How to Obtain a Criminal Record: Copies & Search

Independent criminal records guide

How to Obtain a Criminal Record: Free Searches, Certified Copies, Background Checks and Public Record Lookup

Use this guide to understand how to obtain a criminal record, where to search criminal records for free, when to request certified court copies, and when you need an official state, FBI, court, jail, offender, registry or federal record route.

A free criminal records search can help you find public case information, jail records, offender records, registry results and federal case references. But certified copies, official criminal-history checks, fingerprint-based records and legally compliant screening reports usually require a formal request.

Official U.S. court, FBI, PACER, NSOPW and FTC sources reviewed October 14, 2026

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Independent website notice: CriminalCourtRecord.org is an independent public-information guide. It is not a court, clerk’s office, sheriff, police department, state repository, FBI, PACER, NSOPW, corrections department, consumer-reporting agency, or background-check company. This page does not run a background check, does not provide legal advice, and does not guarantee that a criminal record exists.

First Decide What “Criminal Record” Means for Your Purpose

A criminal record can mean a court case docket, certified judgment, arrest report, jail booking, state criminal-history record, FBI Identity History Summary, prison/offender record, registry listing, or federal case record. Each one has a different custodian and a different request process.

If you only need to research whether a case exists, free public searches may be enough to start. If you need a record for employment, licensing, immigration, court, adoption, travel, sealing, expungement, or official proof, use the official custodian and request the correct copy or certified result.

Choose Record Type Get Copies Responsible Use

Quick Answer: How Do You Obtain a Criminal Record?

To obtain a criminal record, identify the record type and location first. For court cases, search the state or county court portal and request copies from the court clerk. For your own FBI record, use the FBI Identity History Summary process. For a state criminal-history record, use the state identification bureau or state repository. For current jail or offender information, use the sheriff or corrections department. For federal criminal cases, use PACER. For public registry information, use NSOPW or the official state registry.

Need a free search? Start with official court, sheriff, corrections, registry, and federal case search tools.

Need a certified copy? Contact the court clerk or official custodian that holds the case file.

Need your FBI record? Use the FBI Identity History Summary fingerprint-based process.

Need screening use? Use proper FCRA-compliant procedures when eligibility decisions are involved.

Practical rule: Free searches help you locate records. Official copies and criminal-history checks prove records.

Which Criminal Record Should You Obtain?

The right route depends on the record you actually need. Do not request a state criminal-history check when you only need a court disposition, and do not rely on a free case search when an employer, agency, attorney, court, or licensing board requires an official report.

Need	Best source	Usually free to search?	How to obtain the record
Criminal court case	State court portal, county clerk, district clerk, circuit clerk, municipal court, or courthouse	Often free to search; copies may cost	Search by name or case number, then request copies from the clerk
Certified disposition or judgment	Court clerk or official court custodian	Usually not free for certified copies	Ask for a certified judgment, sentence, dismissal, order, docket sheet, or disposition
State criminal-history record	State police, public safety department, attorney general, or state identification bureau	Usually fee-based or restricted	Follow the state repository’s name-based or fingerprint-based process
FBI Identity History Summary	FBI Identity History Summary Checks	No, official FBI process is fee-based	Submit fingerprints and request your own FBI identity-history record
Arrest report or booking	Police department, sheriff’s office, jail, or arresting agency	Current rosters may be free; reports may cost	Search jail roster or request the report from the agency
Prison, parole, or offender record	State Department of Corrections or offender locator	Many searches are free	Search by name or inmate/offender number, then verify details with the agency
Sex-offender registry record	NSOPW or official state registry	Usually free to search	Search by name or location and confirm with the listed registry source
Federal criminal case	PACER or PACER Case Locator	Account registration is free; usage may create fees	Search federal court records, download docket/documents if available, or contact the federal court

Official Criminal Record Links and What To Do After Opening

Use these official routes for final action. This guide explains the process, but the actual copy request, criminal-history check, FBI record request, registry search, jail lookup, offender search, or federal case search must be completed through the official custodian.

Court locator

USA.gov Courts

Use for: Finding federal, state, territory, county, and municipal court systems.

After opening: Choose the right jurisdiction and look for court records, case search, docket search, clerk, or public access pages.

Best for: Starting a free criminal court records search when you know the state or county.

Open Court Directory

State route

USA.gov State Governments

Use for: Finding state courts, state police, public safety agencies, attorney general offices, corrections departments, and criminal-history repositories.

After opening: Choose the state and search for criminal history, background check, courts, corrections, or public safety.

Best for: State-level criminal-history and offender record routes.

Open State Governments

Local route

USA.gov Local Governments

Use for: Finding county clerks, sheriff’s offices, police departments, local jails, municipal courts, and local public-record offices.

After opening: Choose the locality, then search for clerk of court, jail roster, public records, sheriff, or police records.

Best for: County-level copies, arrest reports, and jail lookups.

Open Local Governments

FBI record

FBI Identity History Summary Checks

Use for: Requesting your own FBI Identity History Summary, often called an FBI rap sheet.

After opening: Review fingerprint, submission, payment, response, and correction instructions.

Best for: Personal FBI identity-history review, not free public lookup of another person.

Open FBI Identity History

State repositories

FBI State Identification Bureau Listing

Use for: Finding the state bureau that handles state criminal-history record questions and updates.

After opening: Choose the state and follow that state’s criminal-history or record-correction instructions.

Best for: State repository contacts and record correction questions.

Open State Bureau List

Registry search

National Sex Offender Public Website

Use for: Searching public state, territory, and tribal sex-offender registry information through one national route.

After opening: Search by name or location, then confirm details with the registry source shown in the result.

Best for: Public registry lookup, not complete criminal-history proof.

Open NSOPW

Federal cases

PACER Federal Court Records

Use for: Federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate court records.

After opening: Register or sign in, search a specific federal court, or use PACER Case Locator if the court is unknown.

Best for: Federal criminal cases, not state or county court records.

Open PACER

Screening use

FTC Background Check Guidance

Use for: Understanding federal duties when background information is used for employment decisions.

After opening: Review authorization, disclosure, pre-adverse action, adverse action, and dispute rules.

Best for: Employers or decision-makers using background reports.

Open FTC Guidance

Consumer rights

FTC Background Check Rights

Use for: Understanding your rights when an employer uses a background report.

After opening: Review permission, report-copy, dispute, and adverse-action rights.

Best for: Applicants or employees who want to understand background-check protections.

Open FTC Consumer Rights

Can You Obtain Criminal Records for Free?

You can often search criminal public records for free, but obtaining official copies is different. A free lookup may show a case number, charge, hearing, jail booking, offender record, or registry result. Certified copies, police reports, archived documents, state repository checks, FBI identity-history records, and PACER documents may involve fees.

Often free to search

State court case indexes
County court case searches
Courthouse public access terminals
County jail rosters
State corrections offender locators
Public sex-offender registry searches
Some appellate court opinions and docket summaries

Often paid or formal

Certified court copies
Police reports and arrest reports
State criminal-history checks
Fingerprint-based checks
FBI Identity History Summary checks
PACER document access beyond waived usage
Consumer-reporting background checks

Be careful with “free complete background check” claims: A reliable source should tell you exactly which public database is being searched and what is missing from the result.

Step-by-Step: How to Obtain a Criminal Record

Use this process before paying for records. It helps you identify the exact custodian and prevents you from ordering the wrong document.

Decide why you need the record

Personal research, certified court copy, job screening, licensing, immigration, court filing, expungement, or legal use may each require a different record.

Identify the location

Most criminal records are local or state-based. Try to identify the state, county, city, court, sheriff, police agency, or corrections department.

Start with a free public search

Search official court portals, county clerk sites, jail rosters, corrections searches, registry sites, and PACER for federal case clues.

Collect the case or record details

Write down the case number, court, county, filing date, charge, party name, disposition, booking number, inmate number, or registry source.

Verify identity before assuming a match

Name-only results can match the wrong person. Compare date of birth, age, middle name, location, case number, and other official identifiers when available.

Request the correct copy

Ask the court clerk or custodian for the specific document: certified disposition, judgment, sentence, dismissal, docket sheet, order, arrest report, or background check.

Use the official state or FBI route when required

If an agency requires a state or FBI criminal-history check, do not substitute a free court screenshot. Follow the required official process.

How to Request Criminal Record Copies

When you need an actual copy, the key is to request the correct document from the correct custodian. A clerk cannot always provide an FBI record, and an FBI record does not replace a certified court judgment.

Copy needed	Request from	Ask for this wording	Useful details to provide
Certified court disposition	Court clerk where the case was filed	Certified disposition, judgment, sentence, order, or docket sheet	Case number, full name, filing date, county, court, document type
Arrest report	Police department, sheriff, or arresting agency	Incident report, arrest report, booking report, or public records request	Date, location, agency, report number, name, booking number
State criminal-history record	State criminal-history repository or state identification bureau	Name-based or fingerprint-based criminal-history check	Legal name, date of birth, fingerprints if required, purpose, payment
FBI Identity History Summary	FBI or FBI-approved channeler where applicable	Identity History Summary Check	Fingerprint card/submission, personal information, fee, response method
Federal court record	PACER or federal court clerk	Federal docket sheet, criminal complaint, judgment, sentencing document, or order	Federal court, case number, party name, date range

Copy request tip: Before paying, ask whether the office provides plain copies, certified copies, electronic copies, mailed copies, or in-person pickup, and whether extra fees apply.

Criminal Record Route Finder

Select what you need and why you need it. This helper runs only in your browser and does not collect names, birth dates, case numbers, or private identity details.

Find the right official route

What do you need to obtain?

Why do you need it?

How to Obtain Criminal Court Records

Court records are often the best starting point because they can show what happened after an arrest or charge. They may show the charge, plea, dismissal, conviction, sentence, probation, fine, order, or final disposition.

Search first

State court case search portal
County clerk or clerk of court website
District, circuit, superior, common pleas, or municipal court portal
Courthouse public access terminal
Appellate court docket search if the case was appealed

Then request copies

Certified disposition
Judgment or sentence
Dismissal order
Docket sheet
Complaint or charging document
Probation or sentencing order where public

Important: A court search result is often not the same as a certified copy. If an agency requires proof, ask the clerk for certification.

How to Obtain State Criminal-History Records

A state criminal-history record usually comes from a state repository, state police, department of public safety, attorney general, bureau of criminal identification, or state identification bureau. Each state has its own rules, fees, forms, access limits, and correction process.

Name-based checks

A name-based check may be faster and easier, but it can produce false matches or miss records when names, dates, aliases, or reporting details differ.

Fingerprint-based checks

A fingerprint-based check is usually stronger for identity confirmation and may be required for licensing, employment, volunteering, immigration, or regulated purposes.

Find State Identification Bureau Find State Government

How to Obtain Your FBI Identity History Summary

The FBI Identity History Summary is a fingerprint-based record request for your own FBI identity history. It is not a free public people-search tool for checking someone else’s criminal record.

You usually need

Fingerprint submission
Personal identification information
Payment through the official process
Mail or electronic submission method where available
Correct purpose and contact information

Use it for

Your own identity-history review
Checking whether an FBI record exists
Reviewing possible record errors
Following agency instructions when an FBI check is required

Correction tip: If an FBI record contains state-origin information that appears wrong, you may need to work with the state repository or original agency so the state can update the FBI record.

Open FBI Identity History

How to Obtain Jail, Arrest, and Offender Records

Jail, arrest, and offender records can show custody or supervision information, but they are not the same as a final court disposition or full criminal-history record.

Use local agencies for

Arrest reports
Booking records
Current jail rosters
Incident report requests
Local public records requests

Use corrections agencies for

State prison records
Offender locator results
Parole or supervision information where public
Inmate number lookup
Release or custody status where available

Do not overread arrest records: Arrest, booking, and jail information does not prove conviction. Always check the court disposition.

How to Obtain Sex-Offender Registry Information

Public registry information is usually searchable through NSOPW or state registry websites. A registry record may be useful for public-safety research, but it is not a complete criminal-history report.

Search carefully

Use NSOPW or the official state registry.
Search by name or location where available.
Compare identity details before assuming a match.
Open the original registry result when provided.

Understand limits

Registry records are not every criminal record.
Not every offense requires registration.
Registry status can change.
Correction requests must go through the official registry route.

Open NSOPW

How to Obtain Federal Criminal Court Records

Federal criminal records are searched through PACER or the PACER Case Locator. PACER is separate from state court portals and county clerk systems.

Use PACER when

You need a federal district court, bankruptcy court, or appellate court record.

Use Case Locator if unsure

If you do not know which federal court handled the case, use PACER Case Locator as a nationwide federal index.

Watch fees

PACER registration is free, but searches and documents may create charges unless fee-waiver rules apply.

Open PACER Find a Case Open PACER Case Locator Info

What If You Cannot Find a Criminal Record?

A no-result search does not always mean no record exists. It may only mean you searched the wrong court, wrong county, wrong state, wrong spelling, wrong database, or a source that does not publish the record online.

Problem	Possible reason	Best next step
Name search has no match	Different spelling, alias, maiden name, wrong county, wrong state, or name-only search limits	Try case number, date range, county filter, alternate spelling, or courthouse search
Court site shows only basic details	Online system may exclude documents, older records, sealed data, or restricted data	Contact the clerk for copies or courthouse access
Need an official background result	Free public lookup is not a state or FBI criminal-history check	Use the correct state repository or FBI process
Federal case missing	Federal cases are in PACER, not state or county portals	Search PACER or PACER Case Locator
Old or restricted record missing	Expungement, sealing, juvenile confidentiality, redaction, retention rules, or access limits	Ask the official custodian or qualified attorney about access rules

Avoid false conclusions: “No result found” means that specific search did not return a match. It does not prove that no record exists.

Sealed, Expunged, Juvenile, and Restricted Criminal Records

Some criminal records cannot be obtained through public search because access is restricted by law, court order, agency rule, privacy protection, or record status.

Records may be unavailable when

The case was sealed or expunged.
The matter involves juvenile confidentiality.
The record includes protected victim or witness information.
The file is redacted or restricted by court order.
The online portal excludes older or archived cases.
The record is held by another custodian.

Who to ask

Court clerk for case records and certified copies
State repository for criminal-history records
Police or sheriff for arrest reports
Corrections department for offender records
FBI for Identity History Summary requests
Qualified attorney for expungement or sealing questions

Responsible Use, FCRA, and Identity-Matching Warnings

Criminal records can affect jobs, housing, licensing, education, immigration, family decisions, and reputation. Use official sources, verify identity, and check final disposition before relying on any result.

Do not assume

An arrest means conviction.
A charge means guilt.
A jail record means final court outcome.
A name match is the correct person.
A registry listing is complete criminal history.
A free search replaces official background screening.

Be careful for screening

Employment and tenant screening may trigger FCRA rules.
Use authorized consumer-reporting procedures when required.
Give required notices when the law requires them.
Allow correction or dispute rights when applicable.
Do not use sealed, expunged, stale, or mismatched records unfairly.
Consult qualified counsel for regulated decisions.

Practical rule: Use free public records for research and direction. Use certified records, state/FBI official checks, or FCRA-compliant background-check services for serious decisions.

FTC Employer Guidance FTC Consumer Rights

Criminal Record Glossary

Criminal record: A broad phrase that may refer to court cases, arrests, convictions, jail records, criminal-history checks, offender records, registry records, or federal cases.
Certified copy: An official copy issued by the record custodian, often the court clerk, with certification that it is a true copy.
Disposition: The outcome or current court result of a charge or case, such as conviction, dismissal, acquittal, deferred result, or sentence.
State repository: A state agency that maintains criminal-history record information, often called a state identification bureau or central repository.
FBI Identity History Summary: A fingerprint-based FBI identity-history record request, commonly used for a person’s own record review.
Consumer report: A background report used for eligibility decisions such as employment or housing, often regulated by the FCRA.
NSOPW: The U.S. government public website that links public state, territory, and tribal sex-offender registries.
PACER: The federal judiciary’s public access system for federal court records.

How to Obtain Free Criminal Records FAQs

How do I obtain a criminal record?

Identify the record type first. Use court clerks for court records, state repositories for state criminal-history records, FBI Identity History Summary for your own FBI record, sheriffs or police for arrest records, corrections departments for offender records, and PACER for federal cases.

Can I obtain criminal records for free?

You can often search public records for free, such as court indexes, jail rosters, offender locators, registry records, and some docket summaries. Certified copies, state checks, FBI checks, police reports, and federal documents may require fees.

Where do I get a certified criminal court record?

Contact the court clerk or official court custodian where the case was filed. Ask for the specific certified document you need, such as a judgment, disposition, sentence, order, dismissal, or docket sheet.

Is a free criminal record search complete?

Usually no. Free searches often show limited information from one source and may exclude sealed records, expunged records, juvenile records, older records, federal cases, out-of-state records, or full documents.

How do I obtain my FBI criminal record?

Use the FBI Identity History Summary Check process. It requires fingerprint-based submission and is designed for obtaining your own FBI identity-history record, not for free public searches of other people.

How do I obtain a state criminal-history record?

Use the state criminal-history repository, state police, department of public safety, attorney general, bureau of criminal identification, or state identification bureau. Each state has its own rules and fees.

Is an arrest record the same as a conviction?

No. An arrest or booking record only shows that a person was arrested or processed. It does not prove guilt or final court outcome. Check the court disposition.

Where do I obtain federal criminal court records?

Use PACER or the PACER Case Locator for federal criminal cases. Federal cases are separate from state and county court systems.

Can I use free criminal records for employment screening?

Be careful. Employment screening may trigger FCRA and state-law rules. A free public-record search is not automatically a legally compliant background check.

Why can I not find a criminal record online?

The record may be in another county, another state, federal court, an offline archive, a sealed or expunged file, a juvenile record, or listed under a different name or case number.

Official Sources and Final-Action Links

Use these official links for court routing, state and local government lookup, FBI checks, state repository contact, registry search, federal court records, and screening guidance.

Editorial Accuracy and Use Note

This guide separates free criminal record searches from official record copies, state criminal-history checks, FBI Identity History Summary checks, court-certified documents, jail and offender lookups, registry searches, PACER federal records, and FCRA-regulated screening. It does not imply that one free search covers every criminal record.

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Last reviewed: October 14, 2026