Know If Have Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
United States • Personal Criminal History Guide
How Do I Know If I Have a Criminal Record? Check Your Cases, Arrests and Background History
If you were arrested, questioned by police, given a citation, charged in court or involved in an old case, you may be wondering whether you have a criminal record—and what a background check could reveal.
The simplest starting point is to search the criminal court in the county where the incident occurred. For a more complete check of your own history, request your state criminal-history record or an FBI fingerprint-based Identity History Summary.
1. How Do I Know If I Have a Criminal Record?
There are three main ways to find out whether you have a criminal record in the United States. No one method answers every possible question.
Check Your Court Records
Search the state or county criminal court where charges may have been filed. Look for your name, case number and final disposition.
Best for: determining whether a particular case exists and how it ended.
Find state resources →Request State Criminal History
State police or a state identification bureau may provide personal criminal-history reports through name-based or fingerprint-based procedures.
Best for: reviewing information held in your state’s criminal-history repository.
State bureau directory →Get Your FBI Rap Sheet
The FBI Identity History Summary provides access to fingerprint-associated records maintained by the FBI, or a response that no summary was found.
Best for: reviewing your own FBI-held history.
FBI instructions →2. Find the Right Way to Check Your Criminal Record
Select the situation that best describes your question. This guide does not request your name, Social Security number or other identifying information.
3. How to Check If You Have a Criminal Record for Free
Many court systems provide free public case searches, although online coverage, search fields, document availability and copy fees vary. Start with the location where charges may have been filed.
- Recall where the incident happened.
Identify the state, county, city and approximate year. If you received a court notice, look for the court’s name and case number.
- Find the official judicial website.
Use the state court system or local clerk rather than a commercial website promising an instant nationwide check.
- Open the criminal case lookup.
Depending on the jurisdiction, the search may be called Case Search, Docket Search, Criminal Records, Public Access or Court Records.
- Search your name or case number.
Use your legal name at the time of the incident, including any former surname where applicable. A case number provides a stronger match than a name alone.
- Identify any matching case.
Compare the court, filing year, charges and available identifying information. Other people may share your name.
- Review the final outcome.
Look for dismissed, acquitted, guilty, convicted, deferred disposition or another result recorded by that court.
- Check for later proceedings.
A judgment may have been appealed, modified, vacated, sealed or expunged.
- Contact the court clerk if needed.
Ask whether a case exists and whether an official docket, certified disposition or archived record can be obtained.
Search the criminal court serving the county where the arrest occurred. You may find that prosecutors never filed a case, that a filed charge was dismissed, or that a case remains open. Separately, the arresting agency or state criminal-history repository might still have an arrest record. A court search alone cannot establish which information those agencies retain.
4. How to Request Your Own State Criminal-History Record
For more information than a single court docket provides, contact the state agency responsible for criminal-history records. It may be called the State Police, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Identification or State Identification Bureau.
The rules differ by state. Some agencies allow online personal requests, some require fingerprints, and others use mail-only forms or approved fingerprint vendors.
- Find your state’s identification bureau.
Use the FBI’s state identification bureau listing or your state government’s official directory.
- Look for personal record access.
Search for headings such as “Personal Review,” “Right of Access,” “Access and Review” or “Request Your Own Criminal History.”
- Confirm the required identity verification.
Determine whether the state accepts name-based requests or requires fingerprint identification.
- Obtain the current request form.
Follow the official online, mail or authorized fingerprinting procedure.
- Check fees before submitting.
Some states charge for a personal history report. Others waive agency processing costs but allow fingerprint vendors to charge separately.
- Review the actual history.
Look for arrests, charges, court dispositions and any missing outcome information.
- Ask about corrections if information is wrong.
Use the state’s challenge or amendment process with relevant supporting court documents.
Examples of different state systems
| State | Official starting point | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| California | California DOJ Record Review | Fingerprint-based personal review |
| Texas | Texas DPS Crime Records | Public name searches and personal fingerprint-review routes differ |
| Florida | FDLE Personal Review | Personal-review program separate from paid public checks |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania PATCH | Standard checks and full Individual Access and Review are different requests |
| Illinois | Illinois ISP Access and Review | Personal transcript procedure differs from public conviction checks |
| New York | DCJS Record Review | Personal review and correction of NY criminal history |
These examples demonstrate why a generic paid “nationwide background check” may not be equivalent to the official personal-review process required in your state.
Find All State Identification Bureaus ↗5. How to Find Out If You Have an FBI Criminal Record
The FBI offers an Identity History Summary Check, often called an FBI rap sheet. It is based on fingerprints submitted to the FBI and can include certain arrest and disposition information held in FBI systems.
$18
Direct FBI Identity History Summary request. Fingerprint collection or an approved channeler may charge additional fees.
Fingerprints required
Unlike an ordinary public court name search, an FBI Identity History Summary request uses fingerprints to confirm identity.
Step-by-step FBI personal history check
- Go to the FBI’s Identity History Summary page.
Open the official FBI instructions and choose the electronic or mail-in request process.
- Provide your required personal information.
Complete the FBI’s request or applicant information form accurately.
- Arrange fingerprint submission.
For an electronic FBI request, participating U.S. Post Offices may take electronic fingerprints. Mailing a fingerprint card or using an FBI-approved channeler are other options.
- Pay the FBI processing fee.
The FBI currently lists $18 for the direct request. Additional fees from a channeler or fingerprint location may apply.
- Submit the completed request.
Follow FBI instructions for fingerprints, payment and confirmation.
- Review the result.
The FBI provides the information held in its relevant records or a response stating that no Identity History Summary was found.
- Challenge inaccurate information if necessary.
Use the FBI’s Identity History Summary Challenge process and include supporting documents where available.
FBI contact: (304) 625-5590 or identity@fbi.gov.
The FBI says individuals who cannot afford the $18 processing charge can contact it for fee-waiver instructions before submitting the request. This is not an automatic waiver.
6. Does an Arrest, Ticket or Dismissed Charge Mean You Have a Criminal Record?
The phrase “criminal record” can describe several different kinds of information. Understanding them helps you answer questions accurately.
| Situation | Does a record potentially exist? | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Police questioned you | Possibly a police contact report; not necessarily an arrest or criminal case | Whether you were actually arrested, cited or charged |
| You were arrested | An arrest or booking record may exist without conviction | Court filing and official history |
| Arrested but released without charges | A law-enforcement record may remain | Agency history, filing status and removal eligibility |
| Given a speeding ticket | May be a noncriminal traffic record; varies by violation and state | Whether the offense is classified as criminal |
| Charged with a misdemeanor | A criminal case may exist even without conviction | Final court disposition |
| Charges dismissed | Case and arrest records may still exist depending on state law | Dismissal and sealing/expungement status |
| Found not guilty | Court records may remain despite acquittal | Judgment and applicable record-clearing options |
| Convicted of a criminal offense | A conviction record generally exists unless later changed or legally restricted | Final judgment, appeal and expungement |
| Juvenile case | May exist with special confidentiality rules | Juvenile-record access and treatment in that state |
| Case sealed or expunged | Public access may be restricted or records removed, depending on the order | Exact legal effect and authorized-access exceptions |
Criminal case versus criminal conviction
A court may maintain a criminal case that includes allegations but does not end in a conviction. A background report that lists only the charge without the disposition can create a misleading impression.
Does a misdemeanor count?
Yes, a misdemeanor can be a criminal offense. However, not every minor violation is a misdemeanor; some are civil infractions or administrative offenses. The legal classification depends on the state.
Can a dismissed case still show up?
Yes, depending on the jurisdiction and record type. Dismissal does not automatically guarantee that every court, police and state repository entry is deleted. Some states provide automatic sealing for qualifying cases, while others require a petition or a separate administrative action.
7. Common Situations: Do I Have a Criminal Record?
“I was arrested, but I never went to court.”
Start with the arresting agency and court serving the location. You may have an arrest record even if charges were never filed. Your state’s personal-history process can help identify repository entries.
“The judge dismissed my case.”
Request or search the final dismissal order. Determine whether your state automatically seals or expunges qualifying dismissed cases or requires another step.
“I pleaded guilty years ago.”
A conviction may appear in court or history records unless later vacated, sealed or expunged. Check the original judgment and current legal status.
“I completed probation.”
Successful probation completion does not always mean the record disappears. It matters whether the court entered a conviction, deferred adjudication, dismissal or another disposition.
“I was charged when I was under 18.”
Juvenile records can be confidential or subject to special access rules. Do not assume they are nonexistent or that all juvenile matters are treated alike.
“Someone else’s record appears under my name.”
Do not accept a name-only result as proof it belongs to you. Use official documents and dispute procedures to resolve misidentification or mixed files.
8. How Much Does It Cost to Check Your Own Criminal Record?
| Method | Typical cost structure | Coverage limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Public county criminal case lookup | Often free; some jurisdictions charge | Public cases in that court |
| Court certified disposition | Local clerk charges vary | Specific court record only |
| State personal criminal history | Varies by state and fingerprint vendor | State repository information |
| FBI Identity History Summary | $18 FBI fee; fingerprint charges may apply | FBI-held fingerprint-associated history |
| PACER federal court search | Usage-based fees, subject to applicable waiver | Federal cases, not state courts |
| Commercial people-search report | Varies; sometimes subscription-based | Aggregated information, not necessarily complete |
For a single known incident, checking the court first may save money. For a formal clearance, the recipient may insist on a specific state or federally authorized check instead of a free court search.
Commercial people-search reports should be treated cautiously. A report may list an old arrest without showing the later dismissal or may match a case to someone with the same name.
9. What If Your Criminal Record Is Wrong or Incomplete?
Common problems include a missing dismissal, a charge incorrectly described as a conviction, a case attributed to the wrong person or an expunged case that remains improperly reported.
- Identify the exact error.
Write down the incorrect case number, charge, date, disposition or identity information.
- Request the original court record.
Obtain the judgment, dismissal, amended order or other official evidence that supports the correct status.
- Find the custodian of the incorrect information.
The court clerk, state identification bureau, FBI or private background-report company may maintain separate entries.
- Use the appropriate challenge process.
Submit the disputed information and supporting records through the designated official procedure.
- Check whether other repositories need updating.
A corrected court record may not immediately fix a separate commercial or state report.
- Confirm the correction.
Obtain a new report or written response to establish whether the mistake was resolved.
How to challenge FBI history information
The FBI offers an Identity History Summary Challenge process. According to its official FAQs, the FBI charges no fee for a challenge and lists an average response time of approximately 45 days after receiving the challenge. Actual timing can vary.
Supporting materials may include certified court dispositions, amended judgments or expungement orders. State-submitted arrest information may need correction through the appropriate state identification bureau or submitting agency.
10. Will a Sealed or Expunged Criminal Record Still Show Up?
Sealing and expungement are legal processes that can restrict public access to or remove certain criminal records, depending on state law. Their effects are not uniform across the country.
Sealed records
A sealed case may disappear from ordinary public court searches but remain available to certain authorized agencies or for specific legal purposes.
Expunged records
Expungement may involve removal, destruction, erasure or legal restriction of eligible records. The specific consequences depend on the state and the court order.
If you received an expungement or sealing order, keep a copy and verify that the affected court and criminal-history agency processed it. If your background report continues to show information that should be restricted, ask the reporting company about correction or deletion under applicable law.
11. How to Know What an Employer Background Check Will Show
Employment screening can use different databases from the ones available through a free public search. Employers may hire consumer reporting agencies to compile criminal records, employment history and other information.
Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, an employer using a background-reporting company generally must provide the required disclosure and obtain written authorization before requesting the report.
Before an employment background check
- Review your own official court cases and state criminal-history record.
- Check whether previous charges have accurate final dispositions.
- Keep relevant dismissal, sealing or expungement orders available.
- Review the job’s specific disclosure questions carefully.
- Consider applicable state or local fair-chance employment rules.
If an employer reports a criminal-record problem
If an employer is considering adverse action because of a report supplied by a background-reporting company, federal law generally requires a pre-adverse-action copy of the report and a summary of your rights.
If the decision becomes final, the employer must provide information about the reporting company and your rights to dispute incorrect or incomplete data. The FTC states that you can request an additional free report from that company within 60 days of the adverse decision.
FTC: Background Checks and Your Rights ↗12. Personal Criminal Record Verification Checklist
Use this checklist before concluding that you do or do not have a record.
Information to gather
- Current and former legal names
- Approximate date of the incident
- City, county and state
- Arresting agency, if known
- Any court case number
- Prior court orders or notices
- Expungement or sealing documents
Checks to complete
- Search the likely criminal court.
- Verify the final case outcome.
- Request state history if needed.
- Consider FBI fingerprint review.
- Check for incorrect identity matches.
- Confirm any correction or expungement.
- Keep private records securely stored.
13. How Do I Know If I Have a Criminal Record? FAQs
How do I know if I have a criminal record for free?
Start by searching the official criminal court in the county where you may have been charged. Many courts provide free public case lookup. A state or FBI criminal-history request may require a fee and fingerprints.
Can I have a criminal record if I was arrested but not convicted?
Yes. Arrest-related records may exist even when prosecutors did not file charges or the court dismissed the case. What is publicly disclosed depends on state law and record restrictions.
Does a dismissed criminal case still show up on background checks?
It can. A dismissal does not automatically remove every police, court or repository entry. Some states automatically seal qualifying dismissed cases; others require a separate process.
Can I search my own criminal record using my name?
You can search many public court systems by name. However, official personal criminal-history processes may require fingerprints to confirm identity and prevent wrong-person matches.
How much does it cost to get my FBI criminal record?
The FBI charges $18 for a direct Identity History Summary request. Fingerprinting or FBI-approved channeler fees may be additional.
Does a traffic ticket mean I have a criminal record?
Not necessarily. Many traffic violations are civil infractions, while others are classified as criminal offenses. Check the relevant state’s classification and the actual court case.
Can I have a criminal record if I never went to court?
Possibly. A law-enforcement agency may have an arrest record even if no court case was filed. Search the court and ask the state identification bureau about your personal history.
Will a misdemeanor appear on a criminal background check?
It may, depending on the offense, disposition, reporting system and applicable sealing or expungement rules. A misdemeanor conviction can be a criminal record.
How can I correct a criminal record that belongs to someone else?
Contact the agency or background-reporting company that issued the incorrect information. Provide the disputed entry and supporting identity or court documentation, following its authorized dispute process.
Can I know exactly what my employer will see?
You can review your own official records and request a copy of an employment consumer report under applicable FCRA rights. However, employers use different authorized sources, and no single self-search predicts every possible result.
14. Official Resources to Check Your Criminal Record
- USA.gov State Government Directory — locate official state agencies and judicial websites.
- USA.gov Courts Guide — find federal and state court resources.
- FBI Identity History Summary Checks — request your own fingerprint-based FBI history.
- FBI Identity History FAQs — fingerprint options, $18 fee, waiver and challenges.
- State Identification Bureau Directory — official state criminal-history agencies.
- FBI-Approved Channelers — authorized channeler options for personal history requests.
- PACER Federal Case Search — federal criminal dockets, separate from state courts.
- FTC Employment Background Check Rights — permissions, disclosures, disputes and adverse action.
- FTC Employer Screening Guidance — lawful background-check procedures.
- FTC Tenant Background Report Disputes — correcting inaccurate tenant-screening information.