A Livescan fingerprint technician rolls/scans an applicant’s fingerprints and submits them electronically to the State of Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) who then forwards this information to the FBI depending on the type of background check the person is doing. It takes approximately fifteen minutes for a certified fingerprint operator to type in applicant information (i.e. Name, birth date, gender, etc.) into the computer, scan applicant fingerprints, and electronically send the information to CJIS and FBI.
Next, CJIS and the FBI process the applicant’s criminal background check using the information provided by the applicant and his/her fingerprints. CJIS and FBI background checks can take 2-7 business days to be completed although in some rare cases, results may take longer or even shorter depending on how busy they are. Lastly, CJIS and the FBI will send applicant’s criminal history background checks directly to the requesting agency or employer. (For an individual/personal review, the information will be sent directly to the person fingerprinted.)