Criminal Record: Bulletins #1, #2 and #3
Verified 20 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The criminal record is a record of judicial and administrative decisions against a person. It is divided into 3 ballots. The B1 contains all criminal and administrative sanctions imposed on a person. The B2 contains only part of these decisions. The B3 contains the most serious convictions. The methods of consultation and delivery differ depending on the bulletin. We present you the information to know.
Convictions listed in bulletin n°1 of the criminal record
The B1 is the most complete bulletin. It contains all convictions, measures and sanctions which have been pronounced against a person, including when that person was a minor.
Bulletin 1 includes the following elements:
- Criminal convictions for crime, offense or ticket 5th class (e.g., prostitution)
- Convictions for the first 4 classes if the sentence results in prohibition, forfeiture or incapacity (e.g. suspension of the driving license for a period not exceeding 3 years)
- Administrative and disciplinary decisions that establish a prohibition (e.g. prohibition from working for a certain period of time)
- Judgments pronouncing the deprivation of parental authority or the withdrawal of all or part of the rights attached thereto
- Deportation orders, if you are a foreigner
- Penal compositions the performance of which has been established by the public prosecutor
- Lump-sum fines for misdemeanors and 5th class tickets, even if they were paid
- Convictions handed down by a foreign court, enforced in France, or notified to the French authorities. The entry appears on B1 only if France has signed an agreement with the country in which the conviction was handed down.
- Penalties or waivers of sentences pronounced after adjournment sentencing (e.g., fine, suspended sentence)
- Decisions of parole.
Issuance of Bulletin No. 1 of the Criminal Record
Only the judges, the public prosecutor and the prison administration may be issued a person's bulletin n°1.
The offender cannot obtain a copy of the B1 of his or her criminal record. However, he may consult him after having sent a request to the public prosecutor of his residence. The application must be accompanied by proof of identity (national identity card or passport).
Who shall I contact
Convictions listed in bulletin n°2 of the criminal record
As a matter of principle, Bulletin No. 2 includes all judicial convictions and administrative sanctions. However, some convictions are not included on this bulletin. These include the following sanctions:
- Judgments against minors, including those handed down by a foreign court
- Convictions for contraventions (e.g. a fine)
- Convictions with a dispensation from punishment or a adjournment of sentencing
- Decisions pronouncing the withdrawal of parental authority
- Conditional sentences considered as no avenues (unless a socio-judicial monitoring, a ban on working with minors or a sentence of ineligibility has been imposed for a longer period than the sentence)
- Deportation orders repealed
- Penal compositions the performance of which has been established by the public prosecutor.
Issuance of Criminal Record Bulletin No. 2
Bulletin No. 2 of the criminal record may be issued to administrative authorities (example: town halls and prefectures) and commercial courts. It may also be requested by business executives (public or private) who employ employees to carry out a cultural, educational or social activity with minors.
In order to obtain bulletin No. 2, the employer must necessarily go through an administrative authority corresponding to his sector of activity (for example, the departmental services of youth, commitment and sports). Bulletin No. 2 may be communicated to the employer only if it does not contain any mention.
The convicted person cannot request a copy of his or her bulletin No. 2. Nevertheless, it may consult it after having sent a application to the public prosecutor of his domicile. The application must be accompanied by proof of identity (national identity card or passport).
Who shall I contact
Convictions listed in Bulletin No. 3 of the Criminal Record
The bulletin n°3 is the one that contains the least mention of convictions. It comprises only the most serious convictions, namely:
- Sentences to deprivation of liberty (e.g. imprisonment) of more than 2 years, if not accompanied by a reprieve
- Sentences of less than two years' imprisonment, where they are not suspended and provided that the court has ordered the sentence to be entered on the form
- Sentences of disqualifications, prohibitions or incapacities which are not suspended (e.g. deprivation of parental authority, prohibition of professional activity)
- Measures of socio-judicial monitoring and penalties prohibiting the exercise of professional or voluntary activities involving habitual contact with minors. The entry of these two entries shall be deleted from the B3 at the end of the measure or prohibition.
Please note
Convictions and decisions against minors are not included in bulletin No. 3 of the criminal record.
Issuance of Bulletin No. 3 of the Criminal Record
Only there convicted person (or its legal representative) may apply for the B3 of the criminal record. This request can be done online or by mail.
FYI
The convicted person can forward the B3 of his criminal record to his employer, but the latter cannot keep this document. It can simply look at it and indicate in the personnel file that such an audit has been conducted.
Infographie - Criminal records bulletins B1, B2, B3: what are the differences?
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Bulletin n°1 or B1 | Bulletin n°2 or B2 | Bulletin 3 or B3 |
|---|---|---|
What does it contain? | What does it contain? | What does it contain? |
All your criminal convictions. | Some of your criminal convictions and administrative penalties. For example, if you're of age, you're sentenced to prison terms. | · Some of your criminal convictions, including the most serious ones (e.g. · Prohibitions on carrying out an activity in relation to minors. · Disenfranchisement (e.g. right to vote or stand for election). |
What is it used for? | What is it used for? | What is it used for? |
Inform the judiciary and the prison administration about your criminal situation. | Inform your employers (current and future) and public authorities of your convictions not present on the B3 bulletin. | Inform your employers (current and future) of your serious criminal convictions. |
Can you request the newsletter yourself? | Can you request the newsletter yourself? | Can you request the newsletter yourself? |
No. Only the judicial and prison authorities can request it. | No. Some employers may request it (those who employ employees to carry out cultural, educational, or social activities with minors), as may authorized public authorities (e.g. the prefect). | Yes. |
How to request or consult it? | How to request or consult it? | How to request or consult it? |
You can only request the oral disclosure of the contents of your criminal record. The request must be addressed to the public prosecutor of your home. | The request is made online on the website of the Ministry of Justice or by mail. | |
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For the consultation of bulletins n°1 and n°2 of the criminal record
Judicial TribunalFor the issue of the bulletin n°3 of the criminal record
National Criminal Records Service
Content, procedures for issuing and consulting the criminal record
Conviction of a minor listed in B1 and excluded from B2 and B3
Service-Public.fr