Choose the report you actually need before paying for one
There is no single government document called a “criminal record report” that works for every purpose in the United States. You may need your own fingerprint-based FBI Identity History Summary, a state criminal-history report, a certified court disposition, a federal court case, or a legally compliant employment or tenant background report. Each comes from a different source, contains different information, and may have different legal uses.
“Criminal record report” can mean five different things
Before submitting fingerprints, paying a court fee or purchasing a background report, decide exactly what document the requesting organization expects.
FBI Identity History Summary
A fingerprint-based summary of certain information associated with fingerprint submissions maintained by the FBI.
State criminal-history report
Criminal-history information maintained by a state’s centralized repository, often a state police agency, bureau of investigation or department of public safety.
Criminal case record
Filed charges, hearings, pleas, dispositions, sentencing and public documents from a specific court case.
Certified disposition
An authenticated court copy showing how a particular charge or criminal case was resolved.
Consumer background report
A report prepared by a background-reporting company for an authorized purpose such as employment or tenant screening.
Corrections / inmate report
Information from a state department of corrections, county jail or Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Use this table to choose the right criminal record report
| Your goal | Best official source | Fingerprint required? | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review your own FBI record | FBI Identity History Summary | Yes | Not automatically the same as every state/local court record. |
| Review your own state criminal history | State Identification Bureau | Often yes for full personal review | Rules differ by state. |
| Prove how one case ended | Court clerk | No | Only covers that court case. |
| Research another person’s public case | State / county court | No | Sealed, juvenile and nonpublic records are excluded. |
| Find a federal prosecution | PACER | No | Federal cases only. |
| Find state-prison information | State Department of Corrections | No | Usually does not replace the court record. |
| Employment background report | Authorized screening process | Depends on law and job | FCRA/state rules may apply. |
How to obtain your own FBI criminal-history report
The FBI calls its personal criminal-history response an Identity History Summary. It is commonly referred to as an FBI background check, rap sheet, criminal-history record, police clearance or good-conduct certificate.
The FBI’s current fee is $18. The request requires fingerprints because the FBI does not perform a simple name-only Identity History Summary search.
Open FBI Identity History SummaryWhat may appear in an FBI Identity History Summary?
The FBI describes the summary as a listing of certain information taken from fingerprint submissions retained by the FBI. Depending on the person’s history, it may contain criminal justice fingerprint information and associated arrest or disposition data submitted by contributing agencies.
FBI Identity History Summary: practical step-by-step
Choose electronic or mail submission
The FBI accepts direct electronic requests and mail requests. Electronic submission is usually the more convenient route and allows electronic status notifications.
Complete the applicant information
Enter your personal information exactly as required. If submitting by mail, use the current FBI Identity History Summary Request Form.
Submit current fingerprints
The FBI requires a current fingerprint submission. Old fingerprint cards from a previous Identity History Summary request cannot simply be reused.
Pay the $18 FBI fee
The direct FBI fee is currently $18 whether the request is submitted electronically or by mail. Fingerprinting providers may charge their own additional fee.
Wait for the FBI response
Direct electronic applicants receive an electronic response and can select an option for a mailed response. The FBI processes requests in the order received and does not offer an ordinary expedited service.
Review every entry
Check the identity information, arrest data, charges and dispositions. If something appears inaccurate or incomplete, use the FBI challenge process.
Where to get fingerprints for an FBI report
If you submit electronically directly to the FBI, participating U.S. Post Office locations can transmit fingerprints electronically after the online request is started. Additional USPS or fingerprint-service fees may apply.
For a mail request, fingerprints may be taken by:
- local police or sheriff offices that offer fingerprinting
- state law-enforcement fingerprint services
- professional fingerprinting providers
- other qualified fingerprint technicians
The FBI accepts the FD-1164 fingerprint card. The agency also recommends having multiple sets taken when fingerprints are difficult to capture clearly.
How to submit an FBI criminal-history request by mail
A direct mail request generally requires three things:
- completed FBI Identity History Summary Request Form
- current fingerprint card
- $18 payment using an accepted payment method
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow RoadClarksburg, WV 26306
The FBI says not to send cash, personal checks or business checks for a direct Departmental Order request. Follow the current payment instructions on the FBI application before mailing the packet.
When an FBI-approved Channeler may be useful
An FBI-approved Channeler is a private company authorized to receive fingerprints and applicant information, electronically transmit them to the FBI, and return the FBI Identity History Summary to the applicant.
Channelers can be convenient when speed, electronic fingerprint capture or local service is important, but they charge their own fees in addition to applicable FBI costs.
See FBI-approved ChannelersHow to obtain a state criminal-history report
Every state has a centralized criminal-history agency. Depending on the state, it may be called the State Police, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, State Bureau of Identification or Criminal Justice Information Services division.
State records can be especially useful when you need:
- your own state criminal-history review
- a state-required fingerprint background check
- a state police clearance
- correction of state-level criminal-history data
- state-specific conviction or arrest information
Find the official criminal-history repository for your state
The FBI maintains a State Identification Bureau Listing with the centralized criminal-history agency for every state.
Find your State Identification BureauWhen the best “report” is actually the criminal court file
If your real question is “What happened in this case?”, a court record is usually more useful than a general criminal-history summary.
A criminal court file can contain:
- case number
- filed charges
- complaint or indictment
- hearing dates
- pleas
- dismissals
- convictions or acquittals
- sentencing orders
- probation information
- appeal-related entries
Use the USA.gov court directory to locate the relevant state, county or municipal court system when you do not already know where the case was filed.
Find the official courtWhen you need a certified criminal record or disposition
A certified disposition is usually obtained from the clerk or court administrator where the criminal case was filed. It is commonly used when a government agency, immigration authority, licensing board or another formal process requires proof of the final court outcome.
Before contacting the clerk, collect:
- full defendant name
- case number if known
- approximate case year
- court or county
- specific document required
- whether certification or exemplification is required
Online case summary
Useful for finding the case, but may not be acceptable as official proof.
Plain court copy
A reproduced court document without formal clerk certification.
Certified copy
Authenticated by the court according to that jurisdiction’s procedures.
How to obtain public criminal information about another person
You generally cannot order an unrelated person’s private FBI Identity History Summary simply because you know their name. For ordinary public-record research, begin with government court systems in the jurisdictions connected with that person or event.
Identify the state and county
Focus on where the alleged arrest, prosecution or conviction occurred rather than only where the person currently lives.
Search the official court system
Use the state judiciary, county clerk, district court, superior court or other official trial-court portal.
Check the state’s public criminal-history service
If the state legally provides a public name-based criminal-history search, use that as an additional official source.
Check corrections when relevant
State prison information is usually maintained separately from court records.
Search federal court records separately
Federal prosecutions generally require PACER rather than a state court portal.
Verify identity and final disposition
Do not match a criminal case to someone from name alone, and do not treat an arrest or filed charge as proof of conviction.
Use PACER when the criminal case is federal
Federal criminal cases are maintained by the federal judiciary and are separate from state criminal-history systems.
PACER provides public electronic access to federal district, appellate and bankruptcy court records.
If you know the federal court, search that court directly. If not, use the PACER Case Locator, which searches a nationwide federal-case index.
Search federal court casesCurrent PACER charges
Through December 31, 2026, PACER currently charges $0.10 per page. Most case-specific documents are capped at $3 per document. Users who incur $30 or less in a quarter are not billed for those charges.
Prison and corrections records are a separate report source
If you need to know whether someone is currently or recently within a state correctional system, use that state’s Department of Corrections.
USA.gov maintains an official State Departments of Corrections directory.
Find a state corrections departmentFederal inmates
For federal custody, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. The BOP locator covers federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present.
For sex-offender registration, use the national government search
The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) links public sex-offender registry information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and participating tribal jurisdictions.
Search NSOPWNSOPW retrieves information from the participating jurisdiction’s public registry. When a result matters, open the underlying state, territory or tribal registry record for jurisdiction-specific details.
How to read a criminal record report without misinterpreting it
| Term | What it generally indicates | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest | A law-enforcement event. | Whether prosecutors filed a criminal case. |
| Charge | A criminal allegation. | The final disposition of that charge. |
| Pending | The matter has not reached final resolution. | Newest court docket entry. |
| Dismissed | The listed charge ended without conviction on that count. | Whether other counts remained. |
| Acquitted / not guilty | No conviction on that charge after adjudication. | Other charges in the same case. |
| Conviction / guilty | A conviction was entered. | Sentence and later appeal or relief. |
| Deferred disposition | Outcome varies by jurisdiction. | Exact state statute and final status. |
| Expunged / sealed | Public access has been restricted under applicable law. | Specific legal effect in that jurisdiction. |
What to do when a report shows an arrest but no disposition
A common criminal-history problem is an arrest entry that does not show how the court case ended. This can happen when the final disposition was not transmitted correctly to a state repository or the FBI.
How to correct an inaccurate FBI criminal-history report
The FBI provides an official challenge process when you believe your Identity History Summary contains inaccurate or incomplete information.
A useful challenge should clearly identify the disputed entry and include supporting documents such as:
- certified court disposition
- dismissal order
- expungement or sealing order
- corrected identifying information
- documentation from the submitting agency
The FBI currently states that challenges are processed in the order received and that the average challenge response time is within 45 days of receipt. There is currently no fee for an Identity History Summary challenge.
FBI challenge informationWhy sealed or expunged information may not appear
Criminal-record sealing and expungement laws differ dramatically by state. A record that once appeared in a court search or criminal-history report may later be restricted, sealed or removed from ordinary public access.
For nonfederal arrest information, the FBI directs questions about expungement or sealing to the State Identification Bureau for the state where the offense occurred.
Federal arrest data can be removed from the FBI Criminal File when the submitting federal agency requests removal or the FBI receives a federal court order specifically directing expungement.
Using an FBI report for a visa, foreign residency or overseas requirement
An FBI Identity History Summary is sometimes requested for immigration, foreign residency, international employment or other overseas administrative purposes.
The FBI now authenticates Identity History Summary results with an FBI watermark and the signature of a division official. If the receiving foreign authority requires an apostille, the FBI explains that the authenticated document can then be submitted through the U.S. Department of State apostille process when appropriate.
Employment and tenant screening use different legal rules
If a background-reporting company provides a criminal background report to an employer, the Fair Credit Reporting Act can apply.
The Federal Trade Commission explains that employers using a third-party consumer report generally must:
- give the applicant a stand-alone written disclosure
- obtain written authorization
- certify compliance to the background-reporting company
- follow pre-adverse-action procedures when required
- provide required adverse-action notices
State and local laws may create additional limits on when criminal-history information can be requested or how it can be used.
FTC employer background-check guidanceWhat a “no criminal record found” report does — and does not — prove
A clear report is useful, but its meaning depends on which database was searched.
No FBI Identity History Summary
Means the FBI did not identify responsive Identity History Summary information from the fingerprint search. It is not a promise that no public court case exists anywhere.
No state repository match
Means that state’s system did not return qualifying data under its own rules and search method.
No online court result
May mean no case exists, but can also reflect an older case, sealed matter, another jurisdiction or an online database limitation.
A practical report checklist before you submit it anywhere
- confirm your name is spelled correctly
- verify date of birth and identifying data
- read every arrest and disposition entry
- confirm dismissed charges are shown accurately
- check whether an expungement/sealing order was applied
- obtain certified court dispositions for disputed cases
- confirm whether the receiving organization needs certification
- check whether the report must be recent
- ask whether an FBI, state or county report is required
- keep copies of all forms and receipts
Questions people commonly ask before ordering a criminal record report
1. How do I get my own nationwide criminal record report?
Request an FBI Identity History Summary using your fingerprints. The FBI currently charges $18 for a direct request. The summary is fingerprint-based and can be requested electronically or by mail.
2. Can I get another person’s FBI criminal record?
An ordinary private requester cannot simply order another person’s FBI Identity History Summary. For public-record research, use official state and local court systems and other records that are legally available to the public.
3. Does the FBI criminal record report require fingerprints?
Yes. The FBI requires a current fingerprint submission for an Identity History Summary. The FBI does not provide name-only Identity History Summary checks to individuals.
4. How much does an FBI Identity History Summary cost?
The FBI currently charges $18 for a direct Identity History Summary request. Fingerprinting providers, participating Post Offices or FBI-approved Channelers may charge additional service fees.
5. Where do I get my state criminal record?
Use your state’s centralized criminal-history repository. The FBI maintains a State Identification Bureau Listing with the responsible agency for every state.
6. What report should I get if I need proof of a conviction or dismissal?
A certified disposition from the court that handled the criminal case is usually the strongest source for proving how that specific case or charge ended.
7. How do I find a federal criminal case?
Use PACER. Search the specific federal court if you know it, or use the nationwide PACER Case Locator if the filing court is unknown.
8. What should I do if my criminal record report is wrong?
Obtain supporting documentation, especially certified court dispositions, and use the correction or challenge process offered by the state repository or FBI. State-originated FBI information often needs to be corrected through the state agency first.
9. Can a sealed or expunged record disappear from a report?
Yes. Depending on the jurisdiction and type of relief, sealing or expungement can restrict public access or change what appears in criminal-history systems. The exact effect varies by law.
10. Can I use my own FBI report for employment?
Not always. The FBI notes that employment, licensing or adoption checks within the United States may need to be processed through the relevant state identification bureau, requesting agency or another authorized process. Follow the instructions of the organization requesting the check.
Official resources for obtaining and verifying reports
- FBI — Identity History Summary Checks
- FBI — Identity History Summary FAQs
- FBI — State Identification Bureau Listing
- FBI — Approved Channelers
- USA.gov — Federal, State, County and Municipal Courts
- USA.gov — State Departments of Corrections
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search
- PACER — Current Fees
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
- U.S. DOJ — National Sex Offender Public Website
- FTC — Background Checks for Employers