Q&A

Can FBI records be expunged?

Can FBI records be expunged?

As discussed in the immediately preceding FAQ, your FBI Identification Record can only be expunged or sealed in limited instances.

How long does the FBI keep criminal records?

The DOJ is required by law to record summary arrest, detention, disposition, and personal identification information when submitted by a law enforcement agency or court of this state. The record retention policy of the Department is to maintain criminal history information until the subject reaches 100 years of age.

How do I challenge an FBI record?

If you believe your Identity History Summary contains inaccurate or incomplete information, you have three options for requesting a change or correction:

  1. Option 1: Contact the agency or agencies that submitted the information to the FBI.
  2. Option 2: Electronically submit your challenge request directly to the FBI.

Do sealed records show up on FBI background check?

Records of juvenile convictions and detention that have been sealed by a court typically do not appear in such a search. An FBI background check is typically used to screen candidates for federal government agencies and companies that work with and for them.

What comes up in an FBI background check?

Generally, the primary reason background checks are run is to check the applicant’s criminal history. An FBI background check includes a list of all public federal misdemeanor and felony convictions. The check may include basic information about the charge, conviction, and any resulting incarceration.

What is included in a DOJ FBI background check?

An FBI background check includes a list of all public federal misdemeanor and felony convictions….This information may include:

  • Date of birth.
  • Divorces and marriages.
  • Current driver’s license or state ID number.
  • Legal name.
  • Other names, including criminal aliases.
  • Property owned.
  • Tax liens.

Where does the FBI get its criminal records from?

This department receives dispositions from all criminal justice agencies in the U.S. including state criminal history repository, arresting agencies (police departments, state police and correctional facilities), courts and federal agencies (such as the Drug Enforcement Agency and ATF).

How can I update my criminal history with the FBI?

The FBI obtains your records through various agencies including local, state, federal, and international. In certain instances, you may need to contact the agency rather than the FBI. State agencies are responsible for updating and correcting criminal history records. You can contact the arresting agency that booked you, or the state repository.

Can a criminal record be expunged from the FBI?

Because expungement laws vary from state to state, the FBI will comply with states in many cases to remove a criminal record from the National Crime Information Center.

Where can I find all my criminal records?

Besides information that might exist at the local and state level, the FBI has its own repository for all criminal records and arrests in the U.S. The FBI’s central repository for criminal records is the Criminal Justice Information Services division.

What kind of Records does the FBI have?

(For a brief description of records from earlier years arranged according to different record keeping practices, see Other Records .) The following is a brief overview and introduction to this recordkeeping system. Almost all FBI records are part of a case file in the CRS.

Because expungement laws vary from state to state, the FBI will comply with states in many cases to remove a criminal record from the National Crime Information Center.

Where does the FBI store your fingerprint records?

This enters the criminal history and fingerprints into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), the national system that stores all criminal fingerprints and “rap sheets” for all arrested individuals in the country. At a moment’s notice, an FBI agent or police officer can request those records.

What kind of system does the FBI use?

The FBI currently uses paper as its system for maintaining records while electronically managing the information. SENTINEL, an automated case management system, will transform the way that the FBI does business by allowing the Bureau to move from a primarily paper-based case management system to an electronic record system.