Learn More About California Background Records

According to the Public Records Act of California, criminal records are not available for public access. Thus you cannot conduct a California background check of another individual. The California Penal Code, section 11105, states that only the concerned individual, certain employers, law enforcement authorities and regulatory bodies can access the criminal records information.

In California, it is possible for you to conduct a background check on yourself, but not on others. But there are other non-government websites that offer background checks in California. You can use them to conduct a background check but there is no assurance that the information obtained would be authentic.

California Department of Justice: for Residents

The Department of Justice, California, maintains all criminal history records. You can conduct a background check on yourself from their website. There is a particular procedure that needs to be followed in order to do this. If you want a copy of your criminal history record you need to use the Live Scan Form. It is available from http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/forms/bcii_rr_8016.pdf. Download the form and get a printout to enter the required fields. Enter ‘record review’ in the field ‘type of application’ as well as the ‘reason for application’. You also need to complete all the personal details fields. Then you need to take the form to the nearest live scan site.

If you have no idea about where a live scan site is located, you can have a look at the nearest site from http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.php. You would find not only the contact details but the fingerprint rolling fees as well as the modes of payment accepted at the site.

The fingerprint card and the request for criminal history record check must be sent to the Department of Justice, California. You also need to send a processing fee of $25 along with the request. Processing of a request takes some time. You are most likely to receive your record within 72 hours. If there is a delay you can check the status of your request by calling (916) 227-4557.

California Department of Justice: for Out-of-State Residents

If you are a resident of California this procedure is easy. But if you live outside the state or nation you need to follow a different procedure opt for a background check. For this you need to complete the application meant for obtaining a copy of the State Summary Criminal History Record available from http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/forms/BCII_8705.pdf. All you need to do is go by the instructions as mentioned on the form.

For fingerprinting services you need to access the help of the local law enforcement agency. If you are unable to find a blank fingerprinting card you can call the Record Review Unit of the Department of Justice at (916) 227-3849 and arrangement could be made for it.

The fingerprinting card for the out-of-state residents of California needs to provide details like the complete name, sex and date of birth as well as the complete mailing address. This is necessary so that the record could be mailed to them.

The processing fee for California background check must be payable to the California Department of Justice via money order or personal checks or certified check. You need to mail the application form, the processing fee and the fingerprinting card to the California Department of Justice, Record Review Unit, P.O. Box 903417, Sacramento, CA 94203-4170.

You may access your criminal history record but as per the California Penal Code section 11142 you are prohibited to give a copy of that record to a third party. The California Penal Code section 11125 also forbids any individual or agency to ask for anyone’s criminal history records.

As per the rules of the California Department of Justice, the criminal records of an individual stay on the criminal background history till the person concerned reaches an age of 100 years.