Your FBI Identity History Summary is a controlled federal record and is not publicly accessible. Access is limited to you through the self-request process, along with authorized law enforcement agencies, government bodies, and courts for legally permitted purposes. Foreign governments and private employers do not have direct access to this database and rely only on the copy you choose to provide. Under the Privacy Act of 1974, you have the right to access your record, request corrections, and expect your information to be handled in accordance with federal privacy protections.

If your Identity History Summary contains errors such as records that do not belong to you, missing disposition information, or incorrect details, you can initiate a formal challenge through the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. This involves submitting a written request along with supporting documentation, such as court records, dismissal orders, or expungement paperwork. In many cases, the FBI will require verification from the original reporting agency, so you may also need to contact the state or local authority that submitted the record. Processing times can vary and may take several weeks or longer depending on the complexity of the correction.

A state-level expungement or sealing order does not automatically remove the record from federal databases. Because the FBI relies on data submitted by state and local agencies, updates are made after the originating agency reports the change. Submitting your documentation to the relevant state authority and, where appropriate, to the FBI- can help initiate this process, but timelines and outcomes vary by jurisdiction. In more complex cases, seeking legal guidance may be advisable.