Updated October 2026
Quick answer: An FBI criminal record, officially an Identity History Summary or “rap sheet,” lists the arrests and court outcomes tied to a person’s fingerprints, as reported to the FBI by police, courts and state repositories. Most private employers can’t access it; FBI checks for employment are limited to jobs where a federal or state law authorizes them. Records are often missing final outcomes, so most employers rely on court-level searches instead. Anyone can request their own FBI record for $18.
What is an FBI criminal record?
An FBI criminal record is officially called an Identity History Summary, and most people call it a rap sheet. It’s built from fingerprint submissions: when someone is arrested and fingerprinted, the arresting agency sends the prints and charges to the state repository, which forwards them to the FBI. Courts and prosecutors are supposed to report the outcome later, but that step doesn’t always happen.
What an FBI record shows, and what it doesn’t
It can show:
- Arrests that were submitted with fingerprints, at the federal, state and local level
- The charges filed
- Court outcomes (convictions, dismissals, acquittals), when the court or state reported them
- Fingerprints taken for some federal jobs, military service or licensing
It doesn’t show:
- Bankruptcies, credit history or tax records
- Driving records
- Cases that never involved fingerprinting, such as many citations and some misdemeanors
- Outcomes the court never reported to the FBI
Who can get an FBI background check?
Most private employers can’t. Federal law allows FBI records to be shared for employment or licensing only when a federal law, or a state law approved under Public Law 92-544, authorizes it. Common examples include schools and childcare, some healthcare and long-term care roles, banks and securities firms, and federal jobs. Even then, the check usually goes through a state agency, and the employer must give the applicant a chance to correct the record. (Utah BCI)
Why FBI records are often incomplete
The FBI relies on what states send it, and many arrests never get a final outcome attached. In the latest national survey of state criminal history systems, only 73% of arrests in state databases had a final disposition recorded at the end of 2022. For arrests in the past five years, it was 65% (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems, 2022, published September 2024). In other words, about one in four arrests on file has no recorded outcome.
The gap shows up in FBI checks too. A 2013 National Employment Law Project report found that 50% of FBI records lacked a final disposition (NELP). Fingerprint checks for jobs and licenses are common: states processed about 15.5 million fingerprints for those purposes in 2022.
That matters because an arrest without an outcome looks the same as a pending case. Someone whose charges were dropped years ago can still appear to have an open record. Read more in what disposition means on a background check and do arrests show up on background checks.
Do expunged records show up on FBI background checks?
They shouldn’t, but they sometimes do. When a court expunges or seals a case, it’s supposed to notify the state repository, which updates the FBI. If that notice is never sent, or reaches only some agencies, the arrest can stay on the person’s FBI record and show up on a fingerprint check.
The same gap affects background check companies that pulled the record before it was expunged, which is why employment background checks can also show expunged records.
If an expunged record shows up:
- Get a certified copy of the expungement or sealing order from the court.
- Send it to the employer or licensing agency that ran the check, and ask them to hold their decision.
- Ask the court or state repository to send the update to the FBI, and file a challenge with the FBI if the record still isn’t corrected (see how to correct an FBI record below).
- If the record came from a background check company, dispute it with that company. Under the FCRA, it must investigate and correct inaccurate information.
How most employers check criminal history instead
Employers that can’t use FBI records, and many that can, run name-based criminal searches through a background check company. These go to the courts directly:
- County searches: where most criminal cases are filed, with the most current outcomes
- Statewide searches: a state’s central records, where available
- Federal searches: federal court records through PACER
- National database searches: many states’ records at once, including sex offender registries
These reports are covered by the FCRA, which requires the candidate’s consent and gives them the right to dispute errors. See criminal background checks for what VICTIG searches.
How to get your own FBI record
You can request your own Identity History Summary from the FBI online or by mail. You’ll need fingerprints, either on the FBI’s standard card or through an FBI-approved channeler, which can submit them for you. The FBI charges $18; channelers add their own fee. (Illinois Legal Aid Online, FBI eDO)
How to correct an FBI record
If your record is wrong or missing an outcome, you can challenge it with the FBI under 28 CFR 16.34. Include the entry, what it should say, and supporting documents such as a certified disposition or expungement order. The FBI checks with the agency that submitted the record, so it often helps to contact that court or state repository at the same time. (National Security Law Firm)
How VICTIG helps
VICTIG’s criminal background checks search county, statewide, federal and national records by the candidate’s identifiers. When a record is missing its outcome, VICTIG’s research team checks with the court for the current status before reporting it. Checks average 1.8 days. Learn more about VICTIG’s criminal background checks.
Frequently asked questions
What shows up on an FBI criminal record? Arrests that were submitted with fingerprints, the charges, and court outcomes when they were reported. It doesn’t include credit, bankruptcies, driving records or cases that never involved fingerprinting.
Can my employer run an FBI background check on me? Only if a federal or state law authorizes it for your job, such as many school, childcare, banking and federal positions. Most private employers use court-based background checks instead.
Do arrests show up on an FBI background check? Yes. An FBI record is built from arrests, so it can show an arrest even if the charges were dropped, especially when the outcome was never reported.
How do I get a copy of my FBI record? Request your Identity History Summary from the FBI online or by mail, with a set of fingerprints. The FBI fee is $18, and approved channelers can submit your request for an extra fee.
Is an FBI background check more complete than a regular background check? Not necessarily. It covers every state, but many records lack final outcomes. County court searches usually have more current outcomes, so many employers rely on them.
How do I fix a mistake on my FBI record? Challenge it with the FBI and send supporting documents, such as a certified court disposition. Contacting the court or state agency that sent the record can speed up the fix.
