Looking Arrest Records Search | Police & Court
Recent Arrest Lookup
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Worried About a Recent Arrest?
Search by name and state to check available arrest, mugshot, jail, booking, and court report options.
Enter first name, last name, and state.
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United States · Jail bookings, police reports, court cases, state histories and federal records
Looking for an Arrest Record? Start With the Record That Actually Answers Your Question
A recent jail booking, police arrest report, criminal court case and statewide criminal history are different records. Searching the wrong system is the main reason people miss information that is publicly available.
Use the workflow below to locate the correct jurisdiction, verify the person, find the filed charges, check custody or release, obtain reports and correct or restrict an eligible record.
WHERE IS THE RECORD?
SCANNING
ARREST
EVENT
EVENT
COUNTY
JAIL
JAIL
POLICE
REPORT
REPORT
CRIMINAL
COURT
COURT
STATE
HISTORY
HISTORY
FEDERAL · BOP + PACER
CORRECT RECORD PATH FOUND
Arrest does not mean conviction.
A jail or police record can show that a person was arrested or booked without proving that prosecutors filed the same charge, that the case continued or that the person was convicted.
Arrest today?
Begin with the county jail or detention agency.
Police narrative?
Request it from the agency that made the arrest.
Final outcome?
Read the criminal court disposition.
Federal custody?
Use the BOP Inmate Locator.
Your FBI record?
Current FBI processing fee: $18.
First decide what you are actually trying to find
COUNTY JAIL
Is the person in custody?
Search the county sheriff, detention center or corrections department serving the place of arrest.
Use for booking number, custody, housing, charges, holds and release.
POLICE OR SHERIFF
What did officers report?
Request the arrest report, incident narrative, probable-cause statement or releasable supplements from the arresting agency.
Use for the officer narrative and agency report number.
CRIMINAL COURT
Were charges filed?
Search the court docket for the charging document, hearings, warrant activity, dismissal, plea, judgment and sentence.
Use for the final legal outcome.
STATE REPOSITORY
What appears statewide?
State police, bureaus of investigation and state identification bureaus maintain centralized criminal-history systems.
Rules, fingerprint requirements and public access vary by state.
FEDERAL
Was it a federal case?
Use BOP for federal incarceration and PACER for federal district, appellate and bankruptcy court records.
Federal systems do not replace local arrest searches.
Best sequence:
find the booking → save the booking number → identify the arresting agency → locate the criminal court → verify every filed charge → find the final disposition.
How to look for a recent arrest step by step
Identify where the person was arrested
Start with the city, county and state where police took the person into custody—not only the person’s home address.
Identify the likely jail
Search for the county sheriff, county jail, detention center, corrections department or regional jail.
Open only the official government search
Look for terms such as Inmate Search, Jail Roster, Who Is in Custody, Booking Search, Recent Arrests or Arrest Log.
Begin with the surname
A broad surname search avoids losing a valid result because of a middle-name variation, suffix or alternate spelling.
Add the first name gradually
Use additional fields only when the surname creates too many results.
Allow time for intake
Fingerprinting, medical screening, identity verification, property inventory and data entry can delay a new booking.
Open every plausible result
Do not assume the first matching name is the correct person.
Match at least two identifiers
Compare birth date or age, arrest date, arresting agency, booking number and facility.
Save every record number
Capture the booking number, inmate ID, arrest number, police report number and criminal case number when shown.
Read every charge and hold
One booking can contain multiple allegations, warrants or detainers.
Identify the arresting agency
The agency named in the booking is usually the best place to request the arrest or incident report.
Search the criminal court next
The jail entry tells you what was recorded at intake. The court tells you what prosecutors actually filed.
Find the correct sheriff, police department or court
There is no single county-jail search covering the entire United States. Local governments and states maintain separate systems.
Open the official local-government directory
Select the state connected to the arrest.
Find a county or local government
Locate the county government
Look for Sheriff, Corrections, Detention, Public Safety or Jail.
Check city police separately
A city police department may have made the arrest even when the county jail later held the person.
Locate the state government when needed
State police, highway patrol and state bureaus may maintain their own arrest or criminal-history records.
Find the official state government
Locate the criminal court
Use the state judiciary to find the county or municipal criminal court serving the arrest location.
Find the official court system
Search by region when the state is uncertain
Northeast
CT · DE · ME · MD · MA · NH · NJ · NY · PA · RI · VT · DC
Southeast
AL · AR · FL · GA · KY · LA · MS · NC · SC · TN · VA · WV
Midwest
IL · IN · IA · KS · MI · MN · MO · NE · ND · OH · SD · WI
Southwest
AZ · NM · OK · TX
West
AK · CA · CO · HI · ID · MT · NV · OR · UT · WA · WY
What the fields in an arrest or jail record actually mean
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Best next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking number | One intake or custody event. | The final criminal charge. | Use it for jail and records questions. |
| Inmate or jail ID | The person within that detention system. | Conviction or guilt. | Use it for visits, mail and deposits. |
| Arrest date | When law enforcement recorded the arrest. | When the alleged conduct occurred. | Compare it with the incident report. |
| Booking date | When jail intake was recorded. | When prosecutors filed the case. | Use it to separate multiple bookings. |
| Arresting agency | The department responsible for the arrest. | The county jail created the police report. | Request the report from this agency. |
| Agency report number | The law-enforcement incident or arrest file. | It is the same as the court case number. | Use it in the public-record request. |
| Booking charge | An allegation entered during arrest or intake. | What prosecutors ultimately filed. | Read the court charging document. |
| Bail or bond | A displayed monetary or release condition. | Payment clears every case or hold. | Confirm all charges and detainers. |
| Hold or detainer | Another court or agency may control release. | The local bail amount is enough. | Ask which agency owns the hold. |
| Release date | When the displayed custody episode ended. | Dismissal, acquittal or innocence. | Search the court disposition. |
| Mugshot | A photograph created during processing. | Identity alone or criminal responsibility. | Match stronger identifiers. |
Make sure the record belongs to the right person
First and last names match
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Arrest date matches the known event
Arresting agency matches the location
Booking number matches another record
Court case follows the same incident
Custody location makes sense
Do not identify someone from a name or mugshot alone.
Common names, aliases, data-entry errors and reused addresses can create false matches.
Same name, different birth date
Treat the records as different people unless the official custodian confirms an error.
Same birth date, different middle name
Check aliases, prior names, official numbers and the court file.
Similar photograph, different identifier
The booking or state identification number is more reliable than appearance.
Old or unfamiliar address
Do not reject or confirm identity from address alone.
If you cannot find the arrest, check these causes in order
The booking is still processing
New jail records may not appear until identification and intake are complete.
You searched the wrong county
Search where the arrest happened, not just where the person lives.
The name is entered differently
Try the surname alone, maiden name, alias, hyphen variation or suffix.
The person was released
An active roster may remove released people. Look for Recent Releases, Past Bookings or Records.
Another agency made the arrest
Check city police, state police, highway patrol, campus police or a federal agency.
The person was transferred
Search state corrections, another county or federal custody.
The court case has not posted
Prosecutor review and court data entry can occur after the initial jail booking.
The record is restricted
Juvenile, sealed, expunged, victim-related and protected information may not appear.
Missing-booking call script
I am trying to confirm the custody or booking status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency] in [city or county]. Can you confirm whether the person is still being processed, currently held, released, transferred or listed under another identifier?
Follow the record from arrest to final disposition
Law-enforcement incident
Police or deputies create the incident, arrest and evidence records.
Booking and identification
The jail records fingerprints, identity, property, booking allegations, warrants and holds.
Initial court review
The judge may address counsel, probable cause, release and detention.
Prosecutor review
The prosecutor decides which charges, if any, to file.
Criminal court proceedings
The case may include amended charges, hearings, motions, warrants, negotiation and trial.
Disposition
A charge may end by dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction or another court order.
Custody or supervision
A sentenced person may enter county custody, state corrections, federal custody, probation or supervised release.
Correction or record relief
Inaccurate information can be challenged, and qualifying records may later be sealed or expunged.
Send the request to the office that actually owns the record
| Information needed | Likely record holder | What to provide | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current custody | County jail, sheriff or corrections agency | Name, birth date, booking number. | Calling the court clerk about jail housing. |
| Arrest report | The arresting police or sheriff agency | Report number, date, location, name. | Assuming the jail wrote the report. |
| Filed criminal charges | State, county or municipal court | Case number or accurate defendant details. | Treating the jail charge as final. |
| Statewide history | State identification bureau or state police | Name, birth date or fingerprints as required. | Expecting one county to show statewide history. |
| Federal incarceration | Federal Bureau of Prisons | Name or BOP/FBI/INS/DCDC number. | Using BOP for an ordinary county detainee. |
| Federal criminal case | Federal court through PACER | Case number, party or federal court. | Using PACER for state criminal cases. |
| Your national FBI history | FBI CJIS | Current fingerprints and application. | Trying to search another person by name. |
Request the arrest narrative without making an overly broad request
Identify the arresting agency
Read the booking result before deciding where to send the request.
Name the exact records
Ask for the incident report, arrest report, probable-cause statement and specifically identified supplements.
Provide the report number
Use the agency’s report or incident number whenever available.
Add the arrest and booking numbers
These help connect the police record with the jail event.
Include the date and location
Narrowing the event reduces incorrect matches and search time.
Ask for electronic delivery
Digital records may avoid copying and mailing costs.
Set a maximum cost
Ask the agency to obtain approval before exceeding a stated amount.
Ask for the reason for any redaction
Request the legal basis when material is withheld.
Copy-ready arrest-report request
I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause statement and identified supplements concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers are agency report number [number], booking number [number] and criminal case number [number]. Please provide a written cost estimate before processing if the total will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for material withheld or redacted.
Why a police report may be partially withheld
Active investigation
Victim or witness privacy
Juvenile information
Medical information
Confidential investigative methods
Protected body-camera material
Sealed or expunged information
Request is too broad or unclear
Find the filed charges and the final outcome
State and local criminal cases are generally handled through state, county or municipal courts. Use the state judiciary rather than assuming that the jail website contains the final outcome.
Find the correct state court system
Use the official government court directory.
Find the state or local court
Identify the filing county
Use the arrest location, prosecutor and booking information.
Open Criminal Case Search or Court Records
Court websites may call the system Case Search, Docket Search, Online Records or Public Access.
Search by case number first
A case number avoids many same-name errors.
Confirm the defendant
Match name, birth date when public, filing date, court and charge.
Locate the charging document
Read the complaint, information or indictment rather than relying only on the booking description.
Check amended charges
Prosecutors may add, replace, reduce or dismiss counts.
Check warrant activity
Read warrant-issued, served, recalled and quashed entries chronologically.
Find the disposition for every count
One charge can be dismissed while another results in conviction.
Order formal proof when necessary
Ask the clerk for the exact certified disposition, judgment or order required by the recipient.
Common court terms
| Term | What it generally means | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | The case has not reached final disposition. | Newest entry and next hearing. |
| Dismissed | The identified charge or case ended without conviction on that count. | Whether other counts remain. |
| Acquitted / Not Guilty | The defendant was not found guilty of the resolved count. | Whether other counts had different outcomes. |
| Plea | The defendant entered a plea accepted by the court. | Exact offense, judgment and sentence. |
| Convicted | A judgment of guilt was entered. | Final offense level and sentence. |
| Closed | The court no longer treats the case as active. | Closed does not explain the disposition. |
| Sealed | Ordinary public access has been restricted. | Authorized agencies may retain lawful access. |
Know which court document you actually need
Docket or register of actions
Useful for understanding the sequence of filings and hearings.
Complaint or indictment
Shows the charges formally filed in court.
Dismissal order
Shows that an identified charge or case was dismissed.
Judgment
Shows the court’s formal judgment after disposition.
Sentencing order
Shows the sentence imposed when applicable.
Certified disposition
Commonly requested for licensing, immigration, record correction or sealing matters.
Copy-ready court request
I request a copy of the [complaint / dismissal / judgment / sentencing order / certified disposition] in criminal case number [number], involving [defendant name]. Please confirm the copy and certification fees before processing and advise whether electronic delivery is available.
Confirm a warrant without relying on an old or third-party result
Identify the likely issuing court
Use the prior booking, citation, notice or known criminal case.
Search the official court docket
Look for the most recent warrant-related entry.
Check the sheriff or police warrant system
Use it when the jurisdiction publishes a current official warrant lookup.
Read the newest entry
A warrant may have been served, recalled or quashed after it was issued.
Confirm with the issuing authority
Contact the court or responsible law-enforcement agency directly.
Use a defense lawyer when the warrant concerns you
Counsel can explain appearance, surrender, release and hearing options.
Never confront or attempt to detain another person.
Same-name results and outdated warrant entries can create serious safety and identity problems.
Warrant-payment scam warning:
Do not send gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment through an unsolicited QR code or text-message link. Independently contact the court or law-enforcement agency.
Check every charge, hold and release condition before paying
Own recognizance
Release may occur without a money payment, subject to court conditions.
Cash bail
Some jurisdictions still use monetary bail under state law.
Surety bond
A licensed bond professional may post the required undertaking where permitted.
Detention or hold
Another court, warrant or agency can prevent release despite a displayed amount.
Confirm the exact person
Match the booking name, date of birth and booking number.
List every active charge
Do not look only at the first line of the booking.
Identify every hold
Ask whether another county, state, federal agency or court controls release.
Confirm the newest court order
A release condition may change after first appearance.
Ask where payment must be made
Depending on local rules, payment may go to the jail, court or licensed bond professional.
Verify any private bond professional
Confirm the state license and obtain premiums, collateral and refund terms in writing.
Keep every receipt
Save payment confirmation, agreements and booking information.
Allow release processing
Staff may still need to clear holds, verify the court order and return property.
Release-verification call script
I am calling about booking number [number] for [full legal name]. Please confirm every active charge, the current release condition for each charge, every outside hold, accepted payment methods and whether another court or agency must approve release.
Schedule a jail visit after confirming the current facility
There is no nationwide county-jail visitation schedule. Each jail controls approval, appointment times, visit providers, identification, clothing and cancellation rules.
Confirm the person is still held
Search the current custody system immediately before scheduling.
Record the jail ID and housing unit
Visits may depend on the facility, classification or housing assignment.
Open the jail’s official visitation page
Look for Visiting, Video Visitation, Inmate Services or Family Services.
Check the visit type
The jail may offer contact, non-contact, onsite video, remote video or several options.
Create only the approved provider account
Use the provider linked from the official jail website.
Complete visitor approval
Provide the exact legal name, birth date, address and identification requested.
Add minors correctly
Check birth-certificate, consent, relationship and adult-supervision requirements.
Wait for approval
Submitting an application does not guarantee the visitor is approved.
Schedule the appointment
Select the correct inmate, housing location and visit type.
Recheck custody before traveling
Release, transfer, court movement or lockdown can cancel the visit.
Bring the required original ID
Photographs or digital copies may not satisfy local jail rules.
Common visitor restrictions
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Background or warrant checks may apply
Minors may require documentation
Former inmates may face a waiting period
Probation or parole may require approval
Phones and cameras may be prohibited
Visits may be monitored or recorded
Dress codes are enforced
Do not send money or mail until you verify the jail’s current provider
Personal mail
- Use the exact booking name.
- Include the inmate or jail ID.
- Use the current published mail address.
- Check whether mail is scanned offsite.
- Do not send cash or unapproved items.
Telephone and tablets
- People in custody normally initiate personal calls.
- Use only the jail-approved provider.
- Personal calls can be monitored or recorded.
- Attorney communication follows separate rules.
- Fees vary by facility and service.
Money and commissary
- Verify the inmate and booking number.
- Use the provider linked from the jail website.
- Confirm the correct account type.
- Review deposit fees before payment.
- Keep the transaction receipt.
Common mail mistakes
Sending cash in an envelope
Using an old jail address
Omitting the inmate ID
Sending food or medication
Sending books from an unapproved seller
Including stickers, glitter or unknown substances
Mailing original IDs or certificates
Using ordinary mail for privileged legal documents
Find the correct public defender or criminal defense lawyer
Person is still in custody
- Identify the jail and criminal court.
- Ask when first appearance or arraignment will occur.
- Request appointed counsel through the court when eligible.
- Ask the jail how confidential attorney calls or visits are arranged.
- Do not discuss case facts on ordinary recorded personal calls.
Person has been released
- Find the court handling the criminal case.
- Contact the public defender serving that court if appointed counsel is needed.
- For private counsel, verify the lawyer through the state bar.
- Request the fee agreement in writing.
- Confirm who will personally appear in court.
Find a victim advocate, custody notification or court-support program
Identify the police agency and prosecutor
Local advocates may work through police, a sheriff, district attorney, state’s attorney or prosecutor’s office.
Have the report and case numbers ready
These help the advocate identify the correct incident.
Ask about custody notification
Many jurisdictions provide automated notice of release, transfer or custody changes.
Ask about court notifications
Victim-witness programs may provide hearing, plea and sentencing information.
Ask about safety and compensation resources
Programs may assist with safety planning, counseling, relocation, restitution or compensation referrals.
Use DOJ resources when you do not know the local program
The Department of Justice maintains national crime-victim information and links to service directories.
Find crime-victim assistance
Federal crime victim notifications:
DOJ’s Victim Notification System publishes the federal information line at
866-365-4968.
Use the state repository when one county is not enough
State criminal-history access is not standardized. Some states provide public name searches, some require fingerprints for personal review and some restrict certain searches to authorized purposes.
Identify the state connected to the arrest
Separate requests may be required when a person has records in several states.
Open the FBI State Identification Bureau Listing
This directory identifies each state’s centralized criminal-record agency.
Find the state criminal-history agency
Choose the correct request purpose
Personal review, public search, employment, licensing and adoption may use different procedures.
Check whether fingerprints are required
Fingerprint-based searches reduce same-name errors.
Review the state’s fee schedule
Do not assume the fee from another state applies.
Check every disposition
A statewide history may show an arrest but lack the final court result.
Correct missing dispositions before relying on the record
Obtain the certified court outcome and follow the state repository’s correction procedure.
Request your own FBI Identity History Summary
The FBI service is not a public search for other people.
It is a fingerprint-supported process for obtaining your own Identity History Summary.
Electronic request
- Complete the FBI application online.
- Pay the $18 FBI processing charge.
- Submit current fingerprints.
- A participating U.S. Post Office may accept electronic fingerprints after the online request.
- Additional fingerprinting charges may apply.
Mail request
- Complete the required applicant information.
- Provide a current fingerprint card.
- Include the required payment.
- Do not send cash, personal checks or business checks.
- Mail the completed packet to FBI CJIS.
Open the current FBI instructions
Review the electronic, mail and approved-channeler options.
Start the FBI Identity History Summary process
Use current fingerprints
The FBI states that a fingerprint card used for a previous request cannot simply be reused.
Pay the current $18 FBI fee
Fingerprint collection or channeler fees are separate.
Request a fee waiver first when necessary
Contact FBI CJIS before submission for fee-waiver instructions.
Review the response carefully
Compare arrest dates, agencies, charges and available dispositions.
Challenge inaccurate information
The FBI does not charge a challenge-processing fee.
| Item | Current information | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| FBI fee | $18 per request | Additional fingerprinting or channeler fees may apply. |
| Identity method | Current fingerprints | The FBI does not provide this personal service as a public name search. |
| Challenge fee | $0 | Supporting proof should be included when available. |
| Challenge response | Average response generally within 45 days | Complex corrections can depend on the contributing agency. |
| Expungement | State law controls most nonfederal arrest relief | Contact the relevant state identification bureau. |
FBI CJIS Identity History Summary
Phone: 304-625-5590
Email: identity@fbi.gov
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
Phone: 304-625-5590
Email: identity@fbi.gov
FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306
Search federal prison records from 1982 to the present
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator covers federal incarceration records from 1982 to the present. BOP states that locator data is updated daily.
Open the official BOP Inmate Locator
Search federal inmates
Search by number when available
BOP supports searches using BOP Register, DCDC, FBI and INS numbers.
Otherwise search by name
Enter the first and last names accurately.
Use age, race or sex only to separate matches
Do not treat demographic fields as proof of identity by themselves.
Record the register number
Use it for mail, money, visitation and facility questions.
Check the release-date warning
BOP states that some projected release dates can change while sentence and First Step Act credits are recalculated.
Use PACER for the criminal case
The BOP locator is a custody tool, not the complete federal court file.
A result marked Released or Not in BOP Custody means the person is not currently in BOP custody. It does not prove the person is not in another correctional system or under supervision.
Federal records before 1982
Older federal prisoner records are generally researched through the National Archives rather than the current BOP inmate database.
Use PACER when the arrest became a federal criminal case
PACER searches federal courts. It does not replace county, municipal or state court searches.
Create a PACER account
Registration itself is free.
Register for federal case search
Search the specific court when known
Court-specific information is the fastest route to current filings.
Use the nationwide index when the court is unknown
The PACER Case Locator searches a nationwide index of federal cases.
Open PACER
Use the case number when possible
Name searches can generate unrelated and billable result pages.
Limit the docket date range
A shorter date range can reduce unnecessary page charges.
Open the indictment or information
This identifies the federal charges formally filed.
Read through judgment and sentencing
Check detention, plea, dismissal, trial, judgment and sentence entries.
Use the courthouse when necessary
Federal court records can be viewed at public-access terminals without an online PACER page-access charge.
| Service | Current charge | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| PACER page | $0.10 per billable page | Search-result pages can be billable even with no match. |
| Single case document | Usually capped at $3 | The cap does not apply to every report or transcript. |
| Quarterly usage | Charges waived when total is $30 or less | The user becomes responsible after exceeding the quarterly threshold. |
| Courthouse viewing | Free to view | Printing from the terminal costs $0.10 per page. |
| PACER Service Center search | $30 per name or item searched | Additional document charges apply. |
Scheduled January 1, 2027 change:
PACER has announced a temporary increase from $0.10 to $0.12 per page and an increase in the automatic quarterly waiver threshold from $30 to $40.
PACER Service Center
Phone: 800-676-6856
Email: pacer@psc.uscourts.gov
Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Central Time
Phone: 800-676-6856
Email: pacer@psc.uscourts.gov
Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Central Time
Correct the source record before chasing copies across multiple databases
Identify exactly what is wrong
Examples include the wrong person, charge, arrest date, disposition or duplicate case.
Identify which system displays the error
Determine whether it appears in the jail, police report, court, state repository or FBI summary.
Save the incorrect record
Record the URL, agency, date viewed, booking number and court case number.
Obtain the controlling proof
Use a corrected police report, certified disposition, amended judgment or identity document.
Correct the originating agency first
If police submitted the wrong arrest information, the police or contributing agency may need to fix its record before state or FBI systems can update.
Use the state repository correction process
State identification bureaus commonly handle state criminal-history corrections.
Find the correct state bureau
Challenge the FBI summary when necessary
Clearly identify the inaccurate information and provide available supporting proof.
Recheck connected systems
A correction in one government database may not immediately update a court website or private background report.
The FBI currently charges no fee to challenge an Identity History Summary and states that the average challenge response is generally within 45 days of receipt.
Use the law of the state where the arrest or case occurred
There is no single nationwide state-record expungement process. Eligibility, waiting periods, forms, filing fees and legal effects vary by state.
Correction
Use when the information is factually wrong.
Sealing
Typically restricts ordinary public access while specified agencies may retain legal access.
Expungement
May remove, destroy or legally restrict qualifying records according to state law.
Other relief
Some states offer set-aside, dismissal, reduction, pardon or certificate procedures.
Identify the state and court
Use the jurisdiction where the arrest or criminal case occurred.
Obtain the complete case history
Collect the booking, report number, case number and final disposition.
Check automatic relief first
Some states automatically restrict qualifying non-convictions or older cases.
Review eligibility
The outcome, offense, waiting period and criminal history may affect eligibility.
Obtain certified documents
A court may require dispositions, judgments or criminal-history records.
Use the official court forms
Do not use a generic petition from another state.
Serve required agencies
The prosecutor, arresting agency or state repository may need notice.
Attend a hearing when required
Bring all documents proving eligibility.
Keep certified copies of the order
These are useful when correcting police, court, state or private records.
Verify that public systems update
Do not assume every database changed automatically.
The FBI directs questions about sealing or expungement of nonfederal arrest information to the state identification bureau for the state where the offense occurred.
Do not treat a public arrest result as a complete background check
Confirm the correct person
Find the final court disposition
Identify dismissed charges
Identify acquitted charges
Check whether the record was sealed
Check whether information was corrected
Do not merge different people with similar names
Recheck fast-changing custody and warrant data
Important:
A public arrest record can be incomplete, outdated or legally restricted. Employment, housing, licensing and consumer background checks may be governed by additional federal, state and local laws.
Use stronger proof for important decisions
For current custody
Use the live jail or corrections system.
For final criminal outcome
Use the court disposition or certified court document.
For your own history
Use the applicable state fingerprint process or FBI Identity History Summary.
What to do next based on the information you already have
| You already know | Search first | Then verify |
|---|---|---|
| City of arrest | County jail or city police | County criminal court |
| County of arrest | Sheriff or detention center | County court docket |
| Booking number | The jail that issued it | Police report and court case |
| Police report number | The law-enforcement agency | Court case and disposition |
| Court case number | The filing court | Complaint, judgment and sentence |
| State but not county | State government and court directories | County jail and court |
| Federal register number | BOP Inmate Locator | PACER federal case |
| Nothing except the name | Determine likely city, county and state first | Search government systems jurisdiction by jurisdiction |
Use these only when you are ready to perform the live government action
Find a local government
Use when you need the correct county, sheriff, jail or municipal department.
Open USAGov local governments
Find a state government
Use for state police, state corrections and other state agencies.
Open USAGov state governments
Find a criminal court
Use when you need the filed charges or final disposition.
Open the official court directory
Find a state criminal-history bureau
Use for statewide records, corrections and state sealing guidance.
Open the FBI state-bureau directory
Search federal custody
Use for people incarcerated in the federal system from 1982 forward.
Open the BOP Inmate Locator
Search a federal court case
Use for federal district, appellate and bankruptcy court records.
Open PACER
Request your FBI record
Use for your own fingerprint-supported Identity History Summary.
Open FBI Identity History Summary instructions
Find prisoner-record routes
Use when you are unsure whether the person is in federal, state or local custody.
Open USAGov prisoner records
Find victim services
Use for victim advocates, federal notifications and service directories.
Open DOJ victim assistanceQuestions people ask when looking for arrest records
Where should I look first for an arrest record?
Start with the sheriff, county jail or detention agency in the place where the arrest occurred. Then use the booking information to identify the arresting agency and criminal court.
Is there one nationwide arrest search?
No. County jails, police departments, state courts, state repositories and federal agencies maintain separate systems.
How do I find a recent arrest?
Search the official jail serving the county of arrest. Allow time for intake and verify the person with more than a matching name.
Where do I obtain the arrest report?
Request it from the police, sheriff, state police or other agency that made the arrest. The jail may not own the officer’s report.
How do I know whether charges were actually filed?
Search the criminal court case and read the complaint, information or indictment. Do not rely only on the charge listed during booking.
How do I check federal arrest records?
Use BOP for federal incarceration from 1982 to the present and PACER for federal court cases.
How much does an FBI Identity History Summary cost?
The FBI processing charge is currently $18. Separate fingerprinting or channeler charges may apply.
Can I get another person’s complete FBI rap sheet?
No. The FBI personal Identity History Summary process is not a public name-search service for another person’s complete national record.
Why can I not find a known arrest?
Check intake delay, county, agency, spelling variations, release, transfer, court-posting delay and whether the record is juvenile, sealed or expunged.
Can I remove an eligible arrest record?
State law controls most nonfederal sealing and expungement. Obtain the court disposition, identify the correct state process and complete the required court or state-agency filing.
