Background Checks

The California Department of Justice provides an automated service for criminal history background checks that may be required as a condition of employment, licensing, certification, foreign adoptions or VISA/Immigration clearances.

For more information and to obtain instructions related to criminal history background check, please click on the links on the right.

Questions may be sent to appagencyquestions@doj.ca.gov.

*Live Scan (Digitally Scanned Fingerprints)

All applicant fingerprint submissions must be transmitted electronically. Live Scan digital submissions provide the quickest way to submit and process background checks.

Live Scan technology allows digitally scanned fingerprints and related information to be submitted electronically to the Department of Justice within a matter of minutes and allows criminal background checks to be processed usually within 72 hours.

In California, fingerprinting must be done by a certified fingerprint roller or qualified law enforcement personnel.