Criminal Records
The mission of the Criminal Records Unit is to obtain, store, and disseminate Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) on all criminal arrests and dispositions of individuals charged with a criminal offense in New Hampshire. In support of that mission the Criminal Records Unit maintains the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), which receives and processes criminal and applicant fingerprint information for the Central Repository and the FBI criminal record database. CHRI is stored in the Unit’s Central Repository and is the only source for an individual’s complete criminal history for all of New Hampshire.
CHRI is received at the Criminal Records Unit by way of fingerprint impressions taken of arrestees and/or criminal complaints and dispositions from the circuit and superior courts. All criminal fingerprint impressions are sent to the FBI for inclusion to their CHRI database. New Hampshire CHRI has no expiration date and only is removed by way of a Petition to Annul granted by the court of jurisdiction, and all related fees are satisfied.
CHRI in the Central Repository is disseminated for either criminal justice or non-criminal justice purposes. Criminal justice is typically for law enforcement and judicial functions, and both conviction and non-conviction data is provided. For non-criminal justice purposes, such as employment, housing, licensing, etc., only conviction CHRI is provided.
Public criminal conviction history maintained in the central repository can be disseminated upon request to anyone for a fee. Confidential Criminal History Information, including non-conviction data, can be disseminated only to Law enforcement personnel, or a person requesting his or her own record. There are a few circumstances where either a New Hampshire, or both a New Hampshire and FBI CHRI are statutorily required. Examples would be for employment, professional licensing, and healthcare.
RSA 106-B:14, I-a (d) Criminal conviction records received from the division shall be the official source of certified criminal conviction history records for employment and licensing purposes.