Agency Links

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Criminal History Background Checks

On January 1, 1991, the Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) became law in Illinois. This act mandates that all criminal history record conviction information collected and maintained by the Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification, be made available to the public pursuant to 20 ILCS 2635/1 et seq. This law permits only conviction information to be disseminated to the public.

Do you want to do a name based criminal history background check?

Name based inquiries are available through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP)

Registration and Troubleshooting Guides
CHIRP web portal
Available payment methods: Credit card or eCheck

Do you want to do a fingerprint based criminal history background check?

In State

All fingerprint transactions must be submitted to ISP electronically through a licensed live scan fingerprint vendor. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Licensed Live Scan Fingerprint Vendor List
If your fingerprint based criminal history background check is required for licensing or other statutorily requirements for employment, please work with the agency to obtain the correct information prior to going to the live scan vendor.

Out of State

All fingerprint transactions must be submitted to ISP electronically through a licensed live scan fingerprint vendor. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Licensed Live Scan Fingerprint Vendor List - select those vendors marked to submit via card scan
If your fingerprint based criminal history background check is required for licensing or other statutorily requirements for employment, please work with the agency to obtain the correct information prior to going to the live scan vendor.
Out of State Request (Uniform Conviction Information Act only)

Do you receive encrypted emails from the Illinois State Police?

All criminal history responses sent from the Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification across the internet in the form of e-mail are federally mandated to be encrypted and users to be authenticated. In compliance with this mandate, ISP will send out e-mail attachments that have been encrypted to the industry standard protocol. Entrust Security Provider software is required to decrypt responses. The program and instructions are available for download below.