Disposition

Also called case outcome · final disposition

Definition

The recorded outcome of an arrest — for example a conviction, an acquittal, or a dismissal.

Context

An arrest entry with no disposition is a common and consequential gap: to a reader abroad, an arrest without a recorded outcome can look worse than the outcome actually was.

Government sources

Where this term comes from.

28 CFR 20.33 — Dissemination of criminal history record information
Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) · reviewed 2026-08-01

Related terms

Contributing agencyThe law enforcement or judicial agency that submitted a particular entry appearing on a criminal history record.
Record challengeThe procedure by which the subject of a record disputes the accuracy or completeness of information appearing on it.

Where this term is used

Reading Your Identity History SummaryWhat appears on the document, what a no-record result looks like, and how the process for challenging an inaccurate entry works under federal regulation.