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:

DOJ processing fee (set by the state)
“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:

1–3 weeks
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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Featured Content

How does an Expungement work?

What It Is, How It Works, and What It Actually Does

In California, “expungement” usually refers to relief under Penal Code §1203.4 (and related sections). It allows a person who successfully completed probation to withdraw a previous plea of guilty or no contest and have the case dismissed.

It does not erase the arrest.

It does not seal the entire government file.

It does not eliminate the conviction for all purposes.

It does change how the case appears on most background checks and can materially improve employment prospects. It allows for a person to lawfully assert that they were not convicted of the case (in most circumstances)

Arrest Record Sealing in California

An arrest record does not automatically disappear — even if no charges were ever filed. In California, arrest record sealing is governed primarily by:

The Lifecycle of a Criminal Case

Criminal Defense Overview

A California criminal case does not move in one straight line. Cases begin with an investigation or arrest, but many never reach trial. Some are rejected before filing. Some resolve at arraignment. Some felony cases are narrowed or dismissed at the preliminary hearing. Others proceed all the way through jury trial.

Still, there is a classic path. If you understand that path, it becomes much easier to understand what is happening in your own case and why timing, charging decisions, and defense strategy matter so much for the fate of a case.

This page is my attempt to illustrate the usual lifecycle of a California criminal case from arrest through jury trial and to highlight the major differences between misdemeanor and felony procedure.

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“White Collar” Crimes in California

“White collar crime” is not a single charge. It is a category of financial and fraud-based offenses involving deception, theft, or misuse of funds. These are typically done without physical violence but with substantial financial exposure.

These cases are document-heavy, investigation-driven, and frequently prosecuted as felonies.