Getting a Copy of Your California Criminal Record
Which California agency keeps criminal history records, how to request your own record, and the fee.
Short answer: The California Department of Justice, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis, provides copies of your own state criminal record. California DOJ, Office of the Attorney General, Record Review
| Getting a copy of your criminal record | The California Department of Justice, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis, provides copies of your own state criminal record. California residents complete Live Scan form BCIA 8016RR (type of application: "Record Review") and are fingerprinted at a Live Scan site; DOJ charges a $25 processing fee (plus the site's rolling fee), and a fee waiver can be requested. Out-of-state residents mail form BCIA 8705 with an FD-258 fingerprint card and payment payable to "California Department of Justice" to DOJ, Record Review & Challenge Section, P.O. Box 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. Errors can be disputed with form BCIA 8706 (Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness). Records obtained for personal review cannot be used for visa/immigration purposes. |
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| What relief the state offers | The California courts state that true expungement does not exist in California, but there are several ways to clean a record: dismissal of a conviction (often called "expungement," under Penal Code § 1203.4 and related sections), reducing a felony "wobbler" to a misdemeanor or some misdemeanors to infractions, Proposition 47 reductions, sealing of arrests that did not lead to conviction, automatic relief by the Department of Justice, marijuana conviction relief under Proposition 64, sealing of juvenile records, a Certificate of Rehabilitation, and a governor's pardon. |
Where to get help in California
More California expungement & criminal records
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in California
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in California
- How to File for Expungement in California
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in California
- All California expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do I check my own criminal record in California?
The California Department of Justice, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis, provides copies of your own state criminal record. California residents complete Live Scan form BCIA 8016RR (type of application: "Record Review") and are fingerprinted at a Live Scan site; DOJ charges a $25 processing fee (plus the site's rolling fee), and a fee waiver can be requested. Out-of-state residents mail form BCIA 8705 with an FD-258 fingerprint card and payment payable to "California Department of Justice" to DOJ, Record Review & Challenge Section, P.O. Box 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. Errors can be disputed with form BCIA 8706 (Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness). Records obtained for personal review cannot be used for visa/immigration purposes.
Can you get a criminal record expunged in California?
The California courts state that true expungement does not exist in California, but there are several ways to clean a record: dismissal of a conviction (often called "expungement," under Penal Code § 1203.4 and related sections), reducing a felony "wobbler" to a misdemeanor or some misdemeanors to infractions, Proposition 47 reductions, sealing of arrests that did not lead to conviction, automatic relief by the Department of Justice, marijuana conviction relief under Proposition 64, sealing of juvenile records, a Certificate of Rehabilitation, and a governor's pardon.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.