California Form JUS 8715, titled “Adult Disposition of Arrest and Court Action,” is a California Department of Justice reporting form used by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts to document the outcome of a criminal case. It is not a public-facing form. Members of the public do not fill it out, sign it, or submit it. If you were told you need to “complete a JUS 8715,” that instruction almost certainly refers to a different document, and the sections below explain what the form actually is, why it may still affect you, and what to do if an entry tied to it is wrong on your record.
Who Files JUS 8715 and When
JUS 8715 is initiated by the agency that makes an arrest for which fingerprint-based arrest records were submitted to the California DOJ.1California Department of Justice. JUS 8715/8715A Instructions and Code Explanations The arresting or booking agency completes the form and either sends it directly to DOJ when the disposition is final at that stage, or routes it to the prosecuting agency when charges are being filed. Courts use a companion form, JUS 8715A, to report dismissed charges and other case outcomes.
The purpose is straightforward. When someone is arrested and fingerprinted, an entry lands in the state’s criminal history database. JUS 8715 and 8715A are how the agencies that touch the case afterward — the prosecutor, the court — close the loop and tell DOJ what actually happened: charges filed, charges dropped, plea, conviction, dismissal, acquittal. Without those reports, the arrest sits in the database with no resolution attached.
Why the Form Can Still Affect You
The information on JUS 8715 feeds the criminal history records the DOJ searches for firearms eligibility checks, licensing background checks, and record review requests. When a disposition is reported late, reported with the wrong code, or never reported at all, the consequence for the person named in the record is real: an arrest from years ago that was dismissed can appear as an open charge, and a completed diversion program can look like an unresolved case.
The most visible place this problem surfaces is a Personal Firearms Eligibility Check. One of the four results the DOJ issues on those checks is “determination could not be made,” which typically means the state found a record — often an open arrest charge without a final court disposition — that might be disqualifying but lacks enough information to make a firm call.2State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Personal Firearms Eligibility Check Program Behind that inconclusive answer is often a missing or miscoded JUS 8715.
The same gap can produce an outright “ineligible” result. If a case was dismissed but the dismissal was never reported, the database may still reflect a felony arrest that reads as a disqualifying conviction on cursory review.
How to Correct a Disposition Error on Your Record
You cannot file a JUS 8715 yourself, and you cannot ask the arresting agency to redo one on demand. What you can do is challenge the entry in your DOJ criminal history record, which is the document that carries the consequences.
Start by requesting your own record from DOJ. This is done by submitting fingerprint images through a Live Scan operator and paying a $25 processing fee.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Criminal Records – Request Your Own When DOJ sends the record back, it includes Form BCIA 8706, “Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness.”
Complete BCIA 8706 with a specific description of what is wrong. Attach documentation that proves your version: court minutes showing a dismissal, a certificate of completion for a diversion program, a sentencing order, or any other court-issued paper that contradicts the database entry. Mail the form and supporting documents to the address printed on it.
DOJ reviews the challenge and issues a written response. If the record is corrected, you receive an amended criminal history summary. If DOJ denies the challenge, you can request that the matter be referred for an administrative hearing.4State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions – Criminal Records
A practical tip on the paperwork: the more specific your supporting document, the faster the correction. A certified minute order that names the case number, the charge, and the disposition date does more than a general letter from an attorney. If your court file is old, request certified copies from the clerk of the court that handled the case before you file BCIA 8706, so DOJ has everything in one package.
Once the Record Is Fixed
After a successful correction, the updated disposition flows through to the databases used for firearms checks, licensing, and employment background screens. If your original reason for looking into this was a firearms eligibility question, you can submit a fresh Personal Firearms Eligibility Check application to confirm your updated status. That check runs under Penal Code section 30105 and produces a written notification of whether you are eligible to possess and purchase firearms as of the date the check was completed.5California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 30105
Corrections do not always propagate instantly. If you plan to rely on a corrected record for a firearm purchase, a professional license application, or another background check, give the system time to reflect the amendment and confirm with an updated record review or eligibility check before you act.
If You Were Looking for the Firearms Eligibility Form
Because JUS 8715 sits behind so many firearms records, some readers arrive here after being told to “check with DOJ” about their eligibility to own a gun. The form for that is not JUS 8715. It is BOF 116, the Personal Firearm Eligibility Check application, published by the Bureau of Firearms.6California Department of Justice. BOF 116 – Personal Firearm Eligibility Check Application BOF 116 is filled out by the individual, notarized, and mailed to the Bureau of Firearms with a $20 fee. It is voluntary, and no employer, landlord, or agency can require you to obtain one.5California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 30105
If you were told to file a “disposition form” in connection with a court case you are involved in as a defendant, that instruction is likely pointing to a court-specific form issued by the clerk, not to JUS 8715. Ask the clerk of the court that gave the instruction for the exact form number and title, since JUS 8715 itself is completed by the agency, not by the person named in the case.
Key Points to Take Away
JUS 8715 is an internal DOJ reporting form. You do not fill it out. It matters to you only because errors and omissions in how agencies submit it can show up in your criminal history and produce wrong answers on background checks. The tool you have to fix those errors is the record review process and Form BCIA 8706, not the JUS 8715 itself. If firearms eligibility was your reason for searching, BOF 116 is the form you need, and correcting any bad disposition data first will give you a cleaner result.