Series Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Series Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
A criminal record series is a collection of related court or justice-system records organized by an archive or records custodian. Examples include criminal case files, criminal docket books, indexes to criminal cases, indictment registers and court minute books.
To search a criminal record series, first identify the court and approximate time period. Then locate the relevant archival collection, find its criminal case index or docket, identify the case number and request the actual file or document.
For recent criminal prosecutions, the better starting point is normally the state court’s current case-search system or the federal PACER service—not an archive.
Independent public-records research guide. This article concerns U.S. criminal court archives, not the television drama titled “Criminal Record.”
What Is a Criminal Record Series?
In archival terminology, a series is a group of documents or files maintained together because they were created by the same activity, filing system or administrative process.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) organizes historical federal records into record groups, series, file units and individual items.
For example, an archive might maintain a Criminal Case Files, 1912–1973 series. Within that series are records of individual criminal prosecutions. Those case files may contain indictments, motions, warrants, orders or other material, depending on the court and what was preserved.
The name of the series does not identify one particular defendant. Researchers usually need an index, docket, case number or another finding aid to locate the relevant individual file.
Common types of criminal record series
| Archival record series | What it generally contains | How it helps a researcher |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Case Files | Documents filed in individual criminal prosecutions. | Potential source for the actual court filings and final orders. |
| Criminal Dockets | Entries recording case activity, filings and court events. | Helps establish case chronology and locate file numbers. |
| Criminal Case Indexes | Alphabetical or other references to parties and cases. | Useful when the defendant’s name is known but the case number is not. |
| Criminal Minute Books | Recorded court proceedings and actions. | May preserve activity when the individual case file is incomplete. |
| Indictment Records | Formal criminal accusations or related filing information. | Helps identify the original charge and relevant court proceeding. |
| Judgment or Final Record Books | Recorded judgments and final court actions. | Useful when proof of an outcome is needed. |
Where to Search Criminal Record Series and Public Cases
Not all criminal records are federal, and not all criminal court records have been transferred to an archive. The original jurisdiction determines which government agency is responsible.
| Record you need | Official source | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Historical federal criminal case | National Archives Catalog | Descriptions of criminal record series, indexes and available digitized holdings. |
| Recent federal criminal case | PACER | Federal criminal case numbers, dockets and accessible court documents. |
| Older federal case stored in a records center | NARA Federal Records Center Orders | Order eligible closed case files using the appropriate court and case identifiers. |
| Historical state criminal court case | State archives or original trial court | Availability depends on the state, county and court records retention. |
| Recent county or city criminal case | Official State and Local Courts | Current court dockets, hearings, judgments and certified record requests. |
| Your own fingerprint-based U.S. criminal history | FBI Identity History Summary | Personal FBI record request, separate from court archives. |
Does the National Archives hold state and county criminal records?
Generally, no. NARA primarily preserves federal government records. It does not normally maintain the case files of state, county or municipal criminal courts.
For an older county prosecution, locate the state archives, county clerk, superior court or other records custodian responsible for that jurisdiction.
For example, a 1950 federal prosecution in Texas may be held within federal court archival records. A 1950 Texas county criminal prosecution normally requires research through the relevant Texas court or state archival system.
How to Search Historical Criminal Case Series in the National Archives
The National Archives Catalog contains descriptions of historical federal court records and some digitized documents. Many criminal case files are described in the catalog without having every page available online.
-
Open the National Archives Catalog.
Visit catalog.archives.gov. This is the official federal archival search system.
-
Identify the federal court and approximate year.
Determine whether the case belonged to a U.S. District Court, historical U.S. Circuit Court or another federal court. Record the approximate filing period.
-
Search for the court and criminal series.
Useful terms include the court’s name and phrases such as “Criminal Case Files,” “Criminal Dockets” or “Index to Criminal Cases.”
-
Check the archive description level.
Determine whether the search result is a record group, series, file unit or individual item.
-
Read the series dates and arrangement.
The description may specify the years covered and whether records are arranged by case number, chronologically, alphabetically or using another system.
-
Look for an index or finding aid.
If you know only a person’s name, an index to criminal case files may be the most useful starting point.
-
Identify the criminal case number.
Use the index or docket to locate the relevant case identifier. Keep the filing year and court division together with the number.
-
Explore file units and available images.
If the series description lists included file units, open those entries. Digitized documents may appear under the file-unit or item description.
-
Determine the physical custodian.
If the file is not digitized, use the archival description and NARA’s court-records directory to identify the responsible research facility.
-
Request the specific file or copies.
Provide the court, case number, series title, applicable dates and National Archives Identifier when available. Request a cost estimate before ordering.
Real Criminal Record Series in U.S. Federal Archives
The following are actual federal court archival collections identified by the National Archives. They illustrate how criminal records are organized by jurisdiction, series title, date range and archive identifier.
Example 1: Northern District of Texas criminal records
The National Archives lists these federal court series for the Northern District of Texas:
| Official series title | Years | National Archives Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Case Files | 1912–1973 | 564560 |
| Criminal Dockets | 1908–1957 | 5557668 |
| Criminal Minutes | September 1938–February 1957 | 5557667 |
If you’re researching a federal prosecution from 1945, the criminal docket series may help identify the case. The Criminal Case Files series may contain surviving documents from the prosecution.
The National Archives Identifier describes the archival series. It is not itself the defendant’s criminal case number.
Northern District of Texas Finding Aid ↗Example 2: Southern District of Texas criminal cases
The National Archives lists the following historical Southern District of Texas holdings:
| Official series | Covered period | National Archives Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Case Files | 1905–1979 | 567788 |
| Criminal Dockets | 1868–1954 | 2658202 |
| Index to Criminal Dockets | 1907–1939 | 2658201 |
For a criminal prosecution from 1925, the index may help identify a docket entry. The docket may then provide a case number useful for requesting the corresponding criminal case file.
The date ranges show coverage of the series as a whole. They do not guarantee that every individual case survives or has been digitized.
Southern District of Texas Records ↗Example 3: Chicago-area federal criminal records
The National Archives Chicago finding aids describe extensive federal criminal court collections, including:
- Criminal Case Files: 1873–1985.
- Criminal Dockets: 1892–1980.
- Index to Criminal Dockets: 1873–1942 for the listed docket volumes.
- Criminal Record Books: 1872–1959.
- Criminal Transcripts: 1941–1964.
The presence of separate docket, case-file, index and transcript series means a researcher may need to consult more than one collection to reconstruct a historical proceeding.
Chicago Federal Criminal Records Finding Aid ↗Example 4: New England federal name indexes
The National Archives at Boston provides digitized indexes and dockets for several New England federal courts, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
For example, its published research guide lists a Massachusetts Name Index to Criminal Cases, 1918–1979 and a Rhode Island Name Index to Criminal Cases, 1906–1991.
These indexes can help locate case identifiers when the researcher knows a defendant’s name but not the number.
Digitized New England Criminal Case Indexes ↗How to Use Criminal Dockets and Indexes to Find a Case File
Searching a large historical criminal case-file series using only a person’s name may produce no direct result. That’s because archival case files are frequently arranged by number rather than name.
A practical historical criminal case lookup
Example research scenario: You are looking for a federal criminal case filed in 1936, but you know only the defendant’s name and the approximate courthouse.
- Identify the federal judicial district that handled the prosecution.
- Find the archive’s Index to Criminal Cases or similarly named series.
- Check the index for the person’s name and relevant case period.
- Record the case number and any division or court information.
- Look for the same number in the criminal docket series.
- Use the docket to confirm the parties, filing activity and case dates.
- Find the applicable Criminal Case Files series.
- Request the particular file using the case number and series description.
What if the case number is not unique?
A case number may have been assigned within a particular court, division or time period. Identical numbers can exist in different judicial districts or historical filing systems.
Whenever possible, preserve all of these details together:
- Federal court name and judicial district.
- Division or courthouse, if applicable.
- Approximate filing year.
- Full criminal case number.
- Archival series title.
- National Archives Identifier or local archival identifier.
How to distinguish the record identifiers
| Identifier | What it identifies | Example use |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal case number | An individual prosecution in a particular court. | Find the defendant’s court docket or file. |
| National Archives Identifier | An archival description for a record group, series, file unit or item. | Locate a collection within the National Archives Catalog. |
| Local archival identifier | A reference code used in a particular archive’s arrangement. | Help archive staff identify the relevant series. |
| Box or container number | A physical storage location within a collection. | Assist with retrieving a historical paper file. |
How to Search Modern Criminal Court Records Instead of Archived Series
For a criminal case from the recent past, the responsible court may still have legal custody of the record and provide an online public case-search service.
NARA notes that federal court records less than approximately 15 years old are generally still held by the individual courts rather than the National Archives. This is a general guide, not an automatic transfer date for every case.
Use PACER
PACER provides electronic case and docket access for the federal judiciary.
Use the PACER Case Locator when the specific federal court is unknown, or search a known District Court directly.
Search Federal Criminal Cases ↗Use the Filing Court
A local prosecution generally belongs to the state’s judicial system.
Find the relevant county clerk, district clerk, circuit clerk, superior court or municipal court.
Find State and Local Courts ↗How to search a modern criminal court case
-
Identify the likely jurisdiction.
Find the state, county and court where the criminal prosecution was filed.
-
Open the official court case search.
Use the judiciary or clerk’s public portal, not a commercial database claiming nationwide coverage.
-
Select the correct criminal category.
Felonies, misdemeanors, criminal traffic and juvenile matters may use different systems.
-
Enter the case number or supported name fields.
A complete case number generally provides a more precise result than a common name.
-
Review the docket and disposition.
Distinguish allegations, filed charges, dismissals, pleas and convictions.
-
Request court copies when necessary.
For an official judgment or dismissal, contact the court that issued the document.
Can one website search all federal and state criminal records?
No single public government website provides a complete combined search of every federal, state, county and municipal criminal case.
PACER serves federal courts. State judiciary systems handle state court records, and local criminal-history access depends on each jurisdiction’s laws.
How to Request Copies of Archived Criminal Court Case Files
Once you’ve located an archival criminal record series and the relevant case, the next step is determining whether the specific file is digitized, held at a National Archives research facility or stored at a Federal Records Center.
Option 1: View an available digitized document
- Open the National Archives Catalog description.
- Look for included file units or items.
- Open the relevant record description.
- Check for attached digital images or downloadable files.
- Record the National Archives Identifier and document details.
An archival series description may contain links to individual digitized file units. The absence of digital images on the series page does not necessarily mean none of the underlying records have been digitized.
Option 2: Order a closed federal case file
For eligible files stored in Federal Records Centers, the National Archives provides a special court-record reproduction process.
-
Open NARA’s court-record copies page.
Use the official Federal Records Center court copies instructions.
-
Select the court-record order service.
Choose the appropriate record type, such as Criminal.
-
Provide the identifying details.
Enter the court, case number, filing information and other fields required by the ordering service.
-
Check whether the file is available.
A record may have been transferred, retained by the original court, restricted or no longer preserved.
-
Confirm the reproduction charge.
NARA’s fee schedule and order type determine the cost. Check the current quote rather than assuming an ordinary public docket fee applies.
-
Submit the request through the official system.
Follow the online, mail or other permitted ordering procedure.
-
Review the delivered record.
Verify the court, case number and documents received.
What if you need a certified historical judgment?
A reproduction supplied by an archive is not automatically a certified court document.
If the document is required for an immigration application, court proceeding, licensing review or another official process, ask the receiving organization what certification is required.
Then contact the issuing court’s Clerk to determine whether a certified copy can be provided from the surviving court record or archived case file.
How Much Does a Criminal Record Series Search Cost?
Searching an archival description is often free, but accessing a specific document can involve different fees depending on the custodian and record format.
| Service | Cost | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| National Archives Catalog search | Free | Finding a series description does not guarantee that the file is digitized. |
| Available digitized NARA document | Usually free to view | Availability depends on access rights and whether a digital object is attached. |
| NARA court file reproduction | Varies | Check the applicable ordering service and current reproduction fee schedule. |
| PACER federal electronic records, 2026 | $0.10 per page | Generally capped at $3 for many case-specific documents. Exceptions apply. |
| PACER quarterly usage waiver, 2026 | $30 or less waived | Fees are waived when qualifying usage does not exceed $30 during the quarter. |
| PACER beginning January 1, 2027 | $0.12 per page | The announced quarterly automatic fee-waiver threshold becomes $40. |
| State or county criminal docket | Free or paid | Depends on the particular court and its electronic access rules. |
| Certified criminal court copy | Varies by court | Copying, certification, archival retrieval or mailing charges may apply. |
| FBI personal Identity History Summary | $18 | Fingerprint-based personal request, not a public archival series search. |
Sample Request for a Historical Criminal Case File or Record Series
If a criminal case is described in an archive but not available online, send a focused request to the relevant archives reference office or records custodian.
The following template helps archive staff identify the exact material. Only fill in information you know or can verify.
Subject: Historical Criminal Court Records Research Request
To the Records Reference Office,
I am researching a historical criminal court proceeding and would like assistance locating the available case file or relevant archival records.
Known information:
- Defendant or case name: [Name, if known]
- Court: [Full court name]
- Judicial district or division: [If known]
- Approximate filing year: [Year or range]
- Criminal case number: [If known]
- Series title: [For example, Criminal Case Files]
- National Archives Identifier: [If available]
- Specific requested document: [Judgment, indictment, docket, case file or other item]
Please confirm whether the record is held by your facility, whether it is available to the public, and the procedure and estimated cost for obtaining a copy.
If the record is maintained by another federal court or archives facility, please identify the appropriate custodian if that information is available.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your contact information]
What if you only have a person’s name?
Ask whether the archive maintains a name index for criminal cases covering the appropriate court and time period.
You can also search the National Archives Catalog using the court’s name and terms such as:
- Index to Criminal Cases
- Criminal Case Files
- Criminal Dockets
- Criminal Minute Books
- Indictment Records
- Judgments in Criminal Cases
Why Some Criminal Record Series Are Missing, Restricted or Incomplete
Historical criminal court records were not all preserved in the same manner. A catalog description may cover a long period without including every case or every original court document.
| Research problem | Possible reason | Recommended next step |
|---|---|---|
| A criminal series is listed but has no PDFs | The collection may not be fully digitized. | Look for included file units or contact the holding facility. |
| An individual defendant cannot be found | The case files may be arranged by number rather than name. | Find the relevant criminal index or docket series. |
| Case number is known but no matching archive file appears | The file may remain at the original court, be stored separately or no longer exist. | Confirm the judicial district, court and record custodian. |
| Older records are missing | Records may have been lost, disposed of under retention rules or never transferred to an archive. | Ask whether court minute books, dockets or indexes survive. |
| Recent federal case is absent from NARA | The original court may still maintain the case. | Search PACER or contact the federal court clerk. |
| State criminal case not found in NARA | NARA generally does not maintain state court records. | Check the state archives or original court. |
| Case is sealed or legally restricted | Confidentiality and privacy laws can limit access. | Follow the court or archives authorized access procedure. |
| Archive copy does not satisfy an official requirement | The recipient may require a certified judgment. | Contact the issuing court about certification. |
Does the Freedom of Information Act provide access to court files?
Generally, the federal Freedom of Information Act applies to executive branch agency records, not the records of the federal judiciary.
NARA’s Office of Government Information Services explains that federal court records should normally be requested through the court or PACER, not through a conventional FOIA request.
State and local court records are governed by their applicable state public-access laws and court rules.
NARA — FOIA and Federal Court Records ↗Can historical criminal records be used as background checks?
Archival criminal case records can assist historical or legal research, but they should not be treated as comprehensive, current criminal-history background reports.
They may contain allegations, superseded charges or incomplete information about case outcomes. A person with the same name may also be mistakenly identified.
For employment, housing, licensing and other regulated decisions, applicable law and the Fair Credit Reporting Act may require a different authorized screening process.
How to Read a Historical Criminal Case Record
A criminal record may describe multiple stages of a case. The first listed charge or indictment is not necessarily the final outcome.
| Record entry | General meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint or indictment | Formal allegations or charges. | Whether the matter proceeded to trial, plea or dismissal. |
| Court docket entry | A recorded filing or case event. | The surrounding chronology and underlying document. |
| Motion or order | A request by a party or decision of the court. | Whether it changed the charge or case outcome. |
| Dismissal | A specified case or charge was dismissed. | The court order and affected counts. |
| Acquittal | A not-guilty result on the specified charge. | Other counts and final records. |
| Judgment of conviction | The court recorded a conviction outcome. | The exact offense, sentence and any later order. |
| Final record or judgment book | A record of final judicial action. | Whether it corresponds to the correct case and defendant. |
Criminal Record Series Search FAQs
1. What is a criminal record series?
A criminal record series is an archival grouping of related criminal justice records, such as case files, court dockets, indexes, minute books or judgment records. The National Archives uses “series” as an official archival description level.
2. How do I search a historical criminal record series?
Identify the court and approximate filing period, locate the relevant archival series in the National Archives Catalog or state archives, find an index or docket, record the case number and request the individual case file.
3. Is there a national Series Criminal Records database?
No. There is no public U.S. government database officially named Series Criminal Records. Historical court collections are maintained by different archives, courts and records custodians.
4. Can I search criminal record series by name?
Sometimes. Name indexes exist for certain historical criminal case collections. Other series are organized by case number, year, court division or another filing system. Check the series arrangement and finding aid.
5. Are National Archives criminal court records free?
Searching the National Archives Catalog is free, and accessible digital records can generally be viewed without a fee. Ordering reproductions or copies of closed federal case files may involve charges.
6. Where can I find historical federal criminal case files?
Start with the National Archives Court Records guide and Catalog. Federal criminal case files may be held at NARA facilities, Federal Records Centers or the original federal courts, depending on age and custody.
7. Does the National Archives have county criminal cases?
Generally, no. NARA primarily maintains federal records. For historical state, county or municipal prosecutions, contact the appropriate state archives or the court that originally handled the case.
8. How do I find a criminal court case from the 1900s?
Identify the court and approximate year, look for its criminal case index, find the relevant docket and case number, then locate the corresponding case-file series. Some federal indexes have been digitized by the National Archives.
9. How do I obtain a certified copy of an old criminal judgment?
Locate the case and contact the original issuing court’s clerk. Ask whether a certified copy can be issued from the surviving record. An ordinary archival reproduction may not meet formal certification requirements.
10. Is a criminal record series the same as a criminal background check?
No. A criminal record series is an archival collection. A criminal background check uses an authorized criminal-history or screening process under applicable laws. The FBI also offers fingerprint-based personal Identity History Summary requests.
Official Criminal Record Series and Court Search Resources
National Archives Research
- National Archives Catalog — Search Historical Federal Records
- National Archives — Federal Court Records
- National Archives — How to Use the Catalog
- NARA — Record Groups, Series, File Units and Items
- NARA — Order Copies of Closed Federal Court Records
- NARA — Researching Historical Judicial Records
Verified Criminal Case Series and Indexes
- Northern District of Texas — Criminal Case Files and Dockets
- Southern District of Texas — Criminal Indexes, Dockets and Files
- Chicago Federal Court Criminal Records Finding Aids
- New England — Digitized Federal Criminal Case Indexes
- National Archives Record Group 21 — U.S. District Court Records