A criminal record will reveal if a person has committed any criminal acts in the last few years. Arrests are also noted in criminal records. United States criminal records are used for a variety of purposes, such as for identification.

Criminal records, United States Criminal Records specifically, are compiled in the national, state and local levels of government in different databases. Criminal records United States criminal records – in local and state levels are typically shared among various law enforcement agencies and are publicly available. On the other hand, federal criminal records United States criminal records – are usually inaccessible to the public.

Criminal records, United States Criminal Records specifically, come from 2 sources: the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation.

Department of Justice Criminal Records United States Criminal Records
The Department of Justice, specifically the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), maintains several national databases of criminal records. United States criminal records can be found in the NCIC, NICS, IAFIS and CODIS.

The National Crime Information Center, or NCIC, is the main national database of criminal records. United States criminal records found in the NCIC contain information about arrest warrants, stolen properties, arrests, convictions and incarcerations. Aside from criminal acts and felonies, traffic offenses may also be included in NCIC criminal records. United States criminal records from the NCIC also take note of municipal offenses.

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, is another FBI database of criminal records. United States criminal records from the NICS contain information that may disqualify an individual from owning firearms. The NICS came to be as a mandate of the Brady Bill, which requires potential firearms buyers to undergo a criminal record check prior to the purchase.