Bahamas criminal records search

Available. Police certificates indicating whether the person has a police record are obtainable in person from the Superintendent, Criminal Record Office, Royal Bahamas Police in Nassau, upon presentation of the applicant's passport. This office issues police certificates for all islands of The Bahamas.

The Criminal Records Office (CRO) in New Providence is the only location where records are computerized.  Additionally, hand-written police certificates are issued at several satellite offices in New Providence and in a few of the family islands once the appropriate information is faxed to CRO for clearance.  Satellite stations include Cable Beach, Quakoo Street, and the Carmichael and Elizabeth Estates Police Stations.  Police certificates may also be obtained from police stations on Andros, Eleuthera, Long Island, Abaco, and Grand Bahama Islands.  In addition to the officer's signature, a wet seal bearing the issue date, the words "Royal Bahamas Police Force", and the name of the issuing office is placed on the certificate.  

Records are purged periodically by CRO (no stipulated time).  Records of deceased individuals are destroyed.  Expunged records are archived, as are records of any case where an appeal of a conviction is upheld (this only applies to cases where prior arrests or convictions exist).  Records or convictions overturned on appeal, where there are no prior arrests or convictions, are destroyed.  Law does not permit those records to be retained by CRO.

Identification numbers are assigned to individuals for all arrests.  An additional identification is assigned for all convictions.  These numbers are automatically assigned by computer once a new case is entered.  This is done chronologically each year.  Once a number has been assigned, it remains with the individual.  Records can therefore be retrieved by the identification number or the individual's name.      

A passport is required for Bahamians and non-Bahamians requesting a police certificate.  A police certificate may be issued to non-Bahamian residents regardless of the length of time residing in the Bahamas.  Former residents of the Bahamas (Bahamian/non-Bahamian) also may be issued police certificates.  A copy of the biographical data page(s) is required  if application is made outside of the Bahamas.  Former residents of the Bahamas and those not residing in Nassau may address an individual request for such certificates to Superintendent, CID, Criminal Records Office, Royal Bahamas Police, P.O. Box N-3020. Nassau. Request should include the full name, date and place of birth, nationality, and period resided in the Bahamas, and must be accompanied by fingerprint charts.