The types of errors found in official criminal history records are not
completely understood by many researchers, and this lack of understan
ding can lead to serious misinterpretations. Analyses of a recently de
veloped database of New Orleans offenders indicate that the use of rap
sheets with a limited catchment area can lead to gross distortions of
the effects of variables related to geographic mobility, such as race
and age. Evidence from a number of sources indicates that false-negat
ive error is a serious problem, particularly in fingerprint-based reco
rd systems. In addition, arrest records lend themselves to a variety o
f common misinterpretations by researchers in the coding process, incl
uding failing to identify multievent arrests, misclassifying arrests,
and treating arrest or custody process events as crimes indicating cri
minal activity of the individual while free. Solutions to some of thes
e problems are suggested.