How to Accurately Translate Criminal Records for Use Abroad

When moving abroad or dealing with international legal matters, it’s common for foreign authorities to request official documentation, such as criminal records, from your home country. However, criminal records must often be translated and certified before they are accepted by the foreign government. Here’s a detailed guide on how to request your criminal record, the translation process, and how to ensure that it’s notarized and certified for international use.

Step 1: Requesting Your Criminal Record

The first step is obtaining a certified copy of your criminal record, which varies by country and, in the U.S., by state. Here’s a general overview:

Determine the Type of Record Needed: Depending on the requirements of the foreign authority, you may need either a local criminal record, a state-level record, or a federal record.

Local Record: Obtainable from local police departments.
State Record: Available through state law enforcement or state criminal records offices.
Federal Record: Issued by the FBI (using the Identity History Summary).

How to Request a Criminal Record:

Local Level: Contact your local police department.
State Level: Visit the state police or department of criminal justice websites for forms and instructions. In some cases, you may need to submit fingerprints.
Federal Level: You can request an FBI Identity History Summary Check (also known as a “rap sheet”).

Fees and Turnaround Time:

Local and state fees vary from $10 to $50 depending on the state or local office.
FBI reports generally cost $18 and take around 3 to 5 business days if requested online or by mail.
Turnaround time for local/state records can range from a few days to several weeks, depending on the jurisdiction.

Step 2: Fees and Turnaround Times for Each U.S. State

Here’s a list of U.S. state offices where you can request criminal records, along with the associated fees and average turnaround times:

State	Criminal Record Request Office	Fee	Turnaround Time	Accepted Payment Methods
Alabama	Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)	$25	5–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Alaska	Department of Public Safety	$20	10–15 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Check, Money Order
Arizona	Department of Public Safety	$20	14–20 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Arkansas	State Police	$25	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Cash (in-person), Money Order
California	Department of Justice (DOJ)	$25	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Colorado	Colorado Bureau of Investigation	$5–$6.85	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card (online only)
Connecticut	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection	$50	7–14 business days	Check, Money Order
Delaware	State Bureau of Identification	$52	7–14 business days	Money Order, Certified Check
Florida	Florida Department of Law Enforcement	$24	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Georgia	Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC)	$15–$25	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Hawaii	Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center	$25	5–7 business days	Money Order, Certified Check
Idaho	Bureau of Criminal Identification	$20	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Check, Money Order
Illinois	State Police	$16	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Check, Money Order
Indiana	Indiana State Police	$7–$15	10–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Iowa	Department of Public Safety	$15	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Check
Kansas	Kansas Bureau of Investigation	$35	5–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Kentucky	Kentucky State Police	$20	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Louisiana	State Police	$26	7–14 business days	Money Order, Certified Check
Maine	Department of Public Safety	$31	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Check, Money Order
Maryland	Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services	$18	7–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Check, Money Order
Massachusetts	Department of Criminal Justice Information Services	$25	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order
Michigan	Department of State Police	$10	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Check
Minnesota	Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)	$8	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order
Mississippi	Criminal Information Center (CIC)	$32	10–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Check
Missouri	State Highway Patrol	$14	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Montana	Department of Justice	$20	10–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Check
Nebraska	Nebraska State Patrol	$12.50	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Nevada	Department of Public Safety	$27	10–15 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
New Hampshire	State Police	$25	7–14 business days	Money Order, Certified Check
New Jersey	State Police	$44	7–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Check
New Mexico	Department of Public Safety	$15	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Check, Money Order
New York	Division of Criminal Justice Services	$65	10–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
North Carolina	State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)	$14	7–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
North Dakota	Bureau of Criminal Investigation	$15	5–7 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Check, Money Order
Ohio	Bureau of Criminal Investigation	$22	7–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order
Oklahoma	Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation	$15–$19	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Oregon	Oregon State Police	$33	5–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order
Pennsylvania	State Police	$22	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order
Rhode Island	Bureau of Criminal Identification	$5	7–14 business days	Cash (in person), Money Order
South Carolina	State Law Enforcement Division (SLED)	$25	7–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
South Dakota	Division of Criminal Investigation	$26.75	7–10 business days	Money Order, Certified Check
Tennessee	Tennessee Bureau of Investigation	$29	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Texas	Department of Public Safety	$25	10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order
Utah	Bureau of Criminal Identification	$15	5–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Vermont	Criminal Information Center	$30	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Virginia	State Police	$15	10–15 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Washington	Washington State Patrol	$32	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
West Virginia	State Police	$20	7–14 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Certified Check
Wisconsin	Department of Justice	$18	7–10 business days	Credit/Debit Card, Money Order, Check
Wyoming	Division of Criminal Investigation	$15	10–14 business days	Money Order, Certified Check

Note: Fees and turnaround times vary depending on the request method (online, in-person, or by mail).

Step 3: Translating and Certifying the Criminal Record

Once you have your criminal record, the next step is getting it translated and certified for use abroad. Many foreign governments will require the translation to be both certified and notarized to be legally recognized.

Certified Translation Process

Hire a Certified Translator: Ensure that the translator is certified by a professional organization (e.g., ATA – American Translators Association). The translator should have experience translating legal documents and be familiar with the specific requirements of the destination country.

Some countries may require a sworn translator, who is authorized by the courts or the government to translate legal documents.

Prepare the Documents: The criminal record should be submitted to the translator along with any special instructions (such as formatting requirements). The translation should be an exact match of the original content, including signatures, stamps, and official seals.
Certification of Translation: After the translation is completed, the translator will issue a certificate stating that the translation is accurate and complete. This certification must include:

The translator’s signature
The translator’s qualifications
A declaration of accuracy

Step 4: Notarization and Apostille for International Acceptance

Many countries require more than just a certified translation; they often need the document to be notarized or apostilled for legal recognition abroad.

Notarization Process

Notarization of the Translation: Once the translation is certified, it may need to be notarized. This means taking the translated document to a notary public, who will verify the translator’s identity and attest that the translation is legitimate.
Apostille: If the destination country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, you will likely need an apostille. This is a form of authentication issued by your state’s Secretary of State or the U.S. Department of State (for federal records). The apostille certifies the authenticity of the notary’s signature.

To obtain an apostille:

Submit the notarized document to the Secretary of State’s office in the state where the document was notarized.
Pay the required fee (varies by state, typically $5–$20).
Wait for processing, which can take a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the state.

Step 5: Submitting the Documents Abroad

Once you have your criminal record, the certified translation, and the notarization or apostille, the final step is submitting the documents to the foreign government or institution. Be sure to check the specific requirements of the destination country regarding how documents must be submitted (in person, by mail, or electronically).

Conclusion

Ensuring that your criminal record is properly translated and certified is critical for its acceptance abroad. By following the steps outlined above, you can make the process smoother and avoid delays. Be sure to confirm all requirements with the foreign authority or consulate before starting the process, as each country may have specific rules.