Cleaning up your rap sheet

What is a RAP sheet?

A RAP sheet (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) is your criminal record. It shows:

• When you were arrested
• What you were charged with
• If you were found guilty
• What your sentence was
• If your case was dismissed

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) keeps these records.

Important: Your RAP sheet is private. No one can get it without your fingerprints. But people can still learn about your criminal history by:

• Doing a court records search
• Paying a fee

Note: Sealed records (cases that are closed to the public) and marijuana cases that were expunged (erased) won't show up in court searches.

How to get your RAP sheet

It's important to check your RAP sheet to make sure everything on it is correct. Mistakes happen often!

Here's how to get yours:

1. Go to the DCJS website
2. Look for "Requesting Your Criminal History"
3. Follow the steps for people who live in or outside New York
4. Make an appointment to get your fingerprints taken
5. Pay a fee (or ask for a fee waiver if you can't afford it)

You can ask for two types of RAP sheets:

• Unsuppressed: Shows everything, including sealed cases
• Suppressed: Doesn't show sealed cases

Important: If you're dealing with immigration issues, talk to a lawyer before asking for your RAP sheet.

If you get a "no record" response, it means you don't have a criminal record in New York State. (You could still have one in other states.)

Common mistakes on RAP sheets

Many RAP sheets have mistakes. Common problems include:

1. Wrong information about arrests or charges
2. Wrong personal information (like birth date)
3. Missing case results
4. Old warrants that were fixed but still show as open
5. Cases that should be sealed but aren't

How to fix mistakes on your RAP sheet

Different mistakes need different fixes. Here's what to do:

For wrong arrest information:

1. Contact the police department that arrested you
2. Ask them to send the correct information to DCJS in writing

For wrong case results:

1. Go to the court that handled your case
2. Ask for a certified copy of the disposition (case result)
3. Send it to DCJS
   • Note: The copy must have the court's raised seal

For cases that should be sealed:

1. Go to the court that handled your case
2. Ask for a certified sealing order
3. Send it to DCJS
   • Note: The copy must have the court's raised seal

The Clean Slate Act

Starting November 16, 2024, New York has a new law called the Clean Slate Act. This law means that by November 16, 2027, New York courts must automatically seal eligible criminal records. This means they'll be hidden from most background checks.

You might be eligible if:

• You're not on parole or probation
• You don't have any pending cases
• Your conviction wasn't for a serious crime like murder or a sex offense

The law means that most misdemeanors and felonies can be sealed after a certain time. You can ask for a review if you think your records should have been sealed but weren't.

Note: Most Class A felonies (except some drug offenses) won't be sealed. These include serious crimes like murder and sex offenses.