Personal Data Sheet (Page 3: Fill & Download for Free

In general a person is likely to know. However, there could be “gray” areas, for example a person is charged with a crime, and then the charges dropped. A person may not have a clear idea if that situation shows on their “criminal record”.I have many times obtained a copy of my “criminal record” from different police organizations. Basically what I have received is an official sheet of paper that has my name and information at the top and the rest blank.A police background, police history, criminal record, report is a common requirement in many immigration matters. For example, obtaining residency in a country, and other related matters.The above report from Interpol, rather than just being blank, says something to the effect that I am not: “is not registered among the required persons in the international arena” and the report is valid for 3 months with Immigration, Identifications (National Police office that makes ID cards), National Police office that registers foreigners, Police Station, Judicial filings and banks.There is an office at Identifications where foreigners can obtain a copy of a local (ie: Paraguayan) report of the same nature. For Paraguayans there is a different process at the same building. Anyone can walk in, provide their ID (and in the case of Interpol, their fingerprints), pay the fee, and obtain the report.Anyone can walk into the offices and obtain the report for any reason (they don’t ask), even idle curiosity. I would expect if they had an outstanding warrant, that they would not be leaving quiet so easily. I doubt many do so out of curiosity, and generally only when the report is a requirement for something.I am always amused than when applying for an ID, Passport or updating one as a foreigner, you must present the the Interpol and local report. I have no idea why their system doesn’t just pull the local data. Instead, you go to a different office in the same building, pay a fee, have them print it out and present is a few meters away.The FBI will also provide you with such a report upon request and payment of fee. Unlike the above which is done while you wait or within 48 hours, you will likely have to wait weeks for the FBI.If you are in the US, there are probably some places that will take your prints electronically. If you are in Paraguay, you must go to the US Embassy and get a blank fingerprint card, then go to the police and have them take your prints, acceptable payment, and mail your request to the FBI.For complete, and current details you can go to the FBI’s website at: Identity History Summary Checks | Federal Bureau of Investigation and the legal mumbo jumbo here: U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-73Again, it appears that the FBI will process requests for a criminal history regardless of your reason. Of course, asking for someone else’s may well mean that yours will be created or expanded if you don’t have one.That is a very narrow search of FBI records, limited to your criminal history. If you want your “FBI File”, ie: whatever records they have regarding investigations, or mentions of you in other investigations, you’d have to make a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, explain what records you want, and anticipate that, if there are any (they may respond that they cannot confirm or deny that any exist), large portions may well be blacked out to protect the privacy of others, investigative techniques, national security, or other statutory reasons. They may charge search and copying fees as well.Your FOIA request can be able any topic. If it is about yourself, you’ll have to include proof of identity. If it is about another person, “I request a copy of all files on Glen Lee Roberts” they will likely deny it entirely on privacy grounds. But, if it was on a broad topic, “I request a copy of all files regarding renunciation of US Citizenship” (aside from probably being too broad and expensive to pay for copies), such a request could include information about me, but those parts that would individually identify me (or other persons) would be blacked out for privacy reasons.And, yes, the FBI has files on me, some of which I got copies of many years ago. More recently they certainly have a bit regarding my renunciation of US Citizenship, as the US State Department is required to notify the FBI of all people who renounce, so they can be added to the NCIC system indicated they are prohibited from purchasing firearms in the US.If you don’t like the response to a FOIA request you can appeal it administratively, and further in the Federal Courts. In one case, I had asked the FBI for their records on the visit of US Attorney General Edwin Meese to Ann Arbor, Michigan.They initial responded that they had no records related to that. I made an administrative appeal pointing out that the FBI provided security for the Attorney General, he was assaulted in front of the FBI agents, and additionally, I had photographs and recordings of FBI communications showing they were present.Magically, they discovered that they did in fact have some documents and sent me a few pages. One was a memo from the Directory of the FBI giving a commendation to one of the agents for his outstanding service protecting the Attorney General.Although by law they have a short time to process your request. I believe it used to be 10 working days, and now is likely a month or so, unless you are ready to go to Federal Court, you can likely anticipate a much longer wait.You’ll probably find that US State and local policy agencies have similar procedures for those wanting a copy of their own criminal history with them.If you want to know about the criminal history of someone other than yourself, you’ll probably have to resort to searching through public court records.