FBI Seeks Public Input on Personal Criminal History Record Requests

You might care about this because the Federal Bureau of Investigation, specifically its Criminal Justice Information Services Division, wants your thoughts on a form you can use to get your own criminal history record. This is not a new form. It is called the Identity History Summary Request Form, or Form I-783. The FBI is reviewing this form as required by law. The government collects a lot of information. Laws like the Paperwork Reduction Act make sure that collecting this information is necessary and not too burdensome for people. So, the FBI is asking the public for comments on this form. They want to know if it is useful and if their estimate of how long it takes to fill out is correct. They also want ideas on how to make it clearer and easier to use. About 74,438 people use this form each year. It takes each person about five minutes to complete. This review means the FBI is doing its part to make sure the process for requesting your own records is effective and fair. What is particularly interesting about this notice is that it highlights a fundamental right: your ability to access your own personal identification records held by the FBI. This is not just a courtesy. It is a requirement outlined in the U.S. Department of Justice Order 556-773. This order explains the rules for sharing arrest and conviction records with the people those records are about. It also clarifies that federal law, specifically 28 United States Code 534, does not stop individuals from getting a copy of their own records. This means the government acknowledges your right to see what information it has on you. The ongoing review of Form I-783 is a routine administrative step. However, it serves as a reminder that processes are in place for you to exercise this right. It also shows that government agencies need to regularly check if their methods for collecting information are still good and efficient. Individuals who need to verify their own criminal history records would find this document most relevant. This includes people applying for certain jobs, licenses, or volunteer positions that require background checks. It is also important for individuals who want to check the accuracy of their own FBI records for personal peace of mind. Legal professionals who assist clients with background checks, immigration matters, or expungement processes would also be very interested. Organizations that advocate for privacy and transparency in government record keeping would also pay close attention to such notices. Essentially, anyone who has a reason to obtain their own FBI identification history summary will care about the details of this request form and the process involved.