LiveScan FAQ

Questions/ Answers:

Why LiveScan?
Live Scan systems provide a means for individuals to produce consistent, high quality fingerprint images, thereby reducing rejection rates and saving time and money in processing and other related administrative costs. LiveScan captures your fingerprints directly into an inkless, digital format. The antiquated method of the traditional ink and paper is now a thing of the past. The LiveScan technology replaces the process of recording an individual's fingerprint patterns through a rolling process using ink. Rolled ink fingerprints would become smudged through handling and mailing, causing prints to become illegible. This slowed the process of criminal background clearances to a period of WEEKS and MONTHS. The LiveScan process gets results to the employer or licensing agency within days.

Why must I be fingerprinted again if I've already been fingerprinted in the past? 
(1)  Per DOJ policy, sharing of criminal history is not permitted.
(2)  For identification purposes.
(3)  Each job/license/permit application can require a different level of service, i.e., some require DOJ, some require both DOJ and FBI, in addition to other checks.

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), including responses that no criminal record exists, are confidential. Sections 11142 and 11143 of the Penal Code provide for criminal penalties for the release of this information to unauthorized individuals.

Article I, Section 1 of the California Constitution grants California citizens an absolute right to privacy. Individuals or agencies violating these privacy rights place themselves at both criminal and civil liability. The California right of privacy was created to curb, among other things, the over broad collection and retention of personal information by government agencies, the improper use of information properly obtained for a proper purpose, and the lack of a reasonable check on the accuracy of existing records. (White v. Davis (1975) 13 Cal.3d 757, 775.)

CORI shall be accessible only to the records custodian and/or hiring authority charged with determining the suitability for employment or licensing of an applicant. The information received shall be used by the requesting agency solely for the purpose for which it was requested and shall not be reproduced for secondary dissemination to any other employing or licensing agency.

The retention and sharing of information between employing and licensing agencies are strictly prohibited. The retention and sharing of information infringe upon the right of privacy and fails to meet the compelling state interest defined in Loder v. Municipal Court (1976) 17 Cal.3d 859. In addition, maintenance of redundant information separate from the information maintained by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) avoids the updates and makes it impossible for DOJ to control dissemination of CORI as outlined in section 11105 of the Penal Code.

How do I know the status of my prints?
Checking on Status of Fingerprint Submission. Please allow a minimum of seven days from the date fingerprint impressions were taken before making a status inquiry. If you need to check the status of your fingerprints, below are the steps to follow:

You can check the status of your fingerprint submission by calling the DOJ's 24-hour Automated Telephone service at (916) 227-4557. You will need the following information before placing the call:

Your date of birth (i.e. 01/01/1975); and, The 10-digit Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that appears at the bottom of the DOJ form requesting LiveScan fingerprint background checks. The ATI number always appears in the following sequence: 1 LETTER; 3 NUMBERS; 3 LETTERS and 3 NUMBERS. This number will allow the DOJ's automated telephone service to check on the status of your fingerprints. The DOJ or FBI may need to manually process the fingerprint impressions. This process may delay the reporting of results.

When your fingerprint impressions are processed, the DOJ's recording will state the following, "The California level of services and/or FBI level of services were completed on [date]." The level of service is the request for a background check to be completed by both the DOJ and the FBI. If the search has been completed your agency should already have your results. Please contact the agency directly for the results of the background check. However, if the recording states that the fingerprint results are still in process, please continue to contact the DOJ's 24-hour Automated Telephone service at (916) 227-4557.

How long does it take to get the results back from DOJ and/or FBI?
In most cases, the results from DOJ come back within 72 hours. Please note, due to various reasons, results can be delayed. For any significant delay, DOJ will contact the requesting agency. The results are either emailed or sent to the requesting agency listed on the

Request for Live Scan Service form. If the requesting agency has not received the results you may contact the Applicant Processing Program at (916) 227-3823. This department is the only one who can check to see if your record was dropped or not completely processes. Coastal Live Scan Services cannot resubmit a record without written permission from the DOJ. This process may take up to 30 days.


Where can I get a request for Live Scan form?
The requesting agency (agency that is requesting the background check) will provide the live scan forms.


How do I know what "Level of Service" I need?
The level of service is to be predetermined by the agency that wants you printed. If you are unsure of the level of service needed or the boxes have not been checked off, then you must contact the agency that wants you printed for them to fill it out for you.

If my fingerprints have been rejected because they are difficult to read, how many times must I re-submit by prints?
You are only required to have your fingerprints done two times. If after two unsuccessful attempts to capture your prints, your suitability will be determined by the Department of Justice by using an alternate method of verification.

Why do fingerprints get rejected? If my prints are rejected would I be required to pay additional fees?
Fingerprints will and can be rejected for several reasons. The most common are characteristics with the Applicant's fingerprints that makes them difficult to capture. This would include wear of the surface skin, cuts, cracks, scars, calluses and other skin conditions. If an Applicant's fingerprints are rejected on this basis, the originating LiveScan agency should re-take the Applicant's fingerprints at no additional cost.

An Applicant's application for LiveScan service may also be rejected if the Applicant's BCII 8016 form is incomplete or improperly filled out. In this instance, a fee would be charged to the Applicant to provide them with repeated LiveScan service. It is important that the Application for Live Scan form BCII 8016 is complete and accurate when presented to the Live Scan technician for service.


Rarely there will be an instance where an Applicant's fingerprints are rejected because of error on the part of the Live Scan technician. If this is the basis of the rejection the originating LiveScan agency must re-take the Applicant's fingerprints at no additional cost.


If I received a letter that my prints have been rejected, what do I do?
Bring your letter of rejection from the agency that sent it. This letter contains your original ATI (Applicant Transmission Identifier) number which is necessary for resubmission.

Have A Question About Livescan Fingerprinting?

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