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Your Guide to Federal Criminal Records

Verified Credentials Apr 6, 2026 9:00:00 AM

National Federal Criminal Search Criminal Record Searches

Learn all about federal criminal record searches. Explore the intricacies of U.S. federal court records.

What is a federal criminal record search?

Federal criminal background checks are extensive searches for high-level crimes through one or all federal district courts. These records highlight violations of federal law like white-collar crimes and other serious offenses.

Key Takeaways

Federal criminal record searches find federal offenses, including those labeled as “white collar,” nonviolent crimes of deception, concealment, or breach of trust.
Offenses in this category are wide-ranging, from financial crimes to terrorism charges.
Regulated industries, such as healthcare and government, are often required to screen employees, volunteers, and more for a history of federal records.

What’s included in a federal criminal background check?

Federal criminal records include white-collar crimes and other major offenses. The chart below provides examples of federal offenses that appear on final background check reports:

Fraud
Embezzlement
Tax evasion
Robbery
Kidnapping
The illegal sale of firearms
Pornographic exploitation of children
Intrastate crimes

Drug trafficking
Distribution of drugs
Cyber crimes
Immigration infractions
Bribery of elected officials or government personnel
Terrorism
Espionage

Crimes of this caliber cannot be found with county or statewide searches due to their federal nature.

Where is federal criminal history data sourced from?

Federal criminal history data is sourced from 94 district courts across the nation. Each court belongs to one of 12 regional circuits that review cases within that jurisdiction.

Limitations of a federal criminal history search

Federal law requires redaction of certain personal identifier information (PII) from public filings, which can make these searches more challenging to perform and validate. The specific information redacted in criminal filings include:

Social Security numbers
Names of minor children
Financial account numbers
Dates of birth
Home address

Which industries require federal background checks?

Industries that require federal background checks are often those where staff regularly interface with the public, manage vulnerable populations, or handle sensitive or secure data. A few examples of industries with requirements include governmental agencies, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and educational institutions.