identity history summary (fbi)


For a fee, the FBI can provide individuals with an Identity History Summary—often referred to as a criminal history record or a “rap sheet”—listing certain information taken from fingerprint submissions kept by the FBI and related to arrests and, in some instances, federal employment, naturalization, or military service.
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If the fingerprint submissions are related to an arrest, the Identity History Summary includes the name of the agency that submitted the fingerprints to the FBI, the date of the arrest, the arrest charge, and the disposition of the arrest, if known. All arrest information included in an Identity History Summary is obtained from fingerprint submissions, disposition reports, and other information submitted by authorized criminal justice agencies.
The U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73, also known as Departmental Order, establishes rules and regulations for you to obtain a copy of your Identity History Summary for review or proof that one does not exist.
Under federal law, you can use your Identity History Summary to review, correct, or update your own personal record. Identity History Summaries are not to be used for employment or licensing. Questions on employment or licensing background checks should be directed to the State Identification Bureau for the state requiring the background check.

Identity History Summary Checks for Employment or Licensing 
If you are requesting a background check for employment or licensing within the U.S., you may be required by state statute or federal law to submit your request through your state identification bureau, the requesting federal 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. Pursuant 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 pursuant to 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 contains only information maintained by the FBI and may lack dispositional data and/or arrest records that are 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.



How to Submit a Request

STEP 1: Complete the Applicant Information Form (Click Here For The Application). (BRING THIS FORM FILLED OUT AND PRINTED OR EMAIL IT TO US TO PRINT)
  • If the request is for a couple, family, etc., all persons must sign the form
  • Include your complete mailing address
  • Please provide your telephone number and/or e-mail address, if available
Note: Due to automation of the mail process, tentatively scheduled for January 12, 2015, the FBI will no longer provide Identity History Summary results on blue security paper. All responses will be processed on standard white paper. Additionally, the FBI will no longer accept return self-addressed envelopes with Departmental Order requests. This includes pre-paid Priority Mail, FedEx account numbers, United Parcel Service, etc., foreign postage coupons, and requests to forward correspondence to the Department of State for the apostille process. Envelopes received will be destroyed. The FBI will return all results, both foreign and domestic, by First-Class Mail via the U.S. Postal Service. Thank you for your patience as we try to streamline our processes to improve our service to you.

STEP 2: Obtain a set of your fingerprints on a FD-258 INK CARD by A. RIVERA LIVE SCAN & INK FINGERPRINTING.
    • Provide the original fingerprint card. Previously processed cards or copies will not be accepted.
    • Your name and date of birth must be provided on the fingerprint card. Fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint card (FD-258 or equivalent) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes. The FBI will accept FD-258 fingerprint cards on standard white paper stock.
    • We will Include rolled impressions of all 10 fingerprints and impressions of all 10 fingerprints taken simultaneously (these are sometimes referred to as plain or flat impressions) on the Ink Card.
Note: The name on your response letter will match the name indicated on the fingerprint card. Also, if the last four digits of your social security number is needed on your response letter, then please ensure your full nine-digit social security number is on the fingerprint card when submitting your request.
Step 3: Payment to FBI ($18.00) .
  • Option 1: Pay by credit card using the Credit Card Payment Form (Click Here For the Credit Card Form). Don’t forget to include the expiration date of the credit card that you are using. (BRING THIS FORM FILLED OUT AND PRINTED OR EMAIL IT TO US TO PRINT) 
  • 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 to sign where required.
  • Important note: Cash, personal checks, or business checks WILL NOT be accepted and sending any of these will delay 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.
  • If the request is for multiple copies per person, include $18 for each copy requested.
  • The FBI will not accept additional payment to expedite your request.

Step 4: Walk- In or Set up an appointment with A. Rivera Live Scan & Ink Fingerprinting to take care of your fingerprints and processing. 

Current processing time for Identity History Summary requests submitted via  mail is 2-4 weeks. Allow additional time for mail delivery.