There is no single public database containing every U.S. criminal record
Criminal records in the United States are divided among state courts, county and municipal courts, state criminal-history repositories, police and sheriff agencies, departments of corrections, federal courts and federal law-enforcement systems. The right search therefore depends on whether you need a court case, arrest record, conviction, jail booking, prison record, sex-offender registration, federal case or your own fingerprint-based criminal-history summary.
“Criminal record” can mean several different government records
Before entering a name anywhere, decide what information you actually need. Searching the wrong system is one of the main reasons people conclude that a record does not exist.
Criminal case
Filed charges, court dates, pleas, motions, dispositions, sentencing and other case activity.
Arrest record
Information created by the agency making an arrest or investigating an incident.
Booking record
Current or recent local custody information maintained by a sheriff or corrections department.
Criminal-history record
Statewide criminal-history information compiled under the state’s reporting and disclosure laws.
Prison / supervision record
State or federal incarceration information and, in some systems, parole or supervision status.
Federal criminal case
Federal prosecutions handled in U.S. district courts and searched separately from state cases.
A practical way to search across the United States
There is no ordinary public government tool that accepts one person’s name and reliably returns every state, county, local and federal criminal record in America.
A better search works from the likely jurisdiction outward.
List every likely state
Start with states where the person lived, but give more weight to the place where the alleged offense or arrest occurred because criminal cases are usually filed there.
Find the official court system
Search the state judiciary for “case search,” “case lookup,” “public access,” “criminal docket” or similar tools.
Move to county level when necessary
Some states offer excellent statewide trial-court searches. Others require separate searches through county clerks, district courts, circuit courts or municipal courts.
Check the state criminal-history agency
Public access differs dramatically by state. Some offer public name searches, while others restrict detailed statewide records to the subject or authorized requesters.
Search incarceration records separately
State DOC systems cover state corrections; local jails are normally separate; federal incarceration uses the Bureau of Prisons.
Check PACER for possible federal prosecution
State-court portals ordinarily do not include federal criminal cases.
Verify identity
Compare middle name, DOB or age when lawfully available, county, court, case date and other identifiers before assuming a match belongs to the person you are researching.
Start with official state court records for most criminal cases
State courts handle a large share of criminal prosecutions in the United States. The exact court structure varies by state.
The federal government’s USA.gov court directory provides a starting point for federal, state, territory, county and municipal courts.
Find the official court systemLook for these options on the judiciary website
- criminal case search
- case lookup
- party search
- public access portal
- court docket search
- case information
- clerk records
- online court records
County and municipal court records can fill important gaps
If a statewide search fails, identify the county where the offense allegedly occurred. County clerks, district clerks, circuit clerks, superior courts, justice courts and municipal courts may each maintain different classes of criminal cases.
County or municipal courts can be especially important for:
- misdemeanors
- ordinance violations
- older criminal cases
- traffic-related criminal matters
- certified case dispositions
- court documents not available remotely
Every state has a central criminal-history agency
The FBI maintains an official State Identification Bureau Listing covering state agencies responsible for centralized criminal-history information.
Depending on the state, the agency may be called:
- State Police
- Department of Public Safety
- Bureau of Criminal Investigation
- Department of Justice
- State Bureau of Identification
- Criminal Justice Information Services
Use the state where the case happened—not just where the person lives now
A person can have records in several states. If someone moved from Ohio to Florida, a Florida search does not automatically retrieve an older Ohio prosecution.
Rather than guessing the correct state-police or justice-agency website, use the FBI’s official State Identification Bureau directory linked above.
Recent arrest and jail records are usually local
If the event happened recently, a county sheriff, city police department or local jail may have information before the complete court history or state criminal-history record is updated.
Useful terms on official local-government websites include:
- inmate search
- jail roster
- booking log
- custody search
- arrest log
- police records request
- incident reports
- sheriff records
Use the state Department of Corrections for state-prison records
USA.gov maintains an official directory of state departments of corrections .
Find a state corrections departmentState correctional locators commonly allow name searches and may provide information such as:
- offender or inmate number
- current institution
- custody status
- sentence information
- admission date
- projected release information
- parole or supervision status
Federal criminal cases are searched through PACER
The federal judiciary’s official electronic court-record service is PACER.
PACER provides access to federal district, bankruptcy and appellate court records. Anyone can register for a PACER account.
Search the specific federal court
If you know the district or circuit where the case was filed, search that court directly. PACER says court-specific information updates as records are filed.
Use the nationwide Case Locator
The PACER Case Locator searches the national index for federal district, bankruptcy and appellate cases and is updated daily.
Some federal records are restricted or unavailable remotely
Federal courts redact certain personal identifiers from public filings. Sealed documents are not available to the public through PACER. Older criminal-case documents can also have remote-access limitations.
Current PACER fees and a simple way to avoid unnecessary charges
| PACER item | Current fee | Useful detail |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic case information | $0.10 per page | Applies to generated pages and documents. |
| Most case-specific documents | Maximum $3 per document | Equivalent to 30 billable pages. |
| Quarterly account total | $30 or less is currently waived | Users exceeding the threshold are billed. |
| PACER registration | No registration fee | Usage charges can still apply. |
Federal prison records use the Bureau of Prisons locator
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator contains information about federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present.
Search federal inmatesSearches can be performed by federal identifying number or by name. The result can include age, sex, register number, release information and facility location.
The BOP also warns that release dates can change as sentences and Federal Time Credits are recalculated.
NSOPW provides the closest thing to a national public registry search—but only for sex-offender data
The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website is managed through the U.S. Department of Justice and connects public registry data from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and participating tribal jurisdictions.
Search NSOPWEach participating jurisdiction decides what information appears on its own public registry, so details can differ from one state or tribe to another.
To review your own nationwide FBI history, use an Identity History Summary
The FBI offers an Identity History Summary Check , often called an FBI criminal-history record or “rap sheet.”
The process is fingerprint-based. The FBI does not perform an ordinary name search for Identity History Summary requests.
| Requirement | Current FBI guidance |
|---|---|
| Current fee | $18 |
| Identity method | Fingerprint-based |
| Electronic fingerprints | Available through participating U.S. Post Office locations after starting the electronic request; additional fees can apply. |
| Mail option | Completed current fingerprint card can be mailed according to FBI instructions. |
| Fee waiver | FBI provides instructions for requesting a waiver when the requester cannot pay. |
| Challenge fee | No fee for challenging your Identity History Summary. |
You generally cannot order another person’s FBI rap sheet
The FBI states that an ordinary private citizen may obtain their own Identity History Summary, but the FBI does not provide another person’s arrest record to an unrelated private requester.
That means a nationwide search of someone else normally requires lawful searches of:
- state and local public court records
- state criminal-history systems that permit public access
- public jail and corrections records
- PACER for federal court records
- NSOPW when sex-offender registration is relevant
Name searches and fingerprint searches answer different questions
Faster but easier to mismatch
Public court and criminal-history systems often rely on name, DOB and other descriptors. Common names can generate records belonging to different people.
Stronger identity matching
Fingerprints allow government agencies to associate a record with an individual’s biometric identity rather than simply matching a name.
Read the disposition—not just the accusation
| Term | General meaning | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest | Law enforcement took action against the person. | Determine whether prosecutors filed a case. |
| Charge | An allegation was formally filed. | Review later disposition entries. |
| Pending | The matter has not reached a final outcome. | Check the most recent docket events. |
| Dismissed | The charge ended without a conviction on that count. | Check whether other counts remained. |
| Acquitted / Not guilty | No conviction on that adjudicated charge. | Review the complete case when multiple counts exist. |
| Convicted / Guilty | A conviction was entered. | Review sentencing and later appeal or post-conviction activity. |
| Sealed / Expunged | Public access has been restricted or the record received statutory relief. | Rules differ by jurisdiction. |
Why “no records found” does not always mean no criminal history exists
A public search can return nothing for many reasons unrelated to whether a criminal-justice event ever occurred.
Wrong jurisdiction
The case may have been filed in another county, state or federal court.
Older record
The online database may start years after the case was filed.
Different name
The record may use a former, maiden, middle or differently spelled name.
Sealed / expunged
Public access may have been legally restricted.
No court filing
An arrest or investigation may never have resulted in charges.
Database limitation
The portal may exclude certain courts, offense levels or document types.
Older criminal records may still exist even when they are not online
Court digitization dates differ across the country. Some older criminal records remain available only through courthouse terminals, clerk archives, microfilm, paper files or government archives.
Sealing and expungement rules differ significantly by state
There is no single nationwide state-court expungement rule. Each state determines which arrests, convictions or other criminal records may qualify for sealing, expungement, set-aside, nondisclosure or another form of relief.
When correcting or updating nonfederal information appearing on an FBI Identity History Summary, the FBI directs individuals to the State Identification Bureau associated with the state that contributed the record.
Juvenile records usually have stronger access restrictions
Juvenile court and criminal-history access rules vary by state and by the type of proceeding. Many juvenile records are confidential or have significantly more limited public access than ordinary adult criminal cases.
When accuracy matters, obtain the actual court document
Search-screen summaries are useful for research, but a court’s official document is better when the precise disposition matters.
Online docket
Useful for locating the case number and understanding the broad case history.
Plain copy
Useful when you need the filing or order itself but formal certification is unnecessary.
Certified copy
Authenticated by the clerk according to that court’s procedures and fee schedule.
The fastest workflow is usually to find the case online, write down the exact case number, then follow that court’s copy-request instructions.
How to correct a criminal-history record that belongs to you
If your own FBI Identity History Summary appears inaccurate or incomplete, the FBI provides a formal challenge process.
The FBI recommends identifying the disputed information clearly and including supporting documents when available. The FBI currently charges no fee for an Identity History Summary challenge.
Because state and local agencies contribute much of the underlying information, correction may also require working with:
- the State Identification Bureau
- arresting police or sheriff agency
- prosecutor
- court clerk
- state criminal-history repository
Public-record research is not automatically a compliant employment or tenant background check
A person may research many government records directly, but employers and landlords can face additional rules when criminal-history information is used in eligibility decisions.
The Federal Trade Commission explains that when an employer obtains a background report from a company that compiles background information, the Fair Credit Reporting Act can require:
- a stand-alone disclosure
- written permission before obtaining the report
- pre-adverse-action procedures
- a copy of the relied-on report
- notice of FCRA rights
- post-adverse-action notice when applicable
Official employment guidance: FTC — Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know .
Search tips that prevent common criminal-record mistakes
Search the event location
A person’s current home state may not be where an older case was prosecuted.
Use the full legal name
Add middle name or initial when supported by the official search system.
Try former names
Maiden, previous or legally changed names can matter for older court records.
Save the case number
Once identified, a case number is usually better than repeating a name search.
Search county records
Do this when the statewide judiciary portal does not cover the relevant local court.
Check disposition
Do not stop after finding an arrest or filed charge.
Use corrections separately
Court records and prison locators answer different questions.
Federal case? Use PACER
State court searches ordinarily will not show federal prosecutions.
Your own record? Use fingerprints
Fingerprint-based personal review is much stronger than repeatedly searching your own name.
Common questions about criminal-record searches in the United States
1. Is there one official nationwide criminal-record search for the public?
No. Public criminal records are distributed among state and local courts, state criminal-history repositories, law-enforcement agencies, corrections departments and federal courts. PACER is nationwide for federal court cases, and NSOPW provides a nationwide search of participating public sex-offender registries, but neither is a complete national criminal-history database.
2. What is the best place to begin a criminal-record search?
Begin with the official court system for the state and county where the suspected offense or prosecution occurred. Then check the state’s criminal-history repository and corrections system when relevant.
3. Can I search another person’s criminal record?
Many adult court records and some state criminal-history records are public, but availability differs by jurisdiction. Restricted, sealed, expunged and juvenile information may not be available to the public.
4. Can I request another person’s FBI rap sheet?
Not as an ordinary private requester. The FBI says its Identity History Summary process allows a person to obtain their own fingerprint-based record and does not provide another person’s arrest record to an unrelated private citizen.
5. How much does an FBI Identity History Summary cost?
The FBI currently charges $18. Fingerprints are required. Additional fingerprinting charges can apply when fingerprints are submitted through participating providers or Post Office locations.
6. Where do I search federal criminal cases?
Use PACER. Search the specific federal court when you know where the case was filed, or use the PACER Case Locator when the filing court is unknown.
7. How do I find a federal inmate?
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. It contains information for federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present.
8. Does an arrest record prove someone was convicted?
No. An arrest records law-enforcement action. Check the resulting criminal court case and final disposition to determine whether charges were filed and whether a conviction occurred.
9. Why might an old criminal case not appear online?
The court may not have digitized the record, the case may be in another jurisdiction, the record may be sealed or expunged, or the public portal may not include that court or time period. Contact the court clerk when older records are important.
10. Can I use public criminal records to make an employment decision?
Employment background screening can involve the Fair Credit Reporting Act, federal discrimination laws, and additional state or local restrictions. A public-record search is not automatically a compliant employment background-check process.
Official government resources for continuing your search
- USA.gov — Federal, State, Territory, County and Municipal Courts
- FBI — State Identification Bureau Listing
- FBI — Identity History Summary Checks
- FBI — Identity History Summary FAQs
- PACER — Find a Federal Court Case
- PACER — Pricing and Fees
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
- USA.gov — State Departments of Corrections
- U.S. Department of Justice — National Sex Offender Public Website
- Federal Trade Commission — Background Checks for Employers