Where To Get Criminal Record

First identify which “criminal record” you actually need

These products have different coverage and certification rules. For employment, licensing or adoption, use the channel required by the requesting agency rather than substituting a personal FBI copy.

For your own FBI Identity History Summary, choose electronic or mail submission

The FBI charges $18 per person and does not offer a name-only check. A current fingerprint submission is required. For an electronic request, start the FBI electronic process and submit fingerprints as instructed, including participating U.S. Post Office options where available. For a mail request, complete the Applicant Information Form and send the required materials to FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306.

Mail requests require the signed form, a current fingerprint card and exact $18 payment. The FBI accepts credit card payment forms, money orders or certified checks and says cash, personal checks and business checks delay processing.

Make the fingerprint card complete enough to avoid rejection

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  Use a current card

  The FBI does not accept a previously processed fingerprint card for a new request.

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  Include identity fields

  The card must include the requester’s name, date of birth and signature.

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  Capture all prints

  Provide rolled impressions of all 10 fingers and plain/flat impressions of all 10 fingers.

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  Use legible prints

  The FBI warns that illegible prints are rejected and can cause delay or additional cost.

Know how the FBI returns the result and what it does not expedite

The FBI says mail submissions are returned by U.S. First-Class Mail. Electronic requesters receive an electronic response and can choose a First-Class Mail response as well. The FBI does not offer expedited handling; it processes requests in received-date order, although it notes that electronic submission should be faster.

If no Identity History Summary is on file, the FBI mails a response saying no prior arrest data is on file. If a summary exists, it returns the summary. Additional sealed responses require separate requests and another $18 each.

Use the authorized state route for employment or licensing when required

FBI-approved channelers can assist with personal Identity History Summary requests for eligible U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents in the United States or territories, but the FBI says channelers cannot process employment or licensing requests. Those should be coordinated with the appropriate State Identification Bureau or state police under the applicable authorized process.

For one local case, the court clerk remains the direct source for the filed judgment or disposition; for a federal case, PACER provides court-specific and nationwide-index search options.

If the FBI summary is wrong, challenge the disputed item with supporting records

The FBI says Identity History Summary challenges are free and are processed in received-date order, with an average response time within 45 days of receipt. The challenge should identify the information believed inaccurate or incomplete and include any available supporting proof or documentation.

If the problem is a nonfederal arrest record that should be sealed or expunged, the FBI directs those questions to the State Identification Bureau for the state where the offense occurred. When a court disposition is the supporting proof, obtain that source-court record first and attach it to the challenge.