If you have been arrested for a crime, there is a record of it. Most employers run criminal background checks on you before they hire you. Arrest records are kept in a few places: - The New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) keeps your official arrest and conviction history called a rap sheet. Rap stands for “record of arrest and prosecution.” This record can’t be requested without your fingerprints. Expunged marijuana records do not appear on your RAP sheet.
- The FBI keeps a rap sheet about convictions in every state and Federal Court. This record can’t be requested without your fingerprints.
- Credit reporting agencies buy information about criminal court cases and then sell background checks. These criminal background reports are not always correct.
- The court system keeps an informal history of your convictions. You don’t need fingerprints to do a criminal history record search (CHRS). Sealed records and expunged marijuana records should not appear on this search. This search is based on your name and birthday. Anyone can search. It costs $95.00.
Employers and credit reporting agencies can’t get Sealed Records. Only official personnel and you can get your sealed records. Convictions to summons are not listed on a criminal record. Expunged marijuana records are treated as a if they never happened. They should never be listed on a criminal record. Case InformationYou can get information about current criminal court cases in New York City, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the County Courts in the Ninth Judicial District (Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess Counties), the County Court in Erie County, and the Buffalo City Court. Other courts may be added. Visit WebCriminal to search by name or case number. For more information about how to clean up your criminal record, please go to the California Courts website. Petition for Certificate of Rehabilitation and Pardon (Penal Code §4852.01) If you reside in the state of California, in most cases you must seek a Certificate of Rehabilitation from the court before asking the Governor for a pardon. A Certificate of Rehabilitation generally allows a person to have some of his or her civil and political rights of citizenship restored. The granting of a Certificate of Rehabilitation also serves as a plea to the Governor for a pardon. Rights restored by a pardon are defined in Penal Code § 4852.17. If you are eligible, you may file a petition with the superior court where you reside, or the superior court in which you were convicted of a felony or where the accusatory pleading was dismissed pursuant to PC Section 1203.4 This is a lengthy process and you may need a lawyer. You have a right to have the Public Defender help you. If you reside in Los Angeles County and have any questions or need assistance with filing your petition, you may contact the: Certificate of Rehabilitation Paralegal
Los Angeles County Public Defender
210 West Temple Street, 19th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90012
https://pubdef.lacounty.gov/ For more information about the Certificate of Rehabilitation and Pardon, please go to the California Courts website. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center issues criminal history record checks, sometimes referred to as a “Police Clearance” or “Police Abstract” for the State of Hawaii only*. This will only include Hawaii’s adult criminal conviction information, and the response will indicate that the criminal history record check was name-based. *To obtain national background checks, please visit the FBI website Identity History Summary Checks — FBI. To obtain juvenile record checks, please contact Hawaii State Judiciary – Family Court – Juvenile Records Department at 808-954-8190. - Online – You may obtain an instant criminal history record check online using eCrim. Name-based checks completed via the eCrim website cost $5 per name search and $10 for each resulting certified record. The criminal history record report will be emailed once payment is received online. However, please check if the agency you will be submitting the clearance to accepts online printouts. If the agency does not, to obtain an official background check from the State of Hawaii, see options 3 and 4 below.
- Public access – Here is a list of Public Access locations where arrest records which have resulted in convictions are available. $25 per printout/search. Please call the appropriate location for specific office hours.
- In-Office – Name Base Background Check does NOT require an appointment. Criminal history record checks processed by the Criminal History Record Checks Unit will have our embossed department seal. Service Fee $30 (Additional options: Certify + $20, Notary + $0). Turnaround time: 3-5 business days (With notary, 7-10 business days). Download and print HCJDC-073 form (Name Based) or stop by our office at 465 S. King Street, Rm 102 Honolulu, HI 96813.
- Additional Information
- Due to severe staffing shortages, as of August 1, 2022, our reduced Customer Service Hours are from 10:30am – 3:30pm
- Payments: NO CASH ACCEPTED. Accepted payment methods are Credit, Debit, Apple Pay, Money Order or Cashiers Check (payable to “State of Hawaii”). Payments made by Credit, Debit, Apple Pay will accrue a 3% non-refundable service fee.
- To receive results via certified mail, please include a USPS postage paid certified envelope.
- Parking: Available parking by metered stalls on property (Quarters only)
- By Mail – Criminal history record checks processed by the CHRC Unit will have our embossed department seal. Service Fee $30 (additional options: Certify + $20, Notary + $0). Turnaround time: 3-5 business days (With notary, 7-10 business days).
Download and print HCJDC-073 form (Name Based) and mail to:
Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center
Attn: CHRC Unit
465 S. King Street, Rm 102
Honolulu, HI 96813 - Additional Information
- Payments: Money order or cashiers check (payable to “State of Hawaii”).
- To receive results via certified mail, please include a USPS postage paid certified envelope.
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