Removal of personal data from the FBI criminal database (NCIC)
Every person has the right to a clean reputation, especially if charges have been dropped, a conviction overturned, or a mistake made by the police. However, in the United States, even after a case is closed, information can remain in the FBI’s NCIC database, continuing to surface during employer background checks, visa applications, and border crossings. For many, this becomes an unpleasant surprise: cases have long been closed, but the system still identifies the individual as part of an investigation. Such records do not disappear on their own; their removal requires an official procedure of petitioning the FBI with evidence of legal grounds. Missing deadlines, incorrect documentation, or incomplete files can result in denial. This is why more and more people turn to lawyers who know how to secure the removal of data from NCIC, restore reputations, and free clients from the consequences of past mistakes.
Our team of lawyers assists clients in auditing the data entered into the NCIC database, preparing and filing an official petition for record removal, interacting with the FBI, courts, and law enforcement agencies, ensuring the protection of personal data and compliance with the client’s procedural rights. For foreign citizens and individuals residing outside the U.S., we provide full remote support and coordinate actions with licensed American attorneys. Do not let erroneous or outdated information in the FBI database limit your opportunities.
What is NCIC and why might your last name be in the FBI database?
NCIC (National Crime Information Center) is a centralized criminal database managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States. It was established in 1967 and is today considered one of the largest law enforcement information-sharing systems in the world. Unlike public registries, NCIC is a non-public database accessible exclusively to U.S. law enforcement and judicial personnel, as well as authorized international entities through Interpol channels.
The NCIC database is intended for internal use and is used by the police, prosecutors, courts, and border services to verify identities, arrests, and wanted statuses. It contains millions of records covering a wide range of categories: from serious crimes to administrative violations.
Getting into the NCIC database is possible even without a criminal record. Data entry occurs automatically in the following cases:
- Arrest: if a person was detained, even without charges being filed.
- Open orders: information about active arrest warrants issued by U.S. courts.
- International Interpol requests: in case of data matches or intersections with international search channels.
- Administrative errors: incorrect data entry, duplication of identity, inaccurate indication of name or date of birth.
- Automatic exchange between countries: when interacting with foreign law enforcement agencies within the framework of data exchange agreements (including with the EU, Canada, Australia, and a number of other states).
The main feature of NCIC is that information remains in the system until it is officially removed. Even if a criminal case is closed, charges are dropped, or an error occurred, the record may continue to exist, creating obstacles during border checks, obtaining visas, working with government agencies, and financial institutions.
How does a record in NCIC quietly ruin your life?
For most people, the NCIC database remains something abstract. However, the reality is that having a record in this database can subtly but profoundly affect your life. The problem lies in the fact that NCIC is a non-public registry, and a person often does not even know that their name appears there. While they live an ordinary life, the system transmits information to banks, consulates, employers, and government agencies.
One of the first alarming signals is unexplained problems with banks. After data verification through background check systems, financial institutions may refuse to open an account, block transactions, or close active accounts. The reason is not explained to the client, but in reality, this may be related to a “marker” in NCIC, which classifies the person as someone who has had contact with law enforcement. For banks, this is a signal of potential risk, even if no charges were ever filed.
Many people learn about the existence of a record only when attempting to travel to the USA or another country cooperating with the FBI. A visa may be denied without explanation, and entry can be prohibited directly at the border. U.S. immigration and border services have direct access to the NCIC database, and the presence of any information there, even about an old arrest without a conviction, can lead to an automatic refusal.
For entrepreneurs and investors, having a record in NCIC can lead to the blocking of transactions and contracts. Compliance officers, notaries, and banks, while conducting client checks, may suspend or cancel a transaction if the data matches a person registered in NCIC. At the same time, the counterparty will not learn the details but will simply receive a refusal with the wording “does not meet security requirements.”
The presence of data in NCIC can also affect professional reputation. Employers in the USA use federal systems for background checks. As a result, a person may be denied employment, lose a license, or be suspended from their position, especially if they work in the financial, educational, or medical sector. Sometimes this is accompanied by visa cancellation or denial of accreditation.
The main danger of NCIC is its hidden nature. A person may face refusals in banks, visas, or jobs for years without understanding that the reason lies in outdated or erroneous records entered into the database many years ago. Since the system is not public, it is impossible to independently verify the presence of data. For this, a legal request through an authorized representative is required.
On what legal grounds can a record be removed from NCIC?
1. Lack of a legal framework for data entry
The most common reason for deleting a record is the lack of sufficient legal grounds for its presence in the database. This happens if:
- The person was arrested, but charges were never filed;
- The arrest was subsequently declared unlawful by the court;
- The record was added before the completion of evidence verification or in violation of the procedure.
In such situations, entering information into the NCIC violates the requirements of the FBI’s internal regulations and federal standards for processing criminal information. A lawyer can submit an official request for removal, attaching a court decision, a prosecutor’s ruling, and other documents confirming the absence of a legal basis for registering the data.
2. Outdated or irrelevant information
Another legitimate basis is the presence of an outdated record that has lost its relevance. Data often remains in NCIC:
- On closed cases where the verdict was overturned or reviewed;
- On canceled arrest warrants;
- On cases where the statute of limitations has expired.
By law, law enforcement agencies are required to update or delete outdated data, but in practice, this does not always happen.
In such cases, the lawyer submits a motion to the FBI or the court with attached documents confirming the closure of the case. For example, a court decision, a letter from the prosecutor’s office, or a certificate of no charges.
3. Factual and clerical errors (Mistaken Identity)
Errors in the NCIC database occur more often than commonly thought. The reasons can be the simplest:
- Names, dates of birth, or identification numbers are mixed up;
- Data matching with another person;
- Duplication of a record after relocation or passport change.
As a result, a person who has never had any problems with the law may be listed in the database as a wanted individual in the USA. In such cases, the basis for removing the record is proof of mistaken identification. A lawyer collects supporting documents (passport, certificates, statements from local law enforcement agencies) and submits a Correction Request to the FBI or the relevant state department.
4. Violation of U.S. federal laws on the protection of individual rights
Entries made in NCIC in violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 or the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are also subject to removal.
These laws guarantee every person the right to:
- Access to information stored about him in state databases;
- Correction or deletion of inaccurate, incomplete, or unlawfully collected data;
- Filing a complaint about violations in the handling of personal data.
If an entry in the NCIC was obtained without legal grounds, without notifying the individual, or violates their right to privacy, a lawyer can file an official request based on the Privacy Act, demanding the deletion or editing of the data.
How we delete data from NCIC: step-by-step process
Step 1. Audit and identification of the record
The first stage is determining what specific information is contained in the database and on what basis it was entered.
Through official requests under the FOIA and Privacy Act, we find out:
- Which agency (FBI, state police, local department) added the record;
- Under what circumstances and based on which document did it appear;
- Is the information retained in active status or outdated?
This step allows determining whether the record is legal and what specific grounds can be used for its removal.
Step 2. Submission of an administrative request
After confirming the grounds, we prepare a formal request for data removal or correction (Record Correction Request).
He is directed to the appropriate US authority: FBI, state department of justice, prosecutor’s office, or local police, depending on who owns the record. In the statement, we indicate the legal basis and attach all supporting documents. This step is mandatory before going to court and often leads to successful data removal without litigation.
Step 3. Pre-trial demand
If the agency denies the request or does not respond, we send a Notice of Intent to Sue. It outlines the violations committed, references federal laws, and includes a demand to remove the information within the specified timeframe. Such a claim often motivates authorities to fulfill their obligations voluntarily, avoiding judicial intervention.
Step 4. Federal lawsuit (if necessary)
In exceptional cases, when all administrative mechanisms have been exhausted, we initiate legal proceedings in a U.S. federal court. A lawsuit is filed against the relevant agency with a demand to compel it to remove or correct data in the NCIC database. Our American partners represent the client’s interests in court, while the international team coordinates the process and ensures the submission of all necessary evidence.
We are your representative in the complex system of the USA
You do not need to look for a lawyer in the USA or try to figure out the intricacies of federal law on your own. We take care of this entire process: from the first request to the final decision.
Our team acts as a single coordinator between you and the American legal system. We take on the preparation and submission of all documents to the necessary U.S. authorities, legal support and correspondence with American government agencies, control of deadlines and statuses for each request. You receive full representation without leaving your country of residence.
We have a deep understanding of how access and personal data protection laws work in the USA. Our specialists know how to correctly formulate a request, which documents need to be attached, and in what format they are accepted by federal agencies. This allows us to speed up the process and avoid typical mistakes that cause most applications to be rejected or left unanswered.
In complex cases requiring official court involvement or appeals to federal agencies, we engage trusted American attorneys. These are lawyers with the right to practice in the relevant jurisdictions and access to internal administrative procedures. We coordinate their work, ensure full compliance of documentation with court requirements, and protect your interests at all stages of the case. Such a partnership guarantees maximum efficiency and transparency of the process. At the same time, you do not need to independently search for or hire lawyers abroad.
Do you suspect that your data is in NCIC? Protect your reputation
If you suddenly face a denial of a U.S. visa, a blocked bank account, or unclear restrictions during a security check, the reason might lie in a record in the FBI NCIC database. This system integrates data from law enforcement agencies across all U.S. states and Interpol. Even one erroneous record can negatively affect your life and business reputation.
We will help check if your data is in NCIC, determine the legal grounds for its removal, and initiate the record-clearing process through official FBI channels and U.S. judicial authorities.
All interaction is conducted strictly confidentially, with the participation of our American partner lawyers. Do not delay protecting your reputation. Contact us right now to start the review and regain control over your personal data.
