To get a copy of your criminal record in California, submit your fingerprints to the California Department of Justice along with a $25 processing fee. In-state residents use electronic Live Scan fingerprinting; people living outside California mail in an ink fingerprint card. The DOJ record, sometimes called a rap sheet or CII record, is the most complete state-level history of your arrests and convictions in California, and it usually arrives by mail within two to three business days of submission.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions – Criminal Records – Request Your Own
Requesting Your Record if You Live in California
The process runs through a Live Scan location, where an operator takes your fingerprints electronically and transmits them to the DOJ with your application.
- Print Form BCIA 8016RR, the “Application to Obtain Your Own Criminal Record,” from the DOJ website. Fill it out completely and select “Record Review” as both the type of application and the reason for application.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Criminal Records – Request Your Own
- Bring the completed form and a valid photo ID to a Live Scan provider. The DOJ website lists authorized locations.
- Pay $25 to the DOJ for the record check, plus a separate rolling fee to the Live Scan operator for taking the fingerprints. Rolling fees vary by provider, typically between $20 and $50.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Criminal Records – Request Your Own
Processing normally takes two to three business days, though records with more extensive histories can take up to two weeks.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions – Criminal Records – Request Your Own Your results come by U.S. mail to the address on your form.
Requesting Your Record from Outside California
If you no longer live in the state, you can still get your DOJ record, but the process is paper-based since Live Scan is a California system. You’ll submit ink fingerprints on a standard FBI fingerprint card, Form FD-258.
Print Form BCIA 8705, the “Application to Obtain Copy of State Summary Criminal History Record,” from the DOJ website. A Spanish version is available. Then contact a local law enforcement agency near you to be fingerprinted on the FD-258 card. The card must show your full name, date of birth, sex, and return mailing address.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Criminal Records – Request Your Own
Mail the application, the fingerprint card, and a $25 fee (personal check drawn on a U.S. bank, money order, or certified check payable to “California Department of Justice”) to:
California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis
Record Review & Challenge Section
PO Box 160207
Sacramento, CA 95816-02072State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Criminal Records – Request Your Own
If you can’t find a blank FD-258 card, the DOJ’s Record Review Unit can help at (916) 227-3849. Manual submissions take longer than electronic ones because they travel by mail in both directions.
Fee Waivers for Low-Income Requesters
California residents with limited income can apply to have the $25 DOJ processing fee waived. You may qualify if:
- You receive public assistance such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or disability benefits.
- Your income is low relative to your area and household size.
- You have no income.
The application is on the DOJ’s fee waiver page. You’ll provide basic information like your EBT ID card number or an estimate of your monthly income, then sign a declaration under penalty of perjury. If approved, the form generates a fee waiver number that eliminates the $25 DOJ charge.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Apply for a Fee Waiver
The waiver applies only to the DOJ fee. You’ll still owe the Live Scan provider’s rolling fee.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Apply for a Fee Waiver
When You Need a Different Record
The standard DOJ record review answers most requests, but a few situations call for a different form or a different agency altogether.
Visa or Immigration Use
If you need the record for a visa, immigration petition, or foreign adoption, use Form BCIA 8016 VISA at a Live Scan site (or FD-258 by mail from out of state). The fee is $32 rather than $25, plus the rolling fee. One thing that catches people out: the document the DOJ sends is not an apostille. Many foreign governments require an apostille or certification before they’ll accept a background check. After you receive the DOJ response, contact visa-immigration@doj.ca.gov for instructions on getting the apostille separately.4State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Visa/Immigration
Nationwide History from the FBI
A DOJ record only covers California. For a nationwide criminal history (often required for immigration, federal employment, or international adoption), request an FBI Identity History Summary Check. The fee is $18, and you can submit fingerprints electronically at a participating U.S. Post Office, mail a completed FD-1164 fingerprint card, or use an FBI-approved channeler. The FBI does not accept personal checks, business checks, or cash. If you can’t afford the fee, contact the FBI at (304) 625-5590 or identity@fbi.gov to request a waiver before submitting.5Federal Bureau of Investigation. Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions
A Specific Local Arrest
Local police and sheriff’s records cover only incidents within a single agency’s jurisdiction, and some of that information never makes it into the DOJ system. If you know a particular agency handled your case, contact its records division directly. Requirements vary, but you’ll generally need to appear in person with photo ID, complete a request form, and pay a modest fee. Some agencies also require fingerprinting.
Court Case Files
Charging documents, plea entries, sentencing orders, and dismissal orders live in court files, not the DOJ record. Each of California’s 58 superior courts keeps its own; there is no single statewide portal. Contact the clerk’s office of the superior court where the case was filed, which you can locate through courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.6Judicial Branch of California. Public Records Court records also matter if you need to prove how a case ended, since a certified court disposition is what you’ll use to fix an error on your DOJ record.
When Your Record Arrives
Read every entry carefully. Errors show up more often than people expect. Arrests that were never prosecuted sometimes appear without a disposition, making an old case look open. Dismissed charges may not be marked as dismissed. Convictions that were expunged can still appear.
Whenever criminal information appears on the record, the DOJ includes a “Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness” form (BCIA 8706) with your response. Complete it, explain specifically what’s wrong, and attach supporting documentation such as a certified court order. Mail the form and a copy of your criminal history record to the address shown on the form.2State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Criminal Records – Request Your Own Normal turnaround on a challenge is two to three days, though complex records can take up to two weeks.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions – Criminal Records – Request Your Own If the error concerns a court disposition, you may also need the originating court to update its records and report the correction to the DOJ.