Are you interested in getting your own Identity History Summary?

This topic is the intention to help you better understand FBI History Summary. If you would like to book a live scan appointment, click here.

First, both the DOJ and the FBI can provide an Identity History Summary for a fee. This is often referred to as a criminal history record or a “rap sheet.” It lists information taken from fingerprint submissions kept by the FBI relating to any and all arrests. Lastly, in some cases, include federal employment, naturalization, or military service.

Suppose the fingerprint submissions are related to an arrest. In that case, the Identity History Summary includes the agency’s name who submitted fingerprints to the FBI, the arrest charge, the date of the arrest, and finally the disposition of any arrest (if known). All information for an arrest included in an Identity History Summary is obtained from fingerprint submissions, disposition reports, and any other data submitted by authorized criminal justice agencies.

How to get a history check for FBI:

The FBI offers three selections for requesting your Identity History Summary Report, or if it doesn’t exist, also proof.

Option 1: Electronic Fingerprinting to FBI

Step 1: Click the following link https://www.edo.cjis.gov.

Step 2: View “Obtaining Your Identity History Summary” selection. If you submit directly to the FBI electronically, you will mail your request through USPS. If any other courier is involved, use the email associated with your request.

According to FBI

Option 2: Submit Your Request Directly to the FBI via the Mail

Step 1: Complete the Applicant Information Form.

If the request is for a couple, family, etc., each person must complete and sign a form.
Include a complete mailing address. Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address, if available.
Your results will be provided on standard white paper and returned to you by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service.
Self-addressed envelopes will not be accepted. This includes pre-paid Priority Mail, FedEx account numbers, United Parcel Service, foreign postage coupons, and requests to forward correspondence to the Department of State for the apostille process.

Second: Obtain a Set of Your Fingerprints

Your fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-1164) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes. The FBI will accept FD-1164 fingerprint cards on common white paper stock.
You must provide a current fingerprint card. Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
Your name and date of birth must be provided on the fingerprint card.
You must include rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and prints of all 10 fingerprints taken simultaneously (these are sometimes referred to as plain or flat impressions).
If possible, have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician. This service may be available at a law enforcement agency. The FBI recommends that red or purple ink not be used for fingerprinting.
Fingerprints taken with ink or via live scan are acceptable. If your fingerprints are taken via a live scan device, a hard copy must be generated so the fingerprint card can be mailed to the FBI.
Refer to the Recording Legible Fingerprints page to ensure the most legible prints possible. If fingerprints are not legible, the fingerprint card will be rejected. This could cause delays in processing and also lead to additional fees.
The name on your response letter will match the name indicated on the fingerprint card when your application, payment, and fingerprint card are submitted via the mail.
Please make sure the whole nine or last four digits of your Social Security number are on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.
For more information, refer to the Recording Friction Ridges module.

Step 3: Submit Payment

Option 1: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form. Don’t forget to include the expiration date of the credit card you are using.
Option 2: Obtain a money order or certified check for $18 U.S. dollars made payable to the Treasury of the United States. Please be sure you sign where required.
Important note: Cash, personal checks, or business checks WILL NOT be accepted, and sending any of these will delay the processing of your request.
Payment must be for the exact amount.
If the request is for a couple, family, etc., include $18 for each person.
The FBI will provide one sealed response for each request received. You may make as many copies as needed upon receipt of your response. Note: If you require more sealed answers mailed to the same address or separate address, you must submit a different request with another payment of $18 for each fast response requested. Also, suppose you need additional copies of your answer that are not in a sealed envelope. In that case, you may make as many copies as required upon receipt of your response.
Suppose you cannot pay the $18 fee. In that case, your waiver must include a claim and proof of poverty, such as a notarized affidavit of indigence.
The FBI will not accept additional payment to expedite your request.

Step 4: Review

Review the Identity History Summary Request Checklist to ensure that you have included everything needed to process your request.

Step 5: Mail the Required Items Listed Above

Mail the required items listed above—signed applicant information form, fingerprint card, and payment of $18 U.S. dollars per person—to the following address:

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306

What Happens Next

Suppose we find no Identity History Summary on file. In that case, you will receive a response by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service indicating that you have no prior arrest data on file at the FBI. Suppose you do have an Identity History Summary on file. In that case, you will receive your Identity History Summary or “rap sheet” by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

Option 3: Submit Your Request to an FBI-Approved Channeler

An FBI-approved Channeler is a private business contracted with the FBI to submit your request on your behalf. FBI-approved Channelers receive the fingerprint submission and relevant data, collect the associated fee(s), electronically forward the fingerprint submission with the necessary information to the FBI for a national Identity History Summary check, and receive the electronic summary check result for dissemination to the individual. An FBI-approved Channeler simply helps expedite the delivery of Identity History Summary information on behalf of the FBI.

The process for making a request through an FBI-approved Channeler is consistent with FBI submission procedures. Please note that an FBI-approved Channeler may have different methods or techniques for submissions. Also, additional fees may apply above the FBI fee for requests submitted through an FBI-approved Channeler. Contact each Channeler for costs, processing times, and availability in your area.

An individual requesting an Identity History Summary or proof that a summary does not exist through FBI-approved Channelers should contact the Channeler directly for complete information and instructions.

List of FBI-Approved Channelers for Departmental Order Submissions

Note: Please review the information below regarding the use of FBI-approved Channelers:

An FBI-approved Channeler may only process requests for a U.S. person (an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.). A legal permanent resident is any person, not a citizen of the U.S. who is residing in the U.S. under legally recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant (also known as “Permanent Resident Alien,” “Resident Alien Permit Holder,” and “Green Card Holder”).
An FBI-approved Channeler cannot process a request for employment and/or licensing purposes within the United States. This request should be coordinated with the appropriate State Identification Bureau (or state police) for the correct procedures.

Identity History Summary Checks for Employment or Licensing

Suppose you request a background check for employment or licensing within the U.S. In that case, you may be required by state statute or federal law to submit your request through your state identification bureau, the federal requesting agency, or another authorized channeling agency.

The FBI’s authority to conduct an Identity History Summary check for noncriminal justice purposes is based upon Public Law (Pub. L.) 92-544. According to that law, the FBI is empowered to exchange Identity History Summary information with officials of state and local governments for employment, licensing—which includes volunteers—and other similar noncriminal justice purposes, if authorized by a state statute which has been approved by the Attorney General of the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice has advised that the state statute establishing guidelines for a category of employment or the issuance of a license must, in itself, require fingerprinting and authorize the governmental licensing or employing agency to exchange fingerprint data directly with the FBI.

An Identity History Summary search obtained under U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73 may not meet employment requirements. Governmental licensing or employing agencies covered by federal laws and/or state statutes may refuse to accept Identity History Summary information directly from the subject of the summary, as there would be no way to verify that the information contained on the summary had not been altered. Also, an Identity History Summary provided to the subject for personal review includes only information maintained by the FBI. It may lack dispositional data and/or arrest records maintained only at the state level.

You should contact the agency requiring the fingerprinting or the appropriate state identification bureau for the correct procedures to follow.

Challenge of an Identity History Summary

The FBI is responsible for storing fingerprints and related Identity History Summary information for the nation and does not have the authority to modify any Identity History Summary information unless specifically notified by the agency that owns the data. Suppose you believe your Identity History Summary contains inaccurate or incomplete information. In that case, you have three options for requesting a change or correction:

Option 1: Contact the agency or agencies that submitted the information to the FBI

Missing or Incorrect State (Non-Federal) Information

Most states require that changes to Identity History Summary information be processed through their respective state centralized agency (State Identification Bureau) before any changes can be made to your information. You may contact the separate State Identification Bureau for assistance. If applicable, request that they provide the FBI with updates to your Identity History Summary. Contact information for each state is provided on the State Identification Bureau listing.

Several states maintain their own record system. Record updates are made at the state level only, so the FBI cannot change its records. Instead, the FBI accesses the state’s system to review the document for authorized purposes. Contact information for states maintaining records at the state level is provided on the State-Maintained Records listing.

Missing or Incorrect Federal Information

For federal Identity History Summary updates, the FBI must receive a request directly from the original arresting agency, a court with control over the arrest data, or another agency with control over the arrest data.

Option 2: Electronically submit your challenge request directly to the FBI

Step 1: Go to https://www.edo.cjis.gov.

Step 2: Follow the steps under the “Challenging Your Identity History Summary” section.

Suppose you submitted a challenge request electronically directly to the FBI. In that case, you will receive a response electronically and an option to receive a response by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

Option 3: Send a written challenge request to the FBI

Your written request should clearly identify the information you feel is inaccurate or incomplete and include copies of any available proof or supporting documentation to support your claim. For example, suppose your disposition information is incorrect or missing. In that case, you may submit documentation obtained from the court having control over the arrest or the office prosecuting the offense. The FBI will contact appropriate agencies to verify or correct challenged entries for you. Upon receiving an official communication from the agency with control over the data, the FBI will make appropriate changes and notify you of the outcome.

You may submit an Identity History Summary challenge to the FBI by writing to the following address:

FBI CJIS Division

Attention: Criminal History Analysis Team 1