Thursday, August 15, 2013

California Criminal Records Free Copy Online

By Claire Dowell


Background checks are required by some individuals for purposes such as but not limited to: (a) immigration or visa processing, (b) licensing, (c) certification and (d) gain employment. The background check ensures that the individual is not facing any arrest or have been arrested before. Although the state requires employers not to prejudice against one who has criminal records, it still pays to check someone. In the State of California criminal records access is restricted to the authorized agencies and to law enforcement. However, background check on oneself is allowed.

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.

During background checks, one would find out if they have a clean record or if they still have a record, which they can request for "sealing". In California, residents have the option to seal or destroy criminal cases made against them. Those who are eligible under the Penal Code 851.8 include (a) people that were arrested but have their case dismissed (b) arrested but no criminal charges were filed and (c) acquitted by the California jury trial court. The sealing and destruction of the criminal records are on a case-to-case basis meaning that each motion is specific to a single arrest or case. Once the person is found to be eligible for the sealing, they may petition the law enforcement agency for relief or the court. Sealing of records can take up to three months and personal appearances are determined by the county where one resides.

Those who are convicted can also have their records expunged. Under the Penal Code 1203.4, the state will not clean the records but would affirm that the applicant has served the terms and conditions set forth in the conviction. The expungement would also allow the applicant to apply for state licensing and gain employment.

If you are looking for information only, numerous online sites offer free background checks or upon payment of a small fee access to the full information. You can check whether the person has any past arrest records or other records that might hamper their work.




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