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White Collar Criminals In Utah to be Registered in Database

Utah has implemented the first, and so far only, white collar criminal registry, allowing anyone to view Utahans convicted of financial crimes like embezzlement or fraud, according to the New York Times. Offender information listed in the registry will, according to the bill, include: 

  • All names and aliases by which the offender is or has been known, but not including any online or Internet identifiers;
  • a physical description, including the offender's date of birth, height, weight, and eye and hair color;
  • a recent photograph of the offender; and
  • the crimes listed in Section 77-42-105 of which the offender has been convicted.

A first-time offender will be in the registry for 10 years. A second-time offender will be listed for an additional 10 years. Those who offend three times or more will be in the registry for life, according to the bill. People will not be listed if they: 

  • have complied with all court orders;
  • have paid all restitution claims; and
  • have not been convicted of any other offenses for which registration would be required

Also, it will only list those who were convicted of crimes from Dec. 31, 2005 on. 

The Times said the measure, which "sailed" through the legislature without difficulty, could provide a model for other states to use, with supporters envisioning that such databases could one day be as prolific as sex offender databases are today.