FAQ: Live Scan, Ink Fingerprints

1. Who needs live scan? All institutions and professions with applicants for employment. licensing or certification:
Security Guards, Teachers, Schools, Realtors, Notaries, CPAs, Lottery Retailers, Stock Brokers, Contractors, Nurses/Doctors/Hospitals, Attorneys, Caregivers for children and elderly, Gaming, Insurance, Pilots, Pharmacists, Volunteers, Dental Assistants, Others. 

2. Can I make an appointment for live scan or just walk in? No appointment is needed. Walk-ins are welcome during our normal business hours Monday through Friday from 9am-7pm. As a walk-in customer you will be live scanned on a first come first serve basis. For groups of more than 2, we prefer you set up an appointment in order to avoid possible wait time.

3. Do I need to do a live scan again if I have already done it once or more before? Yes. The DOJ does not share your information with other agencies. It is against the law for different agencies to share confidential fingerprint results with each other. An applicant’s Live Scan form acts as a release for a criminal history response to be sent to the specified requesting agency. This means that you must submit a new application each time a criminal history is requested of you; therefore you must go through the Live Scan process again. Previous Live Scan information CANNOT be utilized. You must be Live Scan fingerprinted any time you change employers when you work in the public school system.

4. How long does it take for the DOJ, FBI to process the fingerprints, and send results? In most cases, the results from DOJ come back within 48 hours. The results are either emailed or sent to the requesting agency listed on the Request for Live Scan Service form.

5. It’s been more than 15 days since I did my Live Scan and I still have not received my response? You can use this FORM to request DOJ to conduct research.

6. How may I check the status of my live scan fingerprints? If a requesting agency does not have results yet and digital Live Scan fingerprints were submitted, you can use the automated telephone system to check on your submission.  The phone number is (916) 227-4557.  You will need the following information: (1) your 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.

7. Who provides me with a request for live scan service form? If I don’t have a request form, can you provide one? The agency requesting the background check will provide you with the live scan forms necessary to complete the live scan. All Live Scan forms must be provided to you by the agency that wants you to get fingerprinted. These forms contain information that is unique to each agency and this information must be provided before arriving to have your prints taken.

8. What happens if my fingerprints are rejected? Sometimes, Fingerprints may be rejected for reasons beyond our control. The most common reasons are the applicant's fingerprints have characteristics that are difficult to capture in the live scan process. This would include items such as cuts, scars and calluses. If an applicant has fingerprints rejected on this basis, and they were originally scanned by our agency, we will re scan your fingerprints at no additional charge.

9. Can I request personal criminal history background check results for myself? In other words, I want to do a record review on my own to find out about myself, and obtain fingerprint clearance? Individuals have the right to request a copy of their own criminal history record from DOJ to review the information for accuracy and completeness. You may request a background clearance for yourself based on fingerprints, and other personal information. California Department of Justice only accepts Live Scan fingerprints for personal record review checks. As the state's central repository for criminal history records, the California Department of Justice provides an automated fingerprint submission service for conducting criminal background checks that may be required as a condition of employment, licensing, certification, child placement, or entry into the United States or another country. Criminal history background checks from the FBI may be conducted using ink-rolled fingerprints on paper cards (generally on FBI FD-258 cards).