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Fingerprinting Submissions
Applicant Agencies
As the state's central repository for criminal history records, the California Department of Justice provides an automated fingerprint submission service for conducting criminal history background checks for purposes of employment, volunteer positions, licensing, certification and identity confirmation. Here is information for agencies requesting criminal history record information on applicants.
Designation as Applicant Agency. In California, fingerprints may be submitted electronically or using paper fingerprint cards.
- DIGITALLY SCANNED FINGERPRINTS. This electronic process using Live Scan technology can be submitted to the Department of Justice within a matter of minutes and provides the quickest way to submit and process criminal background checks. Fingerprints submitted electronically are usually processed within 72 hours. All applicant fingerprint submissions will be required to be transmitted electronically beginning July 1, 2005.
- INK-ROLLED FINGERPRINTS ON PAPER FINGERPRINT CARDS. The fingerprint cards are mailed to the state Department of Justice. In California, this manual process must be performed by a person certified in the rolling of fingerprints. Poor quality prints may result in their rejection and substantial delay in completing criminal background checks if additional fingerprint submissions are required. Fingerprint card submissions may take six days or longer due to the time required for mailing and manual handling of the hard copy.
Checking on Status of Fingerprint Submission. While most Applicant Agencies receive results of requested background checks electronically from the state Department of Justice, some must receive reports by U.S. mail in a process that can take a minimum of seven days. Applicant Agencies can check quickly on the status of Live Scan fingerprints by calling the Department of Justice's 24-hour automated system. There is no automated system for checking on paper fingerprint card submissions.
To use the automated system, call (916) 227-4557 using a touch-tone telephone and follow the voice menu. You will need to have the following information before making the call: (1) applicant's date of birth; and (2) the 10-digit Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that appears at the bottom of the Department of Justice Form requesting Live Scan fingerprint background checks. (The ATI number always appears in the following sequence: 1 LETTER; 3 NUMBERS; 3 LETTERS and 3 NUMBERS.)
To get status information for hard card submissions or if you have submission problems, contact the state Department of Justice's Applicant Processing Program at (916) 227-3823. Because of the volume of calls received and time needed to research each request, there may be delays in responding to your inquiry.
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