A CR number is the identifier a court assigns to a criminal case when a prosecutor formally files charges, with “CR” standing for “criminal.” So if you’re wondering what is a CR number, you’re looking at a reference to a specific criminal prosecution that has officially entered the court system. The prefix distinguishes criminal matters from civil cases (usually “CV”), family cases (often “FA”), and other proceedings, and it’s used in both federal and state courts.1United States District Court, District of New Jersey. What Is the Significance of the Number and Letters in My Case Number?
When the Number Is Actually Created
A CR number comes into existence at one specific moment: when a prosecutor files charges and the clerk of court assigns a case number. It isn’t generated during the police investigation or at the time of arrest. Once assigned, it stays attached to the case through every hearing, motion, plea, and judgment until the matter closes.
This distinction matters because a police report number is a completely separate identifier. When officers respond to an incident, they generate a report with its own incident number inside the department’s internal records system. That number does not mean charges have been filed, and it has no connection to any court case. Many investigations never produce charges at all, so plenty of police report numbers will never have a matching CR number.
If you have a police report number but can’t find a corresponding CR number, it usually means the case was never formally charged or the prosecutor declined to pursue it. The local court’s online docket or the prosecutor’s office can confirm which.
Some jurisdictions tweak the prefix slightly, using something like “CR-F” for felonies or “CR-M” for misdemeanors, but the core meaning holds everywhere.
How to Read a CR Number
The string isn’t random. Each segment carries specific information. In federal courts, a case number typically includes five components: a code for the court division or location where the case was filed, the year the case was filed, the case-type prefix (“cr” for criminal), a sequential number reflecting the order in which cases were filed, and the initials of the assigned judge.1United States District Court, District of New Jersey. What Is the Significance of the Number and Letters in My Case Number?
Take a number like 2:24-cr-00156-JWB. It tells you the case was filed in a specific division, in 2024, as a criminal matter, was the 156th criminal case filed that year in that division, and was assigned to a particular judge. A lot of information in a short string.
State courts follow their own formatting conventions, but most include at least the year, a case-type prefix, and a sequential number. Some also incorporate a county or location code. The formatting differences are cosmetic. The function is the same: give each case a unique, traceable identifier.
Where You’ll See a CR Number
Court paperwork is the most obvious place. Every motion, order, subpoena, indictment, plea agreement, and judgment tied to a criminal case carries its CR number, usually printed near the top of the first page. If you’ve received any court document related to a criminal matter, the CR number is your primary reference for tracking it.
Online court dockets display CR numbers as the main organizing tool, and public access terminals at courthouses offer the same search capability in person.
Background check reports are where many people first encounter a CR number without expecting it. Employment screening companies pull criminal record data from court systems, and the CR number from the underlying case often appears on the report. If one shows up on your background check, it points to a specific criminal case in a specific court, and you can independently verify the details.
How to Look Up a Case by CR Number
The right lookup method depends on whether the case is federal or state, which is usually clear from the document or the format of the number.
Federal Cases
The Public Access to Court Electronic Records system, known as PACER, is the central portal for federal court records. You can search by case number, party name, or other criteria. PACER charges $0.10 per page with a cap of $3.00 per document. If your account accumulates less than $30 in total charges during a quarterly billing cycle, the fees are waived entirely.2United States Courts. Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule For someone running a single search on a specific CR number, there’s a good chance you’ll pay nothing.
State and Local Cases
Most state court systems now operate their own online portals where you can search by CR number, defendant name, or date range. Many are free. The depth of available information varies: some states provide complete docket histories with downloadable documents, others show only basic case status.
If the online system doesn’t have what you need, clerk of court offices maintain records that can be searched in person. Staff at the clerk’s window can pull case files, and many courthouses also have self-service public access terminals. Printed copies usually carry a per-page fee that varies by jurisdiction.
Sealed and Restricted Records
Not every record tied to a CR number is publicly accessible. Courts can seal portions of a case, or an entire case, to protect ongoing investigations, the privacy of victims or minors, or other sensitive information. In federal courts, sealed documents cannot be accessed or downloaded through the electronic filing system at all.3United States District Court. Requesting a Sealed Document To obtain one, you generally must be a party to the case or get a court order authorizing access. The clerk’s office will verify your identity and your right to the materials before releasing anything.
What to Do If a CR Number on Your Background Check Isn’t Yours
Mismatches on background checks happen regularly, and they cause real problems. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, screening companies must follow reasonable procedures to ensure the maximum possible accuracy of the information they report.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S. Code 1681e – Compliance Procedures The FTC has identified situations where background reports list criminal convictions belonging to someone other than the applicant, such as a person with a different middle name or date of birth, as evidence that the screening company is failing to meet its legal obligations.5Federal Trade Commission. What Employment Background Screening Companies Need to Know About the Fair Credit Reporting Act Common names make the problem worse. Name-only matching for someone like “Michael Johnson,” without verifying date of birth or other identifiers, routinely attributes the wrong case to the wrong person.
If a background check contains a criminal record that isn’t yours, or reflects a case that was resolved in your favor but still shows up as a conviction, you have the right to dispute it directly with the reporting company. Federal law requires the company to investigate at no cost to you and resolve the dispute within 30 days. Information that turns out to be inaccurate or unverifiable must be corrected or removed.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 U.S. Code 1681i – Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy Having the CR number from the disputed record makes the process dramatically faster, because you can point the company to the exact case in the exact court rather than forcing them to search by name.
What Happens to a CR Number After Expungement or Sealing
A CR number doesn’t necessarily follow you forever. Two different legal processes can affect whether the public can find it.
Expungement is the more complete remedy. When a court grants an expungement, the criminal record is effectively destroyed. Court files, arrest records, and associated documentation are removed from public databases. In many jurisdictions, the case will no longer appear in any search. A person whose record has been expunged is generally not required to disclose the case on job applications or in similar settings.
Sealing, sometimes called an order of nondisclosure, takes a lighter approach. A sealed record is hidden from public view, so it won’t appear in standard background checks or public court database searches. Law enforcement agencies, certain licensing boards, and specific government entities retain access. The case still exists in the system; it’s just invisible to most people looking for it.
The rules governing who qualifies, which offenses are eligible, and how long you must wait before applying vary significantly across jurisdictions. Both processes require filing a petition with the court that handled the original case, using the same CR number assigned when charges were first filed. If you believe you qualify, an attorney or your local legal aid organization can tell you what your jurisdiction allows.