What Do Fbi Background Checks Show is a search of the national fingerprint database maintained by the federal government. This report serves as a record of a person’s legal history across the United States. It lists interactions with police, courts, and federal agents. Every time a person gets fingerprinted for a crime, those prints go to a central system. The federal government keeps these records for a long time. The report starts with your name and birth date. It also lists any names you used in the past. It shows your height, weight, and eye color. These basic facts help make sure the record belongs to the right person. The main part of the report is the list of arrests and court cases. This data comes from every state and territory.
Criminal History and Arrest Records
The report lists arrests from local police departments and sheriff offices. When police arrest someone, they take fingerprints and send them to the state bureau. The state then sends those prints to the federal system. Each entry shows the date of the arrest and the name of the agency that caught the person. It lists the charges. A charge is the specific rule the person broke. This could be a felony or a misdemeanor. Felonies are serious crimes like robbery or selling large amounts of drugs. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes like petty theft or trespassing. The report shows these distinctions clearly. It tells the reader if the crime was a big deal or a smaller issue. It also shows the case number for each arrest.
The report tracks what happened after the arrest. This is called the disposition. It shows if a judge found the person guilty or not guilty. If the case was dropped, the report says the charges were dismissed. It lists the sentence given by the court. A sentence might be time in jail or a fine. It also shows if the person had to go on probation. Probation means they had to follow certain rules instead of staying in jail. If they broke those rules, that fact appears on the record too. The report lists the date the sentence ended. This helps employers see how long ago the crime happened. It shows if the person has stayed out of trouble since then.
The Next Generation Identification System
The federal government uses a system called Next Generation Identification to store these records. This system is very fast and uses modern tech to match fingerprints. It replaced an older system that was slower. Now, it can find a match in minutes. This system does not just look at fingerprints. It can also look at photos and scars. It keeps track of people who are wanted by the law. If someone has a warrant for their arrest, the system flags it. A warrant means a judge wants the person to come to court. This is a big part of what the report shows. It lets people know if someone is running from the law. The system gets data from all 50 states and places like Puerto Rico and Guam.
Federal agents also put data into this system. This includes agents from the DEA and the ATF. If someone breaks a federal law, like bringing drugs across the border, it goes on this report. Federal crimes are often very serious. They can result in many years in prison. The report shows which federal agency made the arrest. It shows the federal court that handled the case. This gives a full view of a person’s past with the law. It does not matter if the crime was in a small town or a big city. If prints were taken, they usually end up here. This makes the report one of the most trusted ways to check a person’s past.
Records of Serious Traffic Crimes
Most small traffic tickets do not show up on this report. Speeding or running a red light stays on a driving record. However, some traffic crimes are serious enough for fingerprints. A DUI is a common example. DUI stands for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When someone gets a DUI, police often take their prints. This means the DUI will appear on the federal record. It shows the date of the stop and the blood alcohol level if it was recorded. It shows if the person lost their license. Other serious traffic crimes include reckless driving or fleeing from police. These are crimes that can put people in danger. Because they involve fingerprints, they stay on the federal summary for a long time.
The report shows if these traffic crimes were felonies. For example, if someone hurt another person while driving drunk, it becomes a felony. The report lists the specific details of that crime. It shows the court’s final decision. It also shows if the person went to prison for the crime. Employers who hire drivers often look for these entries. They want to know if a person is safe on the road. The report provides the facts they need to make that choice. It gives a clear picture of how many times a person has had serious legal trouble with a car. This is why many people are surprised to see traffic issues on a federal report.
Financial Legal Events and Civil Matters
The federal government also tracks some financial issues in court. Bankruptcy is one of these things. When someone cannot pay their debts, they might file for bankruptcy in federal court. This process shows up on the federal summary. It lists the date the person filed and the type of bankruptcy they chose. It shows if the court approved the plan to clear the debt. This stays on the record for several years. Tax liens are another thing that can appear. A lien is a legal claim against someone’s property because they owe money. If someone does not pay federal taxes, the government might put a lien on their house. This is a matter of public record that the report can show.
These financial records are used to check if a person is reliable with money. Jobs in banks or government finance often check for these items. They want to see if a person has had major money problems. The report shows the outcome of these cases. It tells if the debt was paid or if the case is still open. It also shows the names of the courts where the filings happened. While this is not a criminal record, it is a legal record. It comes from the same federal court system that handles big crimes. This is why it is part of the total history summary. It helps paint a full picture of a person’s legal life.
Employment and Licensing Requirements
Many jobs require this specific check before they hire a person. Schools want to know if teachers have a clean past. Hospitals check doctors and nurses. The government checks anyone who wants to work with kids or the elderly. These jobs are sensitive. They need to make sure the people they hire are trustworthy. The report verifies the facts a person puts on an application. If a person says they have no crimes, but the report shows an arrest, it creates a problem. The report acts as a way to prove the truth. It is very hard to fake or change a fingerprint record. This is why so many agencies trust it more than other types of checks.
Licensing boards also use these reports. Lawyers, pilots, and real estate agents need licenses to work. These boards check the federal database to see if the applicant has a history of fraud or violence. If a crime is found, the board might deny the license. The report shows the exact nature of the crime. This lets the board decide if the crime is related to the job. For example, a person who stole money might not be allowed to be a lawyer. The report gives the board the data they need to protect the public. It ensures that people in high-trust jobs have a history of following the law. This process helps keep many industries safe and honest.
International Needs and Personal Reviews
People sometimes need this report for travel or moving to a new country. Some countries want to see a clean record before they give someone a visa. A visa is a paper that lets you stay in a country for a long time. If you want to work or study in another country, they will ask for your federal history. The report shows that you are not a criminal in your home country. This builds trust between nations. It is often called an apostille or a certified record when used for travel. The federal government signs it to show it is real. This makes it an official document that other governments will accept.
You can also ask for your own report. This is a good way to see what others see. Sometimes, records have mistakes. A state might forget to tell the federal government that a case was dropped. This makes it look like you still have an open case. By getting your own report, you can find these errors. You can then work with the police or the courts to fix the record. Fixing a record requires sending proof of the court’s decision to the federal bureau. Once they have the proof, they update the system. This ensures your record is fair and accurate. It is a smart move for anyone who is looking for a new job or planning to move.
How the Data is Collected and Shared
The federal government does not find this data on its own. It relies on thousands of other agencies. Local police take prints and send them to a state agency. The state agency checks the prints and then sends them to the national center in West Virginia. This center is huge and handles millions of records. It acts as a library for criminal history. Not all agencies send data at the same speed. Some states are very fast. Others might take weeks to send a new arrest record. This can sometimes cause a delay in what the report shows. It is a massive team effort between the city, state, and federal levels of the law.
Federal agencies like the Border Patrol also share data. If someone tries to enter the country illegally, their prints are taken. This goes into the system. If someone is caught with illegal weapons, the ATF records it. The system also shares data with groups like Interpol. Interpol is an international group that helps different countries catch criminals. This means a crime in one place can be known all over. The sharing of data makes it very hard for criminals to hide by moving to a new state. The system follows the fingerprints, not just the name. This is why fingerprints are the key to the whole process. They are unique to every person and do not change.
Potential Gaps in Federal Records
While the system is very good, it is not perfect. Sometimes a record is missing the final result of a case. This happens if the court does not send the final paperwork to the police. The report might show an arrest from ten years ago but not say what happened. This can look bad to an employer. They see the arrest but do not know if you were found innocent. This is a common gap in the system. It is often up to the person to get the court papers to prove the case was closed. Another gap happens when fingerprints are not taken. If a crime is very small and police just give a ticket, it will not be in this system. It only tracks crimes where fingerprints were part of the process.
There can also be errors with names. If a clerk types a name wrong, it might not link to the fingerprints right away. However, the system is designed to catch this. Since it uses fingerprints as the main ID, it can usually find the right person even if the name is spelled wrong. The report will show the “alias” or the wrong spelling that was used. Gaps can also happen with very old records. Some records from before 1970 might not be in the digital system yet. If someone had a crime a long time ago, it might only be on paper in a local courthouse. As the government digitizes more files, these gaps get smaller. Most modern records are very complete and show the whole story.
How to Request an Identity History Summary
Getting a copy of your record is a formal process. You must start by getting your fingerprints taken. You can go to a local police station or a private business that does fingerprinting. They will use ink or a digital scanner. You also have to fill out a form with your personal facts. This includes your social security number and your home address. There is a fee you must pay to the government. This fee covers the cost of the search and the printing of the report. You can send your request by mail or through a secure website. The online process is much faster. Most people get their results in just a few days if they use the website.
Once you get the report, read it carefully. Check every date and every charge. Make sure the results of your court cases are right. If you see an arrest that is not yours, tell the government right away. This can happen if someone used your name when they were caught. You will need to prove who you are to get it fixed. The report will come with instructions on how to challenge any facts that are wrong. It is a good idea to keep a copy of your report in a safe place. You might need it for a job or a big life change. Being prepared with your own facts makes any legal process much easier and faster.
The Importance of Fingerprint-Based Checks
Fingerprints are the best way to prove a person’s identity. Names can be the same, but fingerprints are always different. Two people might have the same name and the same birthday. If one is a criminal, the other person might get in trouble by mistake. A name-only search can make this error. A fingerprint search does not. It matches the unique loops and lines on your skin to the records in the database. This is why the federal government insists on using prints. It protects people from being confused with someone else. It makes the report very high quality and hard to argue with.
This level of accuracy is why federal checks are the top standard. Private background check companies often just search public names on the internet. This can miss a lot of data. It can also find the wrong people. The federal system is the only one that has access to the national fingerprint files. It is the most deep search a person can have. When a high-level job needs to be sure about a person, they always go to the federal level. It provides peace of mind to the employer and a fair chance for the applicant. It is a system built on physical proof, which is the strongest kind of evidence.
FBI CJIS Division
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
United States
Phone: (304) 625-5590
Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions
People often have many questions about what appears on a federal background check. These reports are long and have a lot of data. It is common to wonder how far back they go or what specific crimes are listed. The following questions cover the most common things people want to know when they see their own history or a report for a job. Each answer helps clarify how the federal government handles your legal data.
How many years does an FBI check go back?
A federal background check usually goes back your entire adult life. There is no set limit like there is for some private checks. If you were arrested in 1980 and prints were taken, it will likely be on the report. The system keeps these records as a permanent history. This is different from credit reports that often stop after seven or ten years. The law allows the federal government to keep criminal data forever. However, some very old paper records might not be in the computer. Most records from the last 50 years are easy for the system to find. This means you should expect to see everything from your past on this report.
Do dismissed charges show up on the report?
Yes, dismissed charges usually show up on a federal record. The report lists every arrest where fingerprints were taken. It does not matter if you were found guilty or if the case was dropped later. The arrest is a fact that happened. The report shows the arrest and then lists the outcome. If the judge dismissed the case, the report will say “Dismissed” or “Nolle Prosequi.” This tells people that you were not convicted of the crime. However, the record of the arrest stays there. This is why it is key to make sure the report shows the dismissal. If it only shows the arrest, it looks like the case is still open.
Can I remove something from my FBI background check?
Removing something is called expungement. This is a process that happens at the state level. If a state judge orders a record to be expunged, the state police should tell the federal government. Once the federal bureau gets the order, they will remove the record from the national system. This can take time. You have to work with a lawyer or the court to get an expungement. Not all crimes can be removed. Serious felonies usually stay on the record forever. If you have a small crime from a long time ago, you might be able to get it cleared. You must follow the laws of the state where the crime happened to start this process.
What shows up if I have a warrant but no conviction?
If there is an active warrant for your arrest, it will show up on the report. The system tracks “wanted” people very closely. A warrant is a notice that you need to go to court. Even if you have not been convicted of the crime yet, the warrant is a major legal event. It tells law enforcement that you are being sought. This is one of the most serious things that can appear on a summary. It will show the agency that issued the warrant and the date it was signed. Many employers will not hire someone with an open warrant. They will ask you to take care of the warrant before you can start work.
Will a bankruptcy filing appear on my FBI criminal check?
Bankruptcy filings are part of the federal court record system. While they are not crimes, they are part of your “Identity History Summary.” The FBI report compiles data from many federal sources. This includes federal civil courts where bankruptcies are filed. It shows the date of the filing, the case number, and the court location. It also shows the status of the case, such as if it was discharged. A discharge means the court finished the process and you no longer owe the debts. This data is used for high-level security clearances and financial jobs. It helps the government see if you have financial risks in your past.
Do juvenile records show up on the report?
Juvenile records are usually private, but they can sometimes appear on a federal check. It depends on the state laws where the arrest happened. In many states, juvenile prints are not sent to the federal database. However, if a teenager was charged as an adult for a serious crime, those prints will be sent. Also, some states have started sharing more juvenile data to help with gun background checks. If your juvenile record was sealed or expunged by a judge, it should not appear. If you are worried about a mistake from when you were young, it is a good idea to request your own report to see if it is there.
How can I fix a mistake on my record?
To fix a mistake, you must first get proof of the correct facts. If the report says you were convicted but the case was actually dropped, get a “certified disposition” from the court clerk. Then, you send this proof to the FBI CJIS division. They will review the papers and contact the agency that sent the wrong data. If the agency agrees there was an error, the federal record will be updated. This process can take several weeks. You can also ask the local police department to update their records and send the fix to the state bureau. The state will then push the fix to the federal system. It is best to start at the source where the error began.