidence to establish certain property rights.
They can request copies of birth records at $16 per copy. The Bureau accepts mail requests only. To obtain copies of Meridian birth certificates, complete the Idaho Vital Statistics Certificate Request form (also available in Spanish). The completed form should be sent, along with a copy of any acceptable identification and a signed check or money order payment made out to Idaho Vital Records to:
Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
It takes an average time of four to six weeks to process requests for birth records after receiving them. If a requester wants expedited service, they can receive the copies requested between one to two weeks. This will however attract an additional $10 fee. Pay with check or money order to Idaho Vital Records.
Where and How to Find Meridian Death Records?
Certified copies of Meridian death records are in the custody of the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. This state department maintains death records in the state from July 1911 to date. Under Idaho state laws, obtaining copies of death records is restricted to eligible persons. They are available only to the record owner, immediate family members, their legal representative, or persons that can provide documentation showing it is needed for their property right. These eligible persons can order copies of death records at $16 per copy. Requesters can obtain death records by submitting mail requests only. To get copies of Meridian death certificates, fill out the Idaho Vital Statistics Certificate Request form (also available in Spanish). The filled-out form, along with a copy of any acceptable identification and a signed check or money order payment made out to Idaho Vital Records, should be sent to:
Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Requests for death records usually take four to six weeks to process. However, where the requester wants an express or expedited service, they can get the copies requested between one to two weeks. This service costs an additional $10 fee. The accepted means of payment are check or money order made payable to the Idaho Vital Records.
