Start here: what kind of criminal record are you trying to obtain?
There is no single free public website that contains every criminal record in the United States. Criminal court cases, statewide criminal-history files, arrests, jail bookings, federal cases, prison records and FBI identity-history records are maintained by different government agencies. The fastest route is to identify the record type first and then use the official agency that actually keeps it.
Can you really obtain criminal records for free?
Sometimes. The phrase free criminal records can be misleading because different agencies charge differently for searching, viewing, downloading and certifying records.
A public court index may be free to search while a certified copy of the same case costs money. A county jail roster may be free, while a fingerprint-based state criminal-history report carries a fee. Federal PACER access can generate charges even though many low-volume users ultimately pay nothing under the system’s quarterly fee-waiver rule.
| Record type | Best official source | Usually free? | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| State/local criminal court case | State judiciary, county court or clerk | Often | Document downloads or certified copies can cost extra. |
| State criminal-history record | State police / State Identification Bureau | Varies | Some states charge for name-based or fingerprint searches. |
| Recent jail booking | County sheriff / jail | Often free | Online retention periods differ by county. |
| State prison locator | State Department of Corrections | Usually free | Does not normally include every county-jail detainee. |
| Federal inmate locator | Federal Bureau of Prisons | Free | Covers federal custody records, not ordinary state prisoners. |
| Federal criminal court case | PACER | Can be free | PACER has usage-based fees and a quarterly waiver threshold. |
| Your FBI Identity History Summary | FBI CJIS | No | The FBI currently charges $18; fingerprinting can cost extra. |
| Public sex-offender registry search | DOJ NSOPW | Free | Registry rules and available data differ by jurisdiction. |
One person can have several different criminal records
“Criminal record” is not one universal document. A single incident can create records at several stages of the criminal-justice process.
How to obtain state and county criminal court records
For most ordinary criminal-record searches, the court where the case was filed is the most useful starting point. State court systems differ, but criminal cases are commonly searchable through a statewide judicial portal, county clerk, circuit court, superior court, district court or municipal court.
Find the correct jurisdiction first
Ask where the alleged offense or prosecution occurred. The person’s current residence is not always the county where the criminal case was filed.
Statewide case search
Some states provide one official court portal covering most trial courts. This is often the fastest first search.
Clerk of court
In decentralized systems, criminal records may be searched or requested directly through the county or court clerk.
Public terminal or records desk
Records unavailable remotely may still be public at a courthouse terminal or records counter.
Step-by-step: how to search for a criminal court record
Identify the state and likely county
Determine where the alleged offense or court proceeding happened. If you only know a city, identify which county serves that location.
Find the official court website
Look for the state’s judicial branch, administrative office of courts, county clerk, district court, circuit court or superior court. Prefer government judicial sites over third-party people-search websites.
Choose criminal or case search
Search options may include defendant name, case number, citation number, filing date, attorney, birth year or court location.
Use identifiers carefully
Compare full name, middle name, date of birth, age, county and case dates. A matching name alone does not establish that the case belongs to the person you are researching.
Read the final disposition
Do not stop at the charge. Look for dismissal, acquittal, guilty plea, conviction, deferred disposition, diversion, sentence or another final outcome.
Download or request the record
If online documents are available, save the permitted public copy. Otherwise contact the clerk and ask how to obtain an uncertified or certified copy.
How to obtain a copy of a criminal court record
Once you identify the correct case, obtaining a copy is usually easier than performing the initial search. Courts commonly offer one or more of these methods:
Download
Some judicial portals allow public docket entries or documents to be downloaded directly.
Records counter
Visit the courthouse clerk or records division during published business hours.
Written request
Some courts accept a completed copy-request form or written request with payment.
Email / portal
Courts may provide an online order system or records-request form for copies.
Information that makes a copy request faster
- full defendant name
- case number
- approximate filing year
- court or county
- specific document requested
- type of copy required
- return mailing or email address
- required payment method
Uncertified, certified and exemplified criminal court copies
Not every purpose requires a certified document. Ordering more authentication than you need can increase both cost and processing time.
| Copy type | What it generally means | When it may be useful |
|---|---|---|
| Plain / uncertified | A copy without the clerk’s certification. | Personal research, reviewing a case or keeping an informal copy. |
| Certified | A copy certified by the court clerk as an official copy of the court record. | Government, licensing, immigration, legal or administrative uses when certification is required. |
| Exemplified / authenticated | A higher form of court authentication used in some jurisdictions. | Special legal proceedings or when another authority specifically requests it. |
How to obtain a statewide criminal-history record
Court searches and statewide criminal-history searches are different. A state central repository may combine information submitted by law-enforcement agencies, courts and correctional agencies, subject to that state’s laws and reporting rules.
Depending on the state, the repository may be operated by:
- state police
- department of public safety
- department of justice
- bureau of investigation
- state bureau of identification
- criminal justice information agency
The FBI maintains an official State Identification Bureau Listing that can help locate the centralized criminal-history agency for each state.
Find your state’s criminal-history agencyWhat a state may require
Procedures differ significantly. Depending on the state and purpose, you may encounter:
- name-based search
- date of birth
- fingerprints
- signed consent
- notarized form
- government-issued identification
- search fee
- mail, online or in-person submission
How to obtain your own FBI Identity History Summary
If you want to review your own FBI-maintained identity-history information, use the FBI’s Identity History Summary Check process.
The FBI sometimes describes the Identity History Summary as a “rap sheet.” It is based on fingerprint submissions retained by the FBI and is not simply a search of public court websites.
Choose electronic or mail submission
The FBI accepts direct electronic requests as well as requests submitted through the mail. An FBI-approved Channeler is another option for eligible requests.
Complete the required request information
Follow the FBI’s current application instructions carefully and provide the requested identity information.
Submit fingerprints
The FBI requires fingerprints for an Identity History Summary. Electronic applicants may be able to use a participating U.S. Post Office for electronic fingerprints, with an additional fee where applicable. Mail applicants can submit an accepted fingerprint card.
Pay the FBI fee
The current FBI fee is $18 per request. The FBI does not accept cash or personal/business checks for Departmental Order requests.
Receive and review the response
Electronic applicants can receive an electronic result and can also choose the available mailed-response option. Read the record carefully before relying on it for an important purpose.
FBI-approved Channelers
An FBI-approved Channeler can receive fingerprint submissions and required information, forward them electronically to the FBI, and return the FBI response to the individual. Channelers charge their own fees in addition to applicable FBI costs.
Verify a provider against the FBI’s current approved Channeler list rather than relying on a company merely claiming to offer an “FBI background check.”
How to obtain federal criminal court records
Federal criminal prosecutions are separate from state and county cases. Public electronic access to federal appellate, district and bankruptcy court records is provided through PACER.
If you know the federal court
Search that court directly through PACER. Case information in an individual court is updated more quickly than the nationwide Case Locator index.
If you do not know the federal court
Use the PACER Case Locator to search the nationwide federal court index.
Find a federal court caseCurrent PACER pricing
| PACER access | Current cost through Dec. 31, 2026 | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic case information | $0.10 per billable page | Search-result pages can generate fees even if no case is found. |
| Single qualifying document | Maximum $3 | The 30-page cap applies to many documents and case-specific reports, but not every type of PACER report. |
| Quarterly usage | $30 or less is waived | Users exceeding the threshold are billed according to the PACER fee schedule. |
| Federal courthouse terminal | Electronic viewing can be free | Printing or copying may still involve local court fees. |
| Court opinions | Free | PACER states court opinions are available without PACER access charges. |
Free federal court access by phone
The federal courts also operate the Multi-court Voice Case Information System for limited information from participating courts. It is available through 1-866-222-8029. Coverage depends on participating courts and it does not replace PACER for complete public electronic case access.
How to obtain older federal criminal court files
Older closed federal court files may have been transferred away from the courthouse. The National Archives explains that federal court records less than about 15 years old are generally still held by the individual federal court, while older files may be stored through National Archives and Federal Records Center systems.
The National Archives maintains federal judicial records including criminal case files, dockets, indexes, minutes and related court materials.
Identify the federal court
Find the district, case number and approximate case year whenever possible.
Check PACER first
Recent or electronically available records may already be accessible through the federal court system.
Contact the federal court for archived-file information
The court can help determine whether the file remains at the courthouse or has been transferred.
Use National Archives ordering instructions if appropriate
NARA provides procedures for ordering copies of qualifying closed federal criminal, civil, bankruptcy and appellate court files held in Federal Records Centers.
Official resource: National Archives — Court Records.
How to obtain arrest and booking records
Arrest records are usually local. If you know the arresting agency, start there rather than expecting a statewide criminal-history website to display every arrest.
City arrest / incident
Request public arrest, incident or offense-report information from the police department that handled the incident.
County arrest / warrant
County sheriffs frequently maintain arrest, warrant and jail-related information.
Booking / custody
Search the official jail roster for current custody, booking date, charges, bond or release data where the jurisdiction makes those details public.
Submitting a public-record request
If the agency does not place the record online, look for its public-records, open-records, records division, Freedom of Information or records-request page.
A useful request normally identifies:
- person’s full name
- date or approximate date of event
- location
- incident or report number if known
- arresting agency
- specific record requested
- preferred electronic or paper format
- contact information where required
How to find state and federal inmate records
State prisoners
Most states operate a free Department of Corrections offender or inmate locator. Search the official corrections department for the state where the person was sentenced or incarcerated.
A state prison locator is not normally the same thing as a county jail roster. Someone recently arrested and awaiting court may still be in a local jail and therefore absent from the state DOC database.
Federal prisoners
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator provides public information about federal inmates from 1982 to the present.
You can search by federal register number or by name and supporting identifiers. BOP explains that its locator concerns federal custody; it does not provide ordinary state or county inmate records.
Free nationwide public sex-offender registry search
One genuinely nationwide public search tool is the U.S. Department of Justice’s Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW).
NSOPW searches public registry information supplied by participating states, territories and tribal jurisdictions. The service is free and does not require a paid membership.
What to do when a criminal-record search returns nothing
“No results” is not always the same as “no criminal record.” The reason may be technical, jurisdictional or legal.
Name variation
Try full middle name, middle initial, previous surname, maiden name, hyphenated name or spelling variants when the official system supports them.
Wrong county or state
A person’s residence does not necessarily identify the court where an offense was prosecuted.
Very recent case
A booking may appear before a new court case becomes searchable in an online court index.
Older record
Older cases may exist only in courthouse archives, microfilm, paper files or transferred archival collections.
Remote search limitation
A case may be public at the courthouse while some or all documents are unavailable remotely.
Sealed / expunged record
A court order or state law may prevent the record from appearing in a public search.
How to read a criminal record without misinterpreting it
| Term | General meaning | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest | Law enforcement recorded an arrest or custody event. | It does not by itself establish guilt. |
| Charge | An allegation has been formally asserted. | A charge is not automatically a conviction. |
| Pending | The matter has not reached a final disposition. | Do not assume what the result will be. |
| Dismissed | The charge or case was dismissed. | The existence of an old arrest does not change the court disposition. |
| Acquitted / not guilty | The defendant was not convicted on that adjudicated charge. | Do not describe the charge as a conviction. |
| Convicted | A judgment of conviction was entered following a plea or adjudication. | Still confirm the exact offense and sentence rather than relying on a summary. |
| Sentence | The court-imposed consequence after a conviction. | It may include more than incarceration. |
| Expunged / sealed | Public access has been limited under applicable law or court order. | Rules differ substantially by jurisdiction and purpose. |
Can you obtain sealed or expunged criminal records?
Usually not through ordinary public-record searches. Sealing and expungement laws differ by state, record type, agency and purpose.
A sealed court case may be unavailable to the general public while still remaining accessible to the person named in the record, courts, law enforcement or other authorized entities under state law.
Expungement also does not always mean that every historical copy maintained by every government agency was physically destroyed. The legal effect depends on the jurisdiction.
What if your criminal record contains an error?
Start with the agency responsible for the incorrect information. The correct process depends on whether the error originated with a court, police agency, state criminal-history repository or the FBI.
For an FBI Identity History Summary
The FBI provides an official challenge process for information that is inaccurate or incomplete. The FBI recommends clearly identifying the disputed information and including supporting documentation such as a court docket or expungement order when available.
There is currently no FBI fee for submitting an Identity History Summary challenge.
Official resource: FBI Identity History Summary Checks.
For state information
The FBI notes that changes to state-supported criminal-history information commonly need to be processed through the appropriate State Identification Bureau before the FBI record can be updated.
Use the FBI’s State Identification Bureau Listing to identify the appropriate state agency.
Using criminal-record information for employment, housing or other decisions
A free public-record search is not automatically the same thing as a legally compliant consumer background report. The purpose of the search matters.
The Federal Trade Commission explains that when an employer obtains a background report from a company in the business of compiling background information, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act can apply. Employers also remain subject to federal anti-discrimination laws, and state or local law can impose additional restrictions on when or how criminal-history information may be considered.
Official guidance: FTC — Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know.
Practical ways to find the correct record faster
Search the court before paying a people-search site
If your goal is a specific criminal case, the official court index can often answer the question directly.
Case number beats a common name
Once you identify a case number, use it for later copy requests and document searches.
Search previous names
Maiden names, former legal names and middle-name variations can matter when an official system allows them.
Search neighboring counties only when logical
Court jurisdiction follows where a case was filed—not simply where the person lives today.
Check the disposition
Never summarize a record using only the original charge if the case has a later final outcome.
Recent arrest? Try the jail first
A county jail roster may update before a new court case becomes easy to locate online.
Older case? Contact the clerk
Historical court files may predate the jurisdiction’s online-document system.
Verify date of birth when available
A name match by itself can identify the wrong person, particularly when names are common.
Know what “nationwide” really means
FBI records, federal court records, state court records and state criminal-history repositories are separate systems with different coverage.
A simple decision path for obtaining the right record
Search the court case
Use the state judiciary or county court portal, find the case and read the disposition. Order a certified copy only if your purpose requires certification.
Use the state repository
Find the state’s identification bureau, state police, public-safety agency or other central repository and follow its name-based or fingerprint-based procedure.
Use the FBI Identity History Summary process
Submit the required request and fingerprints. The current FBI fee is $18, with separate fingerprinting or Channeler costs possible.
Use PACER
Search the specific federal court or use the nationwide PACER Case Locator if you do not know the court.
Check local law enforcement or jail
Use the arresting police department, sheriff or county jail before assuming a court or statewide system will already show the event.
Use corrections records
State conviction: search the state Department of Corrections. Federal custody: use the Bureau of Prisons locator.
Frequently asked questions about obtaining criminal records
1. How can I obtain criminal records for free?
Start with the official state judiciary, county court or clerk where the criminal case was filed. Many government court indexes and jail or corrections locators are free to search. Fees may apply for copies, certification, statewide criminal-history reports, fingerprints or federal PACER usage.
2. Is there one free nationwide criminal-record search?
No. There is no single public government database that freely combines every state court case, arrest, conviction, jail record and federal criminal case in the United States. Different agencies maintain different parts of the record.
3. What is the best place to start searching someone’s criminal court record?
If you know where the case occurred, begin with the official state or county court system. Search using the person’s name and available identifiers, then verify the final disposition.
4. Can I get my FBI criminal record for free?
The FBI currently charges $18 for an Identity History Summary request. Additional fingerprinting or Channeler fees can apply. The FBI has instructions for requesting a fee waiver when a person cannot afford the $18 charge and contacts the program before submitting the request.
5. How do I get a certified criminal court record?
Identify the court and case number, then contact the clerk or court records division. Select a certified copy rather than a plain copy and follow the court’s payment and submission instructions. Certification fees vary by jurisdiction.
6. How do I obtain federal criminal court records?
Use PACER to search federal court cases. If you know the federal court, search that court directly. If not, use the nationwide PACER Case Locator. Older transferred federal files may require assistance from the court or National Archives.
7. Are arrest records the same as criminal records?
Not exactly. An arrest is one event in the criminal-justice process and does not prove conviction. Court records show what charges were filed and how a case was resolved, while police or jail agencies maintain arrest and booking information.
8. Why can I find an arrest but no court case?
The arrest may be recent, no charge may have been filed, the case may be in another jurisdiction, the court may restrict remote name searching, or the matter may have been sealed or otherwise restricted. Contact the responsible court or agency when online information is unclear.
9. Can I obtain a sealed or expunged criminal record online?
Usually not through an ordinary public search. Access to sealed or expunged records depends on the jurisdiction, the person requesting access and the legal purpose. The record subject should contact the relevant court or repository for the authorized procedure.
10. Can I use a free court record for an employment or tenant background check?
Public information may be subject to additional rules when used for employment, housing, licensing or other eligibility decisions. If a third-party background-reporting company is used, the Fair Credit Reporting Act can apply, and state or local laws may impose additional requirements.
Official resources used to verify this guide
- FBI — Identity History Summary Checks
- FBI — Identity History Summary FAQs
- FBI — State Identification Bureau Listing
- FBI — Approved Channelers for Identity History Summary Requests
- PACER — Public Access to Court Electronic Records
- PACER — Find a Federal Case
- PACER — Current Pricing and Fee Waiver Rules
- National Archives — Federal Court Records
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
- U.S. Department of Justice — National Sex Offender Public Website
- Federal Trade Commission — Background Check Guidance