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Direct answer

What to use for open access criminal records

Official criminal-record access is source-specific. Idaho BCI, for example, provides public access to Idaho criminal-history information, while PACER provides public access to federal court records. These systems cover different records and should not be combined into a claim that a single open database is complete nationwide.

Context

Start by naming the record, not the website

The phrase “criminal records” can refer to a state repository, a court case, an arrest/incident file, a corrections record, or a personal FBI history. Public access rules differ because the custodians differ.

A useful search therefore begins with the jurisdiction and record type. Only after that should you choose the official portal.

Route

Examples of different public-access layers

Layer Example Scope
State criminal-history repository Idaho BCI State-defined criminal-history information. For a name-based check, submit the Name-Based Criminal Background Check Form and Payment Authorization Form with the $20 fee. BCI accepts hand-delivered, mailed or faxed requests, not emailed requests. Credit/debit payments add $1 plus 2.5% of the transaction. A name check is not positive fingerprint identification and its results are not notarized. Without a waiver, arrests over 12 months old with no disposition cannot be released to a non-criminal-justice agency; a submitted waiver must be signed within 180 days. BCI does not provide results by phone, fax or email.
Federal court records PACER Federal district, bankruptcy and appellate case records. Registered PACER access generally costs $0.10 per page, capped at $3 per document; searches, non-case-specific reports and transcripts have no $3 cap. Fees of $30 or less in a quarter are waived. Court opinions and courthouse viewing are free; printing/copying is a separate question. A party receiving a court electronic notice gets one free copy, and a court-granted fee exemption is another limited free-access route.
Personal FBI history FBI Identity History Summary Fingerprint-based review of your own FBI summary
Important

Personal FBI access is different

The FBI Identity History Summary is a fingerprint-based personal record-review process rather than a public name-search tool for another person.

Check

Before calling a search “complete”

  • ✓
    Jurisdictions checked

    List each state/federal source separately.

  • ✓
    Record types checked

    Court, repository, corrections, police, etc.

  • ✓
    Identity confidence

    Resolve same-name ambiguity.

  • ✓
    Access limits

    Note sealed, confidential or non-online material rather than assuming absence.

Related Record Guides

Sources

Authoritative next stops

Official federal judiciary source

PACER - Federal Court Records

Use this official source as a next stop for open access criminal records.

United States federal courts
Official federal judiciary source

PACER - Pricing and Free Access

Per-page charges, cap exceptions, quarterly waiver and specific free-access conditions.

United States federal courts