A police record, also known as a criminal record, is a document that contains a person's history of criminal offenses and arrests. There are several synonyms for this term, including rap sheet, criminal history, criminal background check, and police file. These terms are often used interchangeably and refer to the same set of documents. The information contained in a police record is used by law enforcement and potential employers to determine a person's eligibility for certain jobs or programs. It is important to keep your police record clean and free of any criminal activity, as it can have long-term consequences on your future opportunities.