Request Your New York State Criminal History

DCJS is the only official source for New York State’s official criminal history records.
Request Records

Overview

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) maintains New York State’s official criminal history records. DCJS is the only source of these official records.

Requesting your criminal history record gives you and/or your attorney the chance to review criminal history record information reported to and maintained by DCJS to ensure it is accurate and/or to correct incomplete or incorrect information. You must submit your fingerprints when you request a criminal history record response. This allows DCJS to match your fingerprints to our records.

You will receive either:

  • A copy of your New York State criminal history record, commonly called a “rap sheet.”
  • A “no record” response, which verifies that you have no New York State criminal history record.

Basic Information for Requesting Your New York Criminal History

  • Official criminal history records detail arrest, indictment, and conviction and sentence information reported to the state by police departments, district attorneys’ offices, the courts and other criminal justice agencies.
  • These records are not considered public records. They cannot be provided under the state’s Freedom of Information Law and DCJS does not release criminal history records to third parties or businesses that sell "background checks."
  • Third parties or businesses that sell "background checks" get that information by searching public databases and records by name, date of birth or other demographic information, such as home addresses. Those records are not fingerprint-based.
  • There must be a local, state, or federal law that allows a potential employer or licensing agency to ask you to submit fingerprints to DCJS so you can be considered for a job or professional license. The potential employer or agency that grants the license must make you aware of that requirement.
  • This Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidance provides additional information for job applicants with criminal records.
  • You cannot request a criminal history record response for another person to determine if that person has a criminal history.
  • You can request a criminal history record response that is either unsuppressed or suppressed. If you need both responses, you must submit a separate request for each.
    • Unsuppressed criminal history record: This response contains all criminal history records, including those suppressed (hidden) or sealed (as ordered by a court) under New York State Criminal Procedure Law (CPL), including:
      • CPL 160.50 dismissed cases
      • CPL 160.55 violation/infraction convictions
      • CPL 160.58 eligible substance abuse and related convictions
      • CPL 160.59 eligible convictions granted by the court
      • CPL 720.35 youthful offender adjudications
      • Individual charges dismissed in court and the equivalent arrest charges, if the case was disposed on or after Nov. 1, 1991.
    • Suppressed criminal history record: This response does not include sealed or suppressed information, as detailed above.

How to Request Your Criminal History

Please follow the procedure that best matches your situation:
Living in New York State

1. Schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints taken. Visit the IdentoGo website or call 877-472-6915 to do this. You must provide one of the following service codes:


15464Z: Suppressed Record
15465F: Unsuppressed Record


If you are requesting a record for international purposes, you must select "travel/other country" or other "international purpose" as the reason for fingerprinting. This allows DCJS to provide the required, signed document so you can obtain an apostille from the Department of State.
 

2. Bring the following with you to your fingerprinting appointment:


One form of identification. Visit the IdentoGo website or call -877-472-6915 for information about acceptable forms of identification.


If you are a parent or guardian making a request for child ranging in age from 11 to 17 who does not have an acceptable form of ID, you must complete the New York Photo ID Waiver for Minors form.


AND


Payment: $17.50 (as of 2/2/2026). Credit cards, checks and money orders are accepted. Checks or money orders must be made out to "Idemia."


3. After DCJS receives your request:

  • Your request will be processed and response returned via U.S. mail within three to four weeks. You cannot pick up your response in person.
  • Your response may include one or more of the following: your criminal history record, information about fingerprints you submitted as required by law for employment, licensing, or other purpose(s), or a “no record” response.
  • You also will receive information explaining how to challenge the accuracy of any reported information.
Living Outside of New York State

1. Visit the IdentoGo website and enter one of the following service codes:


15464Z: Suppressed Record 
15465F: Unsuppressed Record


If you are requesting a record for international purposes, you must select "travel/other country" or other "international purpose" as the reason for fingerprinting. This allows DCJS to provide the required, signed document so you can obtain an apostille from the Department of State.


2. After entering the appropriate service code, click “Locate an Enrollment Center” and enter your zip code, or your city and state, to find a center near you.
 

3. Schedule your appointment and bring the following with you:
 

One form of identification. The IdentoGo website has information about acceptable forms of identification.


If you are a parent or guardian making a request for child ranging in age from 11 to 17 who does not have an acceptable form of ID, you must complete the New York Photo ID Waiver for Minors form.


AND


Payment: $57.45 (as of 2/2/2026). Credit cards, checks and money orders are accepted. Checks or money orders must be made out to "Idemia."


If there is no IdentoGo location near you:


Download, print and complete an FBI (FD-258) fingerprint card and then contact your local law enforcement agency to have your fingerprints taken on the card.


Once the card is complete with your fingerprints, visit the IdentoGo website and enroll for Cardscan submission. You must provide one of the following service codes:


15464Z: Suppressed Record
15465F: Unsuppressed Record


If you are requesting a record for international purposes, you must select "travel/other country" or other "international purpose" as the reason for fingerprinting. This allows DCJS to provide the required, signed document so you can obtain an apostille from the Department of State.


If you are a parent or guardian making a request for child ranging in age from 11 to 17 who does not have an acceptable form of ID, you must complete the New York Photo ID Waiver for Minors form.


IdentoGo charges $17.50 (effective 2/2/2026) for this service; the fee must be paid when you enroll for Cardscan submission.


After you complete your enrollment and pay the fee, you will receive a confirmation page with a barcode printed on the top right of the page. Print and sign the confirmation page and mail the signed confirmation page and the completed fingerprint card to:


Prints, Inc
IdentoGO NY Card Scan Operations
100 Salem Ct.
Tallahassee, FL 32301


NOTE: IdentoGo will not forward pre-paid envelopes to DCJS.


4. After DCJS receives your request:

  • Your request will be processed and response returned via U.S. mail within three to four weeks. You cannot pick up your response in person.
  • Your response may include one or more of the following: your criminal history record, information about fingerprints you submitted as required by law for employment, licensing, or other purpose(s), or a “no record” response.
  • You also will receive information explaining how to challenge the accuracy of any reported information.
Requesting an application to waive the fingerprint processing fee

If you are unable to pay the $17.50 fingerprint processing fee, you must request a criminal history record fee waiver application packet by:

Email: [email protected]

or

Surface Mail: Records Review Unit, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, 80 South Swan St., 5th Floor, Albany, New York 12210
 

Note: You must provide your current, complete mailing address so DCJS can mail the application packet to you.

For Employers or Licensing Entities

Criminal history record information maintained by DCJS may only be released to entities having statutory authority to access that information or pursuant to a judicial order or subpoena. 

New York State Executive Law defines the “qualified agencies” that are eligible to access criminal history record information. Access to criminal history record information for employment or licensing is permitted only if there is a state law, federal law, or local law of a New York State village, town, city or county that specifically authorizes a fingerprint-based criminal history record background check.

Every agency or organization authorized to access criminal history record information has a contract with DCJS known as a Use and Dissemination Agreement. This agreement outlines the responsibilities of DCJS and the entity authorized to access criminal history record information.

Agencies or organizations seeking access to criminal history record information must use this form to submit a request:

Questions about access to criminal history record information should be directed to the DCJS Office of Legal Services:

  • Phone: (518) 457-8413
  • E-Mail: [email protected]. Please use “Criminal History Record Information Access Inquiry” in the subject line.
  • Surface Mail:  

    Office of Legal Services
    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
    RE: Criminal History Record Information Access Inquiry
    Alfred E. Smith Building
    80 South Swan St.
    Albany, New York 12210

Public and agencies and organizations that do not have statutory authority to access criminal history record information maintained by DCJS can check the following for more information:

New York State’s Clean Slate Act

New York State’s Clean Slate Act takes effect Nov. 16, 2024, and provides the state Office of Court Administration (OCA) up to three years to develop the required processes to automatically seal eligible conviction records. Once that work is complete, convictions that meet certain criteria will be sealed for certain civil background check purposes.

It is important to note that until OCA implements these sealing processes, any criminal history record provided through the DCJS Records Review process will continue to include convictions that eventually will be sealed because of Clean Slate. DCJS cannot seal records until receiving an order from the court to do so.

Records of individuals convicted of sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies, including murder, will not be sealed. Police departments, sheriffs’ offices, prosecutors, the courts, and any employer permitted by law to perform fingerprint-based background checks on job applicants will continue to have access to all criminal records under the law.

Learn more about the Clean Slate Act

Sealing of Convictions

Sealing means that all of the arrest, court and prosecution records related to certain convictions are confidential and cannot be seen except under the following circumstances as required by state law:

  • If an individual is applying for a job as a police or peace officer; and,
  • If an individual is applying for a pistol permit.

Marijuana Convictions

State law requires the sealing of convictions for the following offenses that occurred prior to March 31, 2021: unlawful possession of marijuana; third-, fourth-, and fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana; and fourth- and fifth-degree criminal sale of marijuana.

In addition, state law allows individuals convicted of unlawful possession of marijuana and fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana to seek destruction of those conviction records. A formal request to destroy those records must be made through the state Office of Court Administration (OCA). Please visit the OCA website for more information about that process.

Note: If you are satisfied with the confidentiality that record sealing already provides, you are not required to apply for expungement or destruction of conviction records.

Other Convictions

Individuals who have no convictions on their record for at least 10 years and have no charges pending may apply to a court to request that certain New York State convictions be sealed.

Learn more at the NY Unified Court System website.

Verifying that Convictions are Sealed

You or your lawyer can use these forms to receive verification from DCJS that a court-ordered seal under state Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) Sections 160.59, 160.55, or 160.50 has been applied to your New York State criminal history record.

Note: A copy of the signed seal order from the court or notice of decline to prosecute from the district attorney must be mailed with the verification form. Only the below seal types can be confirmed through this process. 

After DCJS receives your request, it will be processed and a response will be sent via U.S. mail within two weeks. You cannot pick up your response in person.

  • CPL 160.50 Seal Verification Form

    Use this form if you are requesting verification of a seal related to an arrest that resulted in the termination of the criminal proceedings in their favor (for example: decline to prosecute, dismissal or acquittal).

    Download

  • CPL 160.55 Seal Verification Form

    Use this form if you are requesting verification of a seal related to a felony or misdemeanor arrest that resulted in a conviction to either a traffic infraction or violation.

    Download

Retroactive Youthful Offender Designation

New York State allows individuals who were convicted of a crime and eligible for youthful offender status but initially denied the designation to reapply for retroactive designation.

CPL section 720.20 allows individuals who were under the age of 19 when they were convicted of a crime, and therefore eligible for youthful offender status, but who were denied the designation, to reapply for youthful offender status retroactively. This section was enacted by Chapter 552 of the Laws of 2021.

New York's Youthful Offender law provides the opportunity for a conviction to be replaced by a confidential, non-criminal adjudication for those convicted of a crime when they are under the age of 19. A criminal record has lasting effects, including societal bias and limited access to employment – two significant barriers to rehabilitation. Many of those under the age of 19 when convicted and eligible for Youthful Offenders status are still not granted it.

This legislation allows those who were not granted that designation and who have not been convicted of another crime in at least five years since their original sentence to apply for retroactive designation of youthful offender status.

If you think you qualify for a retroactive youthful offender designation, you may want to consult with an attorney.

Criminal History Record Documents

Find example criminal history records and other support documents here.

Criminal History Record FAQs

How can I or my lawyer correct information on my criminal history record that is wrong or incomplete?

If you believe your New York State criminal history record maintained by DCJS is incomplete or inaccurate, you must provide supporting documentation to fix the omissions or errors. This process is known as challenging your record.


Arrest Information: To change or correct arrest information, such as arrest charges, date of arrest or date of crime, you must contact the police agency that made the arrest and request that the agency submit the changes to DCJS. The agency must submit the changes in writing in order for DCJS to update the criminal history record information.


Disposition Information: To change or correct disposition information or to add a disposition that is missing, you must contact the court that handled the case and request a certified copy of the disposition. You must then send the certified copy of the disposition to DCJS. Photocopies are not acceptable unless they contain a raised seal placed on the document by the court.


Unsealed Arrest and/or Conviction Information: If you believe that an arrest(s) or conviction(s) should be sealed, you must contact the court that handled the case and request a certified sealing order. You must then send the certified sealing order to DCJS. Photocopies are not acceptable unless they contain a raised seal placed on the document by the court.

Can individuals or members of the media request someone else’s criminal history or submit a request to DCJS to find out if someone has a criminal history?

No. Official criminal history records maintained by DCJS are not considered public records. They cannot be provided under the state’s Freedom of Information Law, even if an individual is deceased.

Can an individual request copies of fingerprints or the criminal history record of a family member(s) who has died?

No.

Can I apply to have my criminal record destroyed?

State law only allows individuals convicted of unlawful possession of marijuana and fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana to seek destruction of those conviction records.


You must make a formal request to the state’s Unified Court System to have those records destroyed. Visit www.nycourts.gov and search “marijuana convictions” for more information about that application process.


If you have no convictions on your record for at least 10 years and have no charges pending, you may apply to a court to request that certain New York State convictions be sealed.

How do I obtain a certificate of relief from disabilities?

A certificate of relief may be issued by a court or the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).


You must contact the court that handled your case or DOCCS for information on how to apply. Visit www.nycourts.gov for more information about this process.


If granted, the certificate removes restrictions that bar individuals who have been convicted of misdemeanors, or one felony, from certain types of employment and/or from getting certain licenses.

How do I obtain a certificate of good conduct?

A certificate of good conduct may be issued by DOCCS. This certificate removes certain
employment and licensure restrictions faced by individuals who have been convicted of two or
more felonies and may restore the right of the individual to hold public office.

I am applying for a job and the potential employer told me I needed to submit my fingerprints to DCJS for a background check. Can they ask me to do that?

There must be a local, state, or federal law that allows a potential employer to ask you to submit
fingerprints to DCJS so you can be considered for a job. You also may be asked to submit your
fingerprints to DCJS if you are applying for a professional license.


The potential employer or agency that grants the license must make you aware of that
requirement.


A fingerprint-based criminal history check done by DCJS is not the same as a “background
check” done by third parties or businesses that sell this information. Third parties or businesses
get the information they sell by searching public databases and records by name, date of birth
or other demographic information, such as home addresses. Those records are not fingerprint-
based. DCJS does not sell its records to third parties or businesses.

Contact

For more information about the criminal history record request process, please email us at [email protected]. 

Alternatively, we can be reached at 518-457-9847 or 518-485-7675 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (except legal holidays).