What is a “Livescan” record?

A Livescan record is the official California criminal history report generated after your fingerprints are electronically submitted to the California Department of Justice (DOJ).

Unlike commercial background checks (which rely on name and date of birth), a Livescan is tied to biometric identifiers. It pulls from DOJ records and, when applicable, Federal Bureau of Investigation databases. That makes it the most authoritative snapshot of your California criminal history.

For post-conviction work, it is often the starting point.

What Does a Livescan Show?

A standard California DOJ criminal history response typically includes:

  • All California arrests tied to your fingerprints
  • Arrest dates and arresting agencies
  • Booking charges
  • Case numbers
  • Dispositions (convicted, dismissed, diversion completed, etc.)
  • Sentencing information
  • Probation status
  • Warrants (if reportable)

If FBI results are requested, it may also include:

  • Out-of-state arrests
  • Federal cases
  • National database entries

What It Does Not Show

  • Civil lawsuits
  • Most traffic infractions
  • Non-fingerprinted citations
  • Records that have been fully sealed and removed from DOJ reporting

Clients routinely assume a case is “gone” because probation was completed or an expungement was granted. The Livescan confirms whether the DOJ system reflects that relief.

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How to Get a Livescan Record

If you are requesting your own criminal history, you are asking for a DOJ Record Review. Here is exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Obtain the Correct Form

You need the Request for Live Scan Service – Record Review form (commonly known as BCIA 8016 – Record Review).

This form is available through the California Department of Justice website.

Be sure you are using the Record Review version—not an employment or licensing version.

Step 2: Complete the Form

Fill out:

  • Full legal name
  • Any prior names or aliases
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Social Security number (optional but recommended for accuracy)
  • Current mailing address

The DOJ will mail your results to the address you provide. Accuracy matters. They are sticklers and small mistakes will cause them to reject the application.

Step 3: Find a Certified Livescan Location

You must go in person to a certified Livescan operator. Common locations include:

  • Local police departments
  • County sheriff’s offices
  • Private fingerprinting vendors
  • Certain shipping/identity service providers

These locations electronically scan your fingerprints and transmit them to DOJ.

Bring:

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • The completed BCIA 8016 form
  • Payment (typically $50-100)

Step 4: Pay the Fees

You will typically pay two fees:

  1. DOJ processing fee (set by the state)
  2. “Rolling” fee charged by the fingerprinting vendor

The rolling fee varies by location. Expect total costs to be in the range of $50–$100 depending on the vendor.

Step 5: Wait for Results

Results are mailed directly to you.

Processing time is typically:

  1. 1–3 weeks
  2. Occasionally longer if fingerprints require manual review

If there is no record, DOJ will send confirmation stating that no criminal history was found. Once you’ve got this–send it my way and I can break down what it does and doesn’t show.

Why Livescan Matters for Expungements and Record Clearing

For post-conviction relief, assumptions are dangerous.

A Livescan provides:

1. Completeness

Clients often forget:

  • Old misdemeanor cases
  • Cases from other counties
  • Arrests that never resulted in charges
  • Prior probation violations
  • Charges reduced from felonies

Livescan eliminates blind spots and makes sure I can do a full and complete record analysis. If you’re going to do this–you might as well do it right.

2. Verification of Dispositions

Before filing:

  • Penal Code 1203.4 dismissals
  • 17(b) felony reductions
  • Sealing petitions
  • Certificates of Rehabilitation

You need to confirm:

  • Exact code section and subdivision
  • Whether probation was completed
  • Whether fines were paid
  • Whether a warrant is outstanding

Livescan confirms what DOJ actually shows—not simply what a person remembers.

3. Identifying Errors

DOJ records are not flawless. Common problems include:

  • Missing dismissal updates
  • Incorrect offense classifications
  • Duplicate entries
  • Outdated probation status

If there is an error, it can be challenged and corrected. But you need the Livescan first.

Livescan vs. Court Records

Court records show what happened in a specific case. Livescan shows what the state database reflects. Those are not always identical.

A thorough review compares:

  • Certified court dockets
  • Minute orders
  • Abstracts of judgment
  • The Livescan report

If they conflict, correction work begins.

When Should Someone Get a Livescan?

  • Before filing most expungement or reduction motions
  • Before applying for immigration relief
  • Before a sensitive employment application
  • If unsure what their record actually reflects

It is very easy process and a modest cost for clarity.

Bottom Line

A Livescan is not a generic background check. It is the state’s fingerprint-verified criminal history report maintained by the California DOJ. For anyone seeking record relief, it is the foundational document that I use to ensure that I’m clearing off everything that is problematic. For cases where a client isn’t absolutely positive of their record–I like to have this done so there aren’t any issues that slip through the cracks.

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