Frequently Asked Questions

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LiveScan is ink-less electronic fingerprinting. The fingerprints are electronically transmitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for completion of a criminal record check. 

The Live Scan technology replaces the process of recording an individual’s fingerprint patterns through a rolling process using ink. Digitizing the fingerprint minutiae (the characteristics that make fingerprints unique) enables the electronic transfer of the fingerprint image data in combination with personal descriptor information to central computers at the DOJ in a matter of seconds, instead of the days required to send hard copy fingerprint cards through the mail. 

Additionally the DOJ will coordinate other processing resulting from the automated submission of fingerprints, including forwarding the fingerprints to the FBI (if required).

 As a result of legislation passed in late 1997, the DOJ has developed an automated background check process that requires digitized fingerprints (“Live Scan”). Digitizing the fingerprints enables the electronic transfer of fingerprint image.  

A Live Scan can be rejected either for poor fingerprint quality or data entry errors.

Your employer or agency can find out what the reason was by emailing appagencyquestions@doj.ca.gov.

You or your agency may also receive a rejection letter from the DOJ that states the reason for rejection.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may reject fingerprints even if the images were acceptable by the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ).

If this happens, the applicant will need to be reprinted using the original ATI (Applicant Transaction Identifier). If rejected twice for poor quality, the applicant agency must request an FBI name check.

Consult your requesting agency for how to complete and submit the FBI Name Check Request.

You may go to any location to get a resubmission; however, you will still likely be responsible for paying a new rolling fee. Under most circumstances, the agency fees (DOJ and FBI) will not need to be paid again.

If your Live Scan was rejected for data errors, you should go to the original location to avoid paying the fees. You will need to submit a new transaction and the Live Scan provider should waive the fees if they entered your information incorrectly.