Criminal Records California Updated Database Available Online

By Ben Kingsley


There are many reasons why one would want to do a background check on a person or of oneself. Immigration processing or visa application for one needs a verification or background check to determine the person's history. In licensing and certification,one also needs to present a background check. In most cases, background checks are done to determine the applicant's eligibility for employment. Although this might sound unfair, it is quite logical especially if the employer does not want any trouble. The State of California criminal records though are restricted so one needs to be in the law enforcement or one of the authorized agencies to access it. However, doing a personal background check is allowed by the State.

If you are a resident of California but lives out of state, you can submit a manual fingerprint card to the Record Review Unit of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Download the instruction guide "State Summary Criminal Record" and follow the guide thoroughly. It is important that you complete the application form and head over to the nearest authorized agency for fingerprint scan. Once you get the required documents, send in your payment together with your application form to the DOJ Record Review Unit for processing. Residents can download the instruction guide "Live Scan Form" and fill up the application form. They can then proceed to the nearest fingerprinting agency in their district which can be the nearest police department or the sheriff's office and have their fingerprints taken.

The processing fee of $25 is mandatory though the operators can also charge certain fees from the applicants. The fees are used to cover the rolling of the fingerprint image only. Agencies that are tagged with the "BNR" code will only process agency applicants so it is important to check the fingerprint agency before heading in. Applicants should present a valid ID with photo for their application to be processed by the operators.

Once background checks are done, one would discover if they have a clean record or if they have records. As pursuant to the Penal Code 851.8, a Californian resident has the option to appeal for their records and have it sealed from the public. Those who are eligible are people who (1) were arrested but no criminal charges were filed; (2) those whose case were dismissed and (3) acquitted through jury trial. The court has the option to summon the petitioner to the court or not. Hearing procedure would last for 90 days though once the case is sealed, it is destroyed from the court and the law enforcement agency where the arrest was made.

Convicted individuals are also given fresh beginnings by the Californian law. Pursuant to the Penal Code 1203.4, expungement is given to those who are eligible under (1) those who have completed their probation or gained early probation and (2) those who are convicted of felony or misdemeanour. Expungement does not mean that the law would erase the arrest records; it only means that the convicted person has successfully completed the sentences and frees him up from other penalties or disabilities that hamper criminals. Expungement gives the convicted person the ability to gain their professional license as well as employment.

For those individuals or employers who want to do background checks, checking through online search companies is by far the best option especially if one wants to check whether an individual has any arrest records or criminal records that might affect their work.




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