Cleaning Up Criminal Records: Obtaining Criminal Records
From Reentry
Contents |
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Background Information
How and Why to Get Your Criminal Record
- Provides an overview of different types of criminal records and how to get them. Includes sample letters to the Michigan State Police and FBI.
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Common Sources of Criminal Records
- The Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) provides criminal records for Michigan convictions.
- FBI records are not generally available to individuals outside law enforcement, though they are used for employment purposes in certain areas, such as long-term care and education. Individuals can obtain copies of their own FBI records for personal review.
- The Offender Information Tracking System (OTIS) provides information about offenders previously or currently under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Michigan Sex Offender Registry
- Information on registered sex offenders.
Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE) System
- This site provides information about the custody status of inmates around the country. It is not a record repository, but rather an informational source for information about criminal cases and prisoner location.
Federal Bureau of Prisons website
- This site provide information about the custody status and location of federal inmates.
Records from Private Companies
- Many private companies sell criminal record information. This information is usually considered a credit report, and is subject to laws governing the use of credit reports. Contact the credit reporting agency that produced the record to obtain a copy of your criminal background check.
- Credit Reports
- This document provides information on how to obtain and correct your credit report.
- Choicepoint Records
- Information on how to get a free copy of your Choicepoint record. Choicepoint is a major private provider of criminal records.
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Statutes
- Spells out what Michigan criminal history information is disseminated to the public.
- Statute providing that most Michigan juvenile records are open to the public.
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Policy Issues
Expanded Use of Criminal Records and Its Impact on Re-entry
- Over the past decade, criminal records have become available and used for non-law enforcement purposes to an unprecedented extent. Several trends have dovetailed, with catastrophic effect for persons with criminal records.
- View other Pages on Cleaning Up Criminal Records
- Correcting Inaccurate Criminal Records
Expungement
Deferrals and Dismissals for Specified Offenses
Pardons
FCRA Challenges Based on Dissemination of Inaccurate Criminal Records