How Do I Get a Copy of My Criminal Record
How Do I Get a Copy of My Criminal Record? FBI, State and Court Records
To get a copy of your own criminal record, request an FBI Identity History Summary for fingerprint-based records reported to the FBI, contact your state criminal-history repository for a state record, or ask the court clerk for a specific judgment or disposition.
The FBI’s direct personal record request costs $18 and requires fingerprints. State procedures and fees differ: California uses Live Scan for residents, Florida offers a no-FDLE-fee personal review, and New York provides separate suppressed and unsuppressed criminal-history responses.
Research reviewed October 17, 2026. This independent guide explains U.S. official records-request procedures.
What Kind of Criminal Record Copy Do You Actually Need?
A major source of confusion is the phrase “my criminal record.” In the United States, several different agencies may hold records relating to the same arrest or case.
| Document | Who provides it | What it is useful for |
|---|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary | Federal Bureau of Investigation | Reviewing fingerprint-associated criminal-history information reported to the FBI. |
| State criminal-history record | State police, DOJ, DPS or other state identification bureau | Reviewing information maintained in one state’s criminal-history repository. |
| Certified court judgment | Clerk of the court that decided the case | Official proof of a particular conviction, dismissal, acquittal or sentence. |
| Police arrest or incident report | Police or sheriff agency that created it | Obtaining available information about a specific arrest or incident. |
| Police clearance or good-conduct certificate | Designated law-enforcement or records authority | Meeting a particular organization’s clearance requirement, where offered. |
| Employment/licensing background check | Agency-authorized fingerprint or screening program | A regulated eligibility check required by an employer, board or government agency. |
How to Get a Copy of Your FBI Criminal Record Online
The FBI calls a personal criminal-history report an Identity History Summary, commonly known as a rap sheet.
It contains certain information obtained from fingerprint submissions, including arresting agencies, dates, charges and reported dispositions. The FBI also issues a response when no Identity History Summary is found.
An FBI record depends on information submitted by authorized agencies. It is not a guarantee that every court-only event or local arrest was reported.
Step-by-step FBI electronic request
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Open the FBI’s Electronic Departmental Order portal.
Visit edo.cjis.gov. This is the official FBI electronic application system.
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Begin a new Identity History Summary request.
Follow the prompts for obtaining your own record. Enter the required contact and identifying information accurately.
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Pay the $18 FBI processing fee.
The FBI charges $18 per person. A separate fingerprint service may charge an additional amount.
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Submit fingerprints.
After completing the electronic application and payment, you can visit a participating U.S. Post Office for electronic fingerprint submission. USPS fingerprinting charges are separate.
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Use a mailed fingerprint card if preferred or necessary.
If you do not use participating USPS electronic fingerprinting, the FBI allows you to mail a properly completed fingerprint card with the confirmation email printout to the address given in your electronic request.
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Receive your result.
The FBI makes electronic results available through its request process. Keep a secure copy and review all listed arrest and disposition information.
How long does the FBI online request take?
The FBI currently publishes these processing targets:
- Electronic fingerprints at participating USPS: results generally within 48 hours after fingerprinting.
- Electronic application with mailed fingerprint card: approximately 10 days after the FBI receives the card.
- Fully mailed application: up to 15 days, plus postal delivery time.
These are published processing estimates, not guaranteed deadlines. An unreadable fingerprint card, incomplete application or delivery delay can extend the process.
How to Request Your FBI Criminal Record by Mail
If you prefer a paper application or cannot complete the electronic process, the FBI also accepts requests by mail.
FBI Mail Request Checklist
- Completed and signed FBI applicant information form.
- Current fingerprint card on the FBI-accepted form.
- All ten rolled and all ten plain fingerprint impressions.
- Name, date of birth and signature on the fingerprint card.
- $18 payment or approved fee-waiver arrangement.
- Complete return mailing address.
- Review of the FBI’s current request checklist.
Step 1: Complete the applicant information form
Download or access the official applicant form from the FBI Identity History Summary page.
Make sure the name and other required details are consistent with your fingerprint card. Each person requesting their own record needs a separate signed application.
Step 2: Get your fingerprints taken
The FBI accepts an FD-1164 fingerprint card. The card must contain current, legible impressions.
A fingerprinting technician, law-enforcement agency or authorized fingerprint provider can help capture acceptable prints. If Live Scan equipment is used, you can obtain a printed fingerprint card suitable for mailing.
Fingerprints may be rejected if incomplete or illegible.
Step 3: Submit payment
For a mailed request, the FBI accepts payment by credit card using its official form, or by money order or certified check made payable to:
Treasury of the United States
Do not send cash, personal checks or business checks.
Step 4: Mail your complete request
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
United States
FBI assistance: 304-625-5590
Email: identity@fbi.gov
If you began an electronic application but are mailing fingerprints, use the address and confirmation instructions provided in that electronic application rather than automatically submitting a second full paper request.
Can you request a fee waiver?
The FBI has an indigence-based fee-waiver procedure for people unable to pay the $18 processing fee. Contact the FBI before submitting your request to confirm the required proof and instructions.
How to Get a Copy of Your State Criminal Record
Each state operates its own criminal-history repository, usually through a state police department, department of public safety, department of justice or criminal identification agency.
The FBI maintains an official State Identification Bureau directory to help you find the appropriate state agency.
Several state programs have especially important differences.
California DOJ Record Review
California residents requesting their own state criminal-history record must submit Live Scan fingerprints using Form BCIA 8016RR.
The DOJ charges $25, plus the fingerprint provider’s rolling fee. Eligible California residents can request a waiver of the DOJ portion.
People living outside California or outside the United States use a separate manual fingerprint-card process with Form BCIA 8705.
Important: California’s personal record-review copy cannot be used for visa, immigration or foreign-country transactions. The DOJ directs applicants to different procedures for those purposes.
California personal criminal record request →FDLE Personal Review
Florida Statute 943.056 allows individuals to request a personal review of their Florida criminal-history records.
FDLE does not charge for its Personal Review service. However, the local agency taking your fingerprints may charge a fingerprinting fee.
You must submit the Personal Review form and a fingerprint card obtained from a law-enforcement or criminal justice agency.
The resulting personal-review record is not certified and cannot be used for immigration, employment, licensing or certification purposes.
For those formal uses, FDLE directs applicants to its separate certified or noncertified Florida Checks options.
Florida FDLE free personal review →Texas DPS Personal Review
Texas residents can request their own criminal-history record through the Department of Public Safety using its fingerprint-based Personal Review procedure.
DPS uses its Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) network, operated by IdentoGO.
Use the Personal Review procedure rather than assuming the public name-based Criminal History Conviction Search gives you the same record.
DPS also warns that a background check completed for an employer or licensing agency is generally sent to that requesting organization. It does not automatically send the applicant a personal copy.
Texas DPS fingerprint and personal review guidance →New York DCJS Criminal History
New York’s Division of Criminal Justice Services provides fingerprint-based personal criminal-history reports.
You can request one of two types:
- Suppressed: excludes information sealed or suppressed under applicable law.
- Unsuppressed: includes information suppressed or sealed under listed New York provisions.
The agency lists $17.50 for the in-state IdentoGO process and $57.45 for the specified out-of-state appointment process, effective February 2, 2026. A separate Cardscan method has its own published instructions and charges.
Responses are generally mailed within three to four weeks after DCJS receives the request.
New York DCJS personal record review →State Police Access & Review
Pennsylvania distinguishes a standard criminal background check from Access & Review of your entire criminal-history record.
The official published fees are:
- $20: Individual Access & Review, using Form SP 4-170 by mail.
- $22: Standard criminal-history background check, including the PATCH option.
- Additional $5: Optional notarization of the standard check where offered.
The Access & Review option includes available conviction and nonconviction history and is useful when reviewing records for corrections, expungement or other personal purposes.
Pennsylvania State Police procedures →Find Your State Identification Bureau
If your state is not listed above, use the FBI’s official State Identification Bureau directory.
Select the agency for the state where the arrest or prosecution occurred. Then look for:
- Personal Criminal History Review
- Request Your Own Record
- Access and Review
- Fingerprint-Based Record Check
- Criminal History Challenge
The agency’s official instructions determine the correct fingerprint provider, forms, fees, delivery method and disclosure restrictions.
Find all state record repositories →How Do I Get a Copy of My Criminal Court Record?
If you need proof that an old case was dismissed, a probation sentence ended or a conviction was entered, you may need an official court disposition rather than your entire rap sheet.
The clerk of the court where the case was filed is generally the correct source.
How to obtain a judgment or disposition
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Identify the court and county.
Look at old court paperwork, your lawyer’s records, a summons or any case number shown in your criminal-history report.
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Open the official court website.
Use the USA.gov court directory or the relevant state’s judicial branch website.
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Locate the criminal case search.
Use a case number or allowed defendant-name search to find the exact case.
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Identify the final document needed.
For example, ask for the final judgment, sentencing order, order of dismissal, acquittal record or other publicly accessible disposition.
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Contact the criminal court clerk.
Ask whether you can inspect the document, download an ordinary copy or request a certified copy.
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Pay any required fee.
Copy, certification, research and mailing charges vary by court. Confirm the amount and payment instructions before ordering.
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Keep the certified copy safely.
It may be needed later to correct your criminal-history report, demonstrate the final case outcome or complete a separate record-relief process.
Suppose your state criminal-history report lists a 2017 arrest, but the final disposition is missing. You remember that the court dismissed the case in 2018.
Contact the filing court, request the official dismissal order or certified disposition, and use the state’s correction procedure to have the repository review the missing outcome.
Requesting another general name-based background check may simply reproduce the same incomplete information. The actual court disposition is the key supporting document.
What if you do not know your case number?
Many courts provide a public case lookup by name, although some charge for that search or limit online access.
If you cannot identify the case, contact the criminal court clerk in the county where you appeared. Provide your legal name, approximate case year and other information the office lawfully requests.
What if your record is sealed or expunged?
Access to sealed, expunged or confidential court documents is restricted. Even the record subject may need to follow a special procedure to obtain historical documents. Contact the responsible court about authorized access rather than trying to retrieve protected records through third-party databases.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Copy of Your Criminal Record?
Fees depend on the agency, type of record, fingerprint method and whether a certified document is required.
| Record request | Published fee | Other cost considerations |
|---|---|---|
| FBI Identity History Summary | $18 | USPS, fingerprint technician or channeler charges may be additional. |
| California DOJ personal review | $25 | Additional Live Scan rolling fee; qualifying DOJ fee waiver. |
| Florida FDLE Personal Review | No FDLE charge | Fingerprinting agency may charge. Not valid as a certified employment or immigration check. |
| New York DCJS, in-state appointment | $17.50 | Published as of February 2, 2026. Correct service code required. |
| New York DCJS, out-of-state appointment | $57.45 | Cardscan alternative and additional costs may differ. |
| Pennsylvania full Access & Review | $20 | Mail-only request with Form SP 4-170. |
| Pennsylvania standard background check | $22 | Different scope from Access & Review; payment processing fees may apply online. |
| Texas DPS Personal Review | Agency and fingerprint charges apply | Confirm current FAST/IdentoGO charges when enrolling. |
| Certified criminal court disposition | Varies by court | Research, per-page, certification and postage fees may apply. |
Always verify the current fee on the linked government website before payment. Fingerprinting providers can charge additional service fees, and some agencies offer qualifying fee waivers.
Getting Your Criminal Record for a Job, Immigration, Visa or License
One of the most common mistakes is ordering a personal criminal-history review without checking whether the receiving organization accepts that document.
For employment or professional licensing
An employer or licensing board may require fingerprints submitted under a specific service code, statutory program or authorized screening arrangement.
For example, Texas DPS explains that applicants fingerprinted through FAST for a requesting agency do not automatically receive their own copy of that agency’s background-check results.
The FBI likewise states that its ordinary personal Identity History Summary is not a substitute for every domestic employment or licensing screening process.
Before ordering, ask the employer or licensing board:
- Which agency must perform the background check?
- Whether an FBI or state-only check is required.
- Which fingerprint service code or form to use.
- Whether results go to the agency directly.
- Whether a personal copy is accepted.
For a visa or immigration matter
The country, consulate or immigration agency may specify an FBI Identity History Summary, state police criminal-history certificate, local police clearance or certified court dispositions.
Some countries may also require an apostille or authentication. The FBI states that its Identity History Summary results include authentication features that can be used when seeking a U.S. Department of State apostille.
If an apostille is required, follow the receiving country’s instructions and the Department of State’s official authentication procedure. An FBI personal report and a state-issued document may follow different authentication paths.
For expungement, sealing or record correction
A personal criminal-history report can help you identify arrests, missing dispositions or cases that may qualify for record relief.
However, a fingerprint-based record review does not itself expunge anything. You must follow the applicable court or agency’s separate sealing, expungement or correction procedure.
For adoption or other official approvals
Follow the exact state or federal fingerprint process designated by the responsible agency. A personally obtained FBI rap sheet may not replace an authorized adoption background check.
How to Correct Errors in Your Criminal Record
Obtaining your own record is often the first step toward correcting missing case outcomes, incorrect charges or records associated with the wrong identity.
Common problems to check
- An arrest without the final court disposition.
- A conviction listed when the charge was actually dismissed.
- An incorrect arrest or offense date.
- A name or identifying detail that does not belong to you.
- A duplicate arrest entry.
- A later court order not reflected in the repository.
- A sealing or expungement order that may not have been processed correctly.
Steps to challenge inaccurate information
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Locate the exact entry you believe is wrong.
Write down the arresting agency, date, charge, case number and other relevant details.
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Get supporting court documents.
For an incorrect disposition, request the final judgment, dismissal order or other official documentation.
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Identify the reporting agency.
The record may have originated with local law enforcement, a court or the state’s central criminal-history repository.
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Use the official challenge procedure.
Submit the required forms and evidence through your state repository or the FBI, as appropriate.
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Ask about related state and FBI updates.
Some corrections must first be made by the state agency that supplied the information before they can appear in the FBI’s records.
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Retain the response and supporting order.
Keep a secure copy of the corrected record or the agency’s determination for future use.
Does the FBI charge to challenge your record?
No. The FBI states that an Identity History Summary challenge is free.
The FBI publishes an average challenge response time of approximately 45 days after receiving the challenge. The challenge must identify the inaccurate or incomplete information and should include available supporting documents.
How Do I Get My U.S. Criminal Record If I Live Outside the United States?
You may still be able to request your own FBI Identity History Summary from outside the United States.
The FBI’s electronic procedure allows applicants abroad to begin an electronic request and mail a completed fingerprint card with the confirmation email printout to the address provided in that request.
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Start an electronic FBI Identity History Summary application.
Use the FBI EDO website and follow its instructions.
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Arrange acceptable fingerprints locally.
Find a qualified fingerprinting technician or other provider able to produce a card meeting the FBI’s stated requirements.
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Submit payment and the fingerprint card.
Follow the official FBI application confirmation instructions. Applicants outside the U.S. may mail the card and confirmation printout.
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Allow for international shipping and processing.
The FBI’s published processing estimates do not include all overseas shipping or customs-related delays.
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Check whether authentication is necessary.
If a foreign government requests an apostille or another form of document authentication, confirm that requirement before sending the record.
Can you use an FBI-approved channeler while abroad?
The FBI states that its approved channelers may process requests only for U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are located in the United States or its territories.
Therefore, someone currently living outside the United States should use the FBI’s direct instructions instead of assuming an approved channeler can handle the application.
What if you need a California or New York state record while abroad?
California DOJ provides a manual fingerprint-card process for people outside California or the United States. New York DCJS publishes out-of-state IdentoGO and Cardscan procedures.
Other state agencies may require mailing, a designated fingerprint vendor or additional identity documentation. Follow the specific state’s current instructions rather than assuming the FBI application automatically provides a separate state report.
What If Your Criminal Record Shows No Results or Is Incomplete?
An official “no record” response means the searched repository did not locate a record under its procedure. It does not necessarily guarantee that no arrest, court case or conviction exists anywhere.
| Problem | Possible reason | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| FBI response says no record | No matching reportable FBI fingerprint history was found. | Check relevant state or court records if a specific event is known. |
| Arrest listed with no disposition | The final court result may not have been reported or updated. | Get the court disposition and contact the appropriate repository. |
| State record does not show another state’s case | State repositories generally focus on records reported in their own jurisdiction. | Contact the other state’s agency or request an FBI summary. |
| Wrong person’s information appears | An identification, reporting or record-association error may have occurred. | Follow the fingerprint-based record challenge and identity review procedure. |
| Fingerprints rejected | Prints may be incomplete or insufficiently legible. | Follow the requesting agency’s resubmission instructions. |
| Sealed case still appears | State disclosure rules or incomplete agency implementation may affect the response. | Review the applicable sealing order and contact the responsible agency. |
| Employer rejects personal rap sheet | An agency-authorized background check may be required. | Ask the employer for the exact legally required fingerprinting process. |
| Foreign authority requests an apostille | It requires document authentication for international use. | Follow the U.S. Department of State and receiving country’s instructions. |
Should you order multiple reports?
Only if they serve a real purpose. For example, you may want a California DOJ personal record to review California arrests, an FBI Identity History Summary to examine FBI-held fingerprint reporting, and a certified Los Angeles court disposition to prove how a particular case ended.
Those requests answer different questions. Ordering three copies of the same commercial background report would not provide the same official documentation.
Is It Safe to Request Your Own Criminal Record Online?
Use the official FBI website, the responsible state agency or the court’s verified website. Personal criminal-history requests often require highly sensitive identifying information and fingerprints.
Basic privacy precautions
- Use official government URLs or agencies directly linked from them.
- Confirm the fingerprint provider through the official agency’s instructions.
- Do not send fingerprint cards or identity documents to an unknown people-search site.
- Avoid uploading rap sheets to public file-sharing services.
- Store electronic copies securely.
- Keep transaction confirmations, but do not publicly share identifying numbers.
- Verify that a third party actually needs the record before sending a copy.
The FBI does not generally provide another person’s rap sheet to an ordinary private requester. An individual’s personal record-review procedure is designed to verify that the correct person receives the information.
How Do I Get a Copy of My Criminal Record? FAQs
1. How can I get a copy of my criminal record?
Request your own FBI Identity History Summary for FBI-held fingerprint-based information, your state criminal-history record from the state identification bureau, or a certified judgment from the court that handled your case. The right choice depends on which record you need and its intended use.
2. How much does it cost to get my FBI criminal record?
The FBI charges $18 per person for a direct Identity History Summary request. Additional charges may apply for fingerprinting, USPS electronic submission or a channeler. The FBI has a fee-waiver procedure for qualifying applicants who cannot pay.
3. Can I get my criminal record online without visiting a courthouse?
Yes. The FBI allows electronic applications, and many state agencies provide online personal-record procedures. However, fingerprint submission is still required for FBI Identity History Summary requests, and a specific certified court judgment may need a separate request to the clerk.
4. Can I get a copy of my criminal record for free?
It depends on the agency. Florida FDLE provides its Personal Review without an FDLE fee, although fingerprinting charges may apply. The FBI charges $18 but offers a qualifying fee-waiver process. State fees and waivers differ.
5. How long does it take to get my FBI rap sheet?
The FBI publishes a processing target of within 48 hours after electronic fingerprints at a participating U.S. Post Office, approximately 10 days after receiving mailed fingerprints for an electronic application, and up to 15 days for a complete mailed request, plus delivery time.
6. Can I get my criminal record without fingerprints?
Some states offer name-based criminal-history or public court case searches without fingerprints. However, the FBI Identity History Summary and many official state personal-record reviews require fingerprints to verify identity.
7. What if I need a certified copy of my criminal record?
For a specific criminal case, request a certified judgment or disposition from the court clerk. For an official statewide or international criminal-history document, confirm the receiving organization’s requirements and use the designated state or federal procedure. An ordinary personal-review printout may not satisfy certification requirements.
8. Can I get my criminal record from a different state?
Yes. Contact the criminal-history repository for the state where the record originated. Some states provide a mailed fingerprint-card process for nonresidents. You can also request your FBI summary for information reported to the FBI.
9. What should I do if my criminal record has a mistake?
Obtain the official case disposition or other proof, identify the incorrect information and follow the applicable state or FBI challenge procedure. The FBI does not charge for Identity History Summary challenges, but some corrections must originate with the reporting state agency.
10. Can I use my personal FBI rap sheet for employment or immigration?
Not automatically. U.S. employment and licensing background checks may require an agency-authorized process. International authorities may accept or require an FBI summary with authentication. Ask the receiving organization which record, fingerprint procedure and certification it requires.
Where to Request Your Own Criminal Record: Official Links
The following resources are maintained by the FBI, state criminal-history agencies or the government. Use them for current forms, official fees, fingerprints, record review and correction instructions.
- FBI — Identity History Summary Request Instructions
- FBI — Electronic Departmental Order Portal
- FBI — Criminal-History Request Fees, Fingerprints and Challenges
- FBI — State Identification Bureau Directory
- California DOJ — Request Your Own Criminal History
- California DOJ — Record Review Fee Waiver
- Florida FDLE — Personal Review of Criminal History
- Florida FDLE — Certified and Noncertified Criminal History Checks
- Texas DPS — Fingerprinting and Personal Criminal History Review
- Texas DPS — Personal Review Procedures and Forms
- New York DCJS — Request Your State Criminal History
- Pennsylvania State Police — Criminal History Checks and Access & Review
- Pennsylvania State Police — PATCH
- USA.gov — Find Federal, State and Local Courts
- FBI — Who May Request an FBI Arrest Record?