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Why You Should Run a Background Check on Your Contractor

Millions of Americans hire contractors every year. You trust a contractor in your home – but do you really know everything you need to know about your contractor?

A growing number of Americans are running background checks on contractors. Whether it’s a small renovation or a large project, your home is safer when you know your contractor.

You’re trusting a contractor – and the contractor’s employees – with access to your home or business. In many cases, the contractor has unrestricted access to your home while you may or may not be present.

Most contractors are good, hardworking people. Every year, however, thousands of Americans are victimized by malicious contractors.

A background check can verify a contractor’s personal, professional, and criminal history. You might assume a contractor is the person they claim to be – but until you run a background check, your contractor could be anyone.

Today, we’re explaining some of the most important reasons to run a background check on your contractor.

Criminal Background Checks

A criminal background check tells you if a person has been convicted of any crimes. Arrest records, criminal convictions, and major crimes or felonies can all appear on a criminal background check.

Your contractor has intimate access to your home. A background check can alert you to any violent crimes, sex crimes, or break-ins. It can also alert you to fraud or embezzlement convictions.

Employment Background Checks

Employment background checks can verify an individual’s work history, education, credit score, driving record, criminal record, medical history, and drug usage. Increasingly, professional employment background check organizations now add social media checks as well.

An employment background check can verify your contractor is qualified to work on your property. A contractor might claim to have 20+ years of experience, for example, when they really only have 2-3 years of experience.

Professional License Checks

Education verification checks or professional license checks can verify an individual has a valid license for the work they’re applying for. Some industries require a professional license check before employing anyone.

A professional license check verifies the individual has the experience, knowledge, and credentials to perform their job. A professional license check helps you avoid hiring an unlicensed or unqualified contractor.

Professional license checks are particularly important for contractors: if your contractor is unlicensed, then you become the general contractor for the job. If a worker gets hurt or breaks a sewage line, then you are responsible. Plus, unlicensed contractors typically do not have insurance. All of these factors can significantly increase your liability.

Fingerprint Check

Fingerprint background checks are required in certain professions. Many people who work in schools, airports, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, or fire departments require a fingerprint check. Certain professionals – including realtors, financial professionals, pharmacists, and even casino dealers – may also require fingerprint checks prior to employment.

A fingerprint check works by running an individual’s fingerprints through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). Fingerprints are nearly impossible to fake, which means you get the most accurate image of a person’s criminal history.

Benefits of Running a Background Check on Your Contractor

Some people hire contractors for home renovation projects. Or, a business may hire a contractor for a short-term gig.

No matter why you’re hiring a contractor, you can enjoy certain benefits, including:

Ensure the Job Gets Done Right

A low-quality contractor can ruin your home. One mistake – like a broken sewer pipe – can cause enormous damages throughout your home. You might save a few hundred dollars by hiring a cheaper contractor – only to cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home.

Avoid Insurance Fraud

Some malicious contractors will approach vulnerable homeowners and take advantage of their home insurance policy. A contractor may approach a home after a hurricane, for example, and offer to manage the entire claim from beginning to end. The contractor performs a low-quality job on the property, then sends a costly bill to your insurer. This is insurance fraud, and it could cause your entire claim to be denied.

Maintain a Safe Work Environment

If someone is injured in your home, then you may be liable – especially if the contractor you hired was unlicensed and uninsured. Similarly, workplaces that hire contractors without a background check could expose employees to theft, property damage, workplace violence, and more.

Protect Brand Reputation

If your company hires a contractor, then that contractor could become the face of your company. If that person does something negative – like commits a crime – then it reflects poorly on your company. Running background checks on contractors is particularly important for positions where the contractor is interacting with your customers daily.

Reduce Legal Liability

Customers who had a poor experience with your contractor may file a lawsuit. Or, if a contractor damages your home or gets hurt in your home, then you may be on the hook for damages.

How to Run a Background Check on a Contractor

To run a background check on a contractor, you will need the contractor’s permission. Since you are hiring the contractor, you will also need to work with an FCRA-compliant background check service.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act verifies certain background check services for their accuracy and completeness. If you’re making important decisions about someone’s future – say, by hiring them or approving them as a tenant – then you need to work with an FCRA compliant background check service.

Background screenings vary widely among employers. Some employers perform a cursory background check on new contractors. Others use detailed screening procedures.

CheckCriminalRecord.com is a public record and criminal background search service for anyone. However, we are not a Consumer Reporting Agency as outlined by the FCRA. By using this website or our criminal record search services, you agree to our full terms of use and privacy policy.

Contractor Crime is More Common Than You Think

Most contractors are law-abiding people. However, as with any industry, there are some people who take advantage of your trust.

You don’t have to look far to find stories of contractors taking advantage of homeowners.
In the last week, for example, the owner of a local contracting company in Pennsylvania was charged with felony stealing after a man reported paying for construction services he never received.

Another contractor, meanwhile, was charged with fraud after taking $15,000 for a project and never completing the work.

This Sioux City contractor was charged with a felony after taking more than $11,000 from a client and failing to perform any work.

These charges are all from the last week. All of these issues may have been avoided with a proper background check.

Final Word

You trust contractors with your property. Unfortunately, some contractors violate that trust.

Consider running a background check on your contractor to verify work history, work experience, and criminal record.

Top 5 Free Online Resources for Finding Arrest Records

Thanks to the internet, finding someone’s arrest record is easier than ever. There are plenty of online databases available to the public.

Yes, you can legally check someone’s arrest record. As long as you’re checking the record for personal reasons (and not to hire someone or enter into a contract), it should be legal.

Where can you get started? Keep reading to find the five best free online resources for performing a background check.

National Sex Offender Registry (NSOPW.gov)

The National Sex Offender Registry, found online at NSOPW.gov, is a website created by the United States Department of Justice. The website offers a free nationwide search for sex offenders registered anywhere in the United States.

You can search the registry with just a name. Enter a first name and last name and see all sex offenders registered under that name.

You can also search by location. If you want to check a neighbor’s address, for example, then you can enter that address into the registry.

All sex offender information is available to the public. Specific information, however, varies from state to state. Generally, you’ll be able to see a photo of the sex offender, the offender’s current or last known location, the type of crime committed, and the date the crime was committed.

The National Sex Offender Registry also links to the public registries for each state. In most states, you can view a map showing all sex offenders in your area.

Each State’s Department of Public Safety

Each state has its own Department of Public Safety (or an organization with a similar name). This organization typically has a division dedicated to tracking arrest records and criminal convictions.

In Texas, for example, criminal convictions are accessible through the Texas Department of Public Safety. The organization offers a simple online search database. You register for that database, then enter a name to view the arrest records and convictions of anyone, anywhere in the state.

Most states have similar systems. Specific search processes vary between states. Some states limit access to certain information – say, only arrest records from the last seven years.

The California Public Records Act and the California Constitution, for example, give Californians the right to access public information maintained by local and state government agencies, including arrest and conviction records collected through the Department of Justice. You can view specific information on how to access those records in California here through OAG.ca.gov.

Some states, meanwhile, do not provide public access to arrest records. They only allow access to certain qualified organizations or corporations.

Check the Department of Public Safety website for any state of residence for the person you’re trying to check. You can also check arrest records for any state the individual visited. Someone might have traveled from Nevada to California and been arrested, for example, in which case the arrest record will show up on a California Department of Public Safety database search but not a Nevada DPS database search.

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC.org)

The National Center for State Courts is an organization that offers easy access to private and public court records. If you want specific case information from specific courtrooms anywhere in the United States, then the NCSC website is a good place to start.

Visit the state public access links page here, then click on any state you want to check. You’ll be able to view any online records currently available for that state, including official government sources and unofficial databases.

People Search Websites and Social Media Websites

You don’t have to search a government database to find secret information about someone. Instead, you can turn to public, free websites for that information.

People search websites like WhitePages and People Search, for example, all provide information about millions of Americans. These websites collect public information – including addresses and phone numbers – and then allow anyone to search for it. You can search by phone number with a reverse search. Or, you can search by name for a standard search.

Using social media websites for background checks is self-explanatory. Check someone’s Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other profiles to discover all sorts of information they have volunteered online.

Check Criminal Record (CheckCriminalRecord.com)

If you are looking for a no-nonsense criminal record check service, then CheckCriminalRecord.com is a great all-in-one resource. You can avoid manually checking all of the online resources listed above. Instead, you can simply enter a name and get a complete background profile on any individual.

Checking someone’s criminal record should be easy. With CheckCriminalRecord.com, it’s never been easier.

Final Tips On Finding Criminal Arrest Records

Use any of the free online resources above to check any criminal record at no cost.

With more online databases available than ever before, it’s easy, free, and legal to uncover someone’s criminal record or arrest history background report online.

How to Search Arrest Records for Anyone: The Ultimate Free Guide

Searching for someone’s arrest record is easier than you think. Arrest records are stored online, and checking someone’s criminal record is a common and legal thing to do.

Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about how to search arrest records for anyone, including how much it costs, where to look, and what information you need.

Before You Start Searching Records

Before you perform a background check on someone, you need to consider the possible risks. As an employer or landlord, laws affect how you can perform a background check

Employers and Landlords: Consent Required

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires employers to follow certain procedures and obtain a job applicant’s written consent when ordering a criminal history check from a consumer reporting agency. This same law applies to landlords running a background check on potential tenants.

You need to inform the applicant that you are running a personal background check. You need to ensure the applicant understands that this background check will be used to make an important decision about the applicant’s future.

After receiving the applicant’s consent in writing, the employer or landlord can proceed with the background check.

Personal Background Checks: No Consent Required

The same laws do not apply if searching someone’s criminal record for personal reasons. It’s legal to check someone’s criminal record for personal reasons.

It’s legal to check a neighbor’s criminal record because you’re curious, for example. It’s also legal to check the marriage or divorce records of a coworker or boss. You can check if a child’s teacher or coach has a history of sexual offenses.

In these situations, consent should not be required. As long as you have a first and last name, you should be able to proceed with the background check without issue.

Step 1) Check Sex Offender Registries

Start by checking sex offender registries. These are the easiest registries to search. They’re wide open to the public, and anyone can check these records at no cost.

The federal government maintains a sex offender registry, as does each state. These registries are used to track and monitor individuals with previous sex offense convictions.

Each registry in the database will contain a photo of the individual. Depending on your state, you may also be able to see the type of crime committed, the date of the crime, the release date from prison, and other information.

Start by checking the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website.

From that site, you can find the public sex offender registries for each state. You can search a specific jurisdiction, for example, or run a national search that checks all registries for a specific name.

Step 2) Check the Arrest Record Database for Your State

Each individual’s criminal record is available to the public. However, criminal records are not easy to find via Google.

In most cases, you need to make a request to your state’s Department of Public Safety for more information about a specific individual. Each state has slightly different rules governing how these requests work.

In some states, checking someone’s criminal record is easy.

Let’s say you want to check someone’s criminal record in Texas:

Visit the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Conviction Database here: https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DpsWebsite/CriminalHistory/
The database lists all arrests and prosecutions for misdemeanors and felonies committed in the state of Texas
Sign up for the database as a new user (choose an individual or company account)
Search the database by typing in the individual’s first and last name
Enter other identifying information to narrow search results

That’s it! Just like that, you can view misdemeanors and felonies committed in the state of Texas.

Most states have a similar system through the Department of Public Safety, although it may go by slightly different names.

Step 3) Repeat for Each State

If someone has committed crimes in multiple states, then you will need to run multiple criminal record searches through each state’s Department of Public Safety (or an equivalent agency).

Each state has a slightly different process. Generally, you sign up for the database, then run a search. Some states require you to pay a fee.

Step 4) Check County Records

For more information about specific crimes, or to check marriage and divorce records, you may need to run a county-level search.

Again, each county has a different process for checking records. Some counties actually require you to visit the county courthouse in person. Most counties, however, have some type of online or mail-based checkup service.

If you know the county in which someone lived, or the county where they committed a crime, then you can check that county’s records for further information. These records are not openly available to the public (say, via Google), but they are available to any member of the public upon request.

Some county and state criminal record databases charge a fee for accessing records. You may need to pay an administrative fee or delivery fee, for example.

Step 5) Use a Professional Criminal Record Search Service for Comprehensive, Instant Results

There are hundreds of professional criminal record search services available over the internet today.

Some criminal records are only available to government organizations or private agencies. Many of these search services also have special partnerships in place to secure the latest, most up-to-date criminal record information from national and state databases.

Without a professional search service, you may need to check each state and county individually to get someone’s complete record.

With a professional criminal record search service, you can provide just a name and learn a surprising amount of information about someone. The search service instantly checks millions of public records across the United States, saving you time and money.

Visit Check Criminal Record (CheckCriminalRecord.com) to run a complete criminal record check on anyone using just a first name and last name.

How to Search Arrest History Records

Searching for someone’s arrest history or arrest records online can be challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy to use government websites and online resources that can help you get the job done.

Today, we’re explaining some of the best options for finding your own criminal record or arrest history, or finding someone else’s arrest history record, by using online sources.

Request Your Own Federal Records Through the FBI

The FBI lets anyone request arrest records – but you can only request your own. The FBI calls this your Identity History Summary, which is just fancy bureaucratic-speak for your criminal record. The FBI only allows you to request a copy of your own criminal record, and you will not be able to look at someone else’s federal criminal records during your search.

Why would you want to look up your own criminal record? Well, you may want to double check to make sure you know what’s on there – especially if you have a criminal past, if you’ve had records expunged, or if charges were dropped. You never know what could appear on your own record.

At the time of writing, the FBI’s processing time was 12 to 14 weeks. If you don’t have a federal criminal record or arrest record, then the FBI will send you proof that one does not exist.

Start requesting your federal criminal record from the FBI here.

You’ll need to jump through some hoops, like submitting your fingerprints and completing an application form. You’ll also need to pay the FBI $18, so it’s not quite free.

Check State & Federal Courthouses For Someone’s Arrest History Records

This is where things get a little more complicated: if you want to search arrest history records for someone else, then you can go to a local, state, or federal courthouse – ideally, the courthouse in the jurisdiction where the crime took place (or where you believe the crime took place). The records are almost always kept at the courthouse where the individual was tried.

Courthouses have a clerk of courts. A clerk of courts will be able to access someone’s criminal record provided you give them the information they need to retrieve that record.

That means you need to come prepared with the person’s name and birth date. The more information you have, the easier it will be to find someone’s record. Case numbers, the types of charges held against them, and and when the crime took place are all helpful information.

If the person committed crimes in multiple jurisdictions and was tried across multiple courthouses, then you may need to make a few trips or phone calls to get a complete record.

Using PACER Or NSOPW To Search Records

The US federal government maintains two public criminal record database websites anyone can view online. Those websites include the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database and the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW).

PACER lets the public view docket information from federal courts. You’ll need to register and use the individual’s information to search court records. PACER is not free, unfortunately, and you’ll need to pay fees to access certain records.

The NSOPW site, on the other hand, is perfectly free to use. You don’t even have to register. All you need to do is go to the homepage (or download the mobile app) and enter your zip code or area. You can also search using first name and last name.

Good Old Google Search

One of the weird online search tricks that can often be used to find someone’s criminal record is to type their first name and last name into Google followed by “mugshot”.

This works particularly well for high-profile cases or famous people with criminal records, but it can also turn up some surprising results for minor cases. It’s good to check if you’re looking for a free and easy option to search arrest history records.

Famous People With Criminal Records – 7 Celebrity Arrest Records You Probably Didn’t Know About

Celebrities are just like us! And, just like millions of Americans, famous people have criminal records too.

You probably know about Chris Brown’s arrest record. But what about the time Bill Gates got arrested? And did Mark Wahlberg really try to murder someone? Find out today as we identify 7 famous celebrities you forgot had criminal backgrounds.

7) Bill Gates – Driving Without A License And Speeding

In 1975, long before he was a famous billionaire or even a millionaire, Bill Gates was arrested for driving without a license and speeding.

Bill clearly didn’t learn from his lesson: in 1977, he was arrested for driving without a license and not stopping at a stop sign. Fortunately, Bill’s record has been clean ever since (at least, as far as we know).

6) Jay Z – Stabbing Someone

Jay-Z stabbed someone once. And this isn’t back in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he was (allegedly) slinging cocaine on the streets of New York City.

Instead, in 1999, Jay Z stabbed a record executive in the stomach during a fight at a night club. Hova would later plead guilty to an assault charge and received three years’ probation.

5) Vanilla Ice – Possession Of A Firearm, Assault, And Battery

When you think of famous hardcore rappers with a criminal background, you probably don’t think of Vanilla Ice. Surprisingly, Vanilla Ice has had multiple brush-ins with police.

In 1991, Vanilla Ice – whose real name is Robert Matthew Van Winkle (seriously) – was arrested after he allegedly pulled out a pistol and threatened a homeless man.

To celebrate the anniversary of his first arrest (I’m guessing), Vanilla Ice was arrested for assaulting his wife in 2001. During an altercation, Mr. Ice pulled out some of his wife’s hair. He would later plead guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to probation.

Vanilla Ice couldn’t wait ten years for his next arrest. In 2008, he allegedly kicked and hit his wife and was charged with battery. Charges were later dropped, however, after it was revealed that he had only pushed his wife.

4) Marilyn Manson – Sexual Misconduct

Marilyn Manson is one of those wild card famous celebrities: he’s well-educated and successful but also does some pretty crazy things from time to time.

One of those “crazy things” was when he was arrested for sexual misconduct after he rubbed his crotch against a security guard’s head. Manson later had the charge reduced to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct and paid a $400 fine.

3) Bruno Mars – Drug Possession

Even before Bruno was arrested, a lot of people could see this one coming (it’s just something about his eyes). In 2010, right before he shot to fame, Bruno Mars was arrested for possession of cocaine. He would plead guilty and reduce his sentence to a $2,000 fine and 200 hours of community service.

2) Matthew McConaughey – Drug Possession

For a lot of people, walking into a house and finding Matthew McConaughey naked is their wildest dream.

But for police in 1999, that was a dream that came true. In 1999, McConaughey was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after a neighbor made a noise complaint. Police arrived at the resident to find McConaughey naked and dancing in his home. They found “illegal substances”, but charges were eventually dropped and McConaughey pleaded guilty to an all right fine of $50.

1) Mark Wahlberg – Attempted Murder

This might be the best-known celebrity criminal record on this list. Mark Wahlberg was arrested in 1986 and charged with assault and attempted murder after he was accused of attacking a man in the street with a wooden stick and knocking him unconscious.

Mark’s criminal past goes all the way back to the age of 13, when he became addicted to cocaine. He was also accused of assault against minority groups in his neighborhood numerous times. At age 16, he approached two Vietnamese men in the street in separate incidents. He attacked one man with a stick and another with his fists. Later that day, Wahlberg was arrested while reportedly yelling racial slurs.

Wahlberg would eventually plead guilty to assault and served just a 45 day sentence. Wahlberg, however, has a felony on his arrest records to this day.

How To Find Someone’s Criminal Record

Finding someone’s criminal record isn’t as hard as you may think. Thanks to the internet, you can learn a lot about someone without ever leaving your office chair.

If you want to know more about the process of finding someone’s criminal record information, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our ultimate guide to finding anyone’s criminal record.

The National Driver Register (NDR) And The DMV

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps a record of every driver in the United States. It’s called the National Driver Register (NDR).

Anyone – yes, even you – can browse through those records to find someone with a registered driver’s license in the country.

The NDR is part of the National Center for Statistics and Analysis. You can look through the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) to find information about individuals whose drivers’ licenses have been revoked, suspended, canceled, or denied. Anyone who has been convicted of a serious traffic offense will also show up.

Whether your target has a compromised driving record or not, the NDR provides valuable information about someone. You can search through the NDR to find all of the following information about someone:

-Name

-Date of birth

-Gender

-Driver’s license number

-Reporting state

Basically, you get all of the same information you would see if you took a picture of someone’s driver’s license (aside from their physical characteristics).

Meanwhile, the DMV knows more about you than virtually any of the other government agencies. They keep track of a lot of personal information: from your criminal records to your marriage and divorce certificates.

The only thing that doesn’t pop up when you search for someone through the DMV is their “confidential information”, which includes home address, home telephone number, physical/mental information, social security number, and photograph. Aside from this, a surprising amount of personal information is readily accessible by anyone.

To get in touch with the DMV in your state and request someone’s record, visit this link: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Data/National+Driver+Register+(NDR)

That takes you to the NDR homepage. Just click on the “Contact information for State Departments of Motor Vehicles” link on the right-hand side of the page. You’ll automatically start to download a PDF document with your state’s DMV contact information.

From there, contact your state’s DMV (or the DMV in your target’s state) and request the record of anyone you want to learn more about.

Your Local Town Hall, City Hall, Or County Courthouse.

Criminal record check processes vary widely across the United States.
But one thing is common: you can always find information at your local town hall, city hall, or courthouse. These administrative organizations keep criminal records for all cases that have occurred within their administrative area. They’re trusted with keeping public records. Part of that responsibility is providing public records to the, well, public.

Using this method, you’re able to access anybody’s public record.

That doesn’t mean checking someone’s criminal record is easy with this method. You’ll often run into roadblocks. In North Carolina, you may encounter the Public Records Law, for example. in Maryland, they have the Public Information Act.

Certain states also make this process notoriously difficult. Florida, for example, may force you to deal with three different government laws, including the Statutory Public Records, Statutory Public Meetings, and Judicial Access Decisional Law.

Ultimately, your local town hall or county courthouse handles criminal record checks all the time. If you contact that organization, they’ll be able to tell you what you need to do, who you need to call, and how you need to proceed with your criminal record check.

Submitting A Request Through The FBI

The FBI provides criminal record checks – although they’re only available if you’re checking your own criminal record.

The FBI calls this your “Identity History Summary”, although it’s better known as your criminal record. It’s specifically defined as “a listing of certain information taken from fingerprint submissions kept by the FBI and related to arrests.”

You can submit a criminal record check request here through the FBI.

Using The Freedom of Information Act To Learn More About Someone

The last and best way to check someone’s criminal record is to submit a request to the US government citing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

There’s a reason this act exists: it’s to promote transparency in the government. Agencies are hesitant to deny a FOIA request (unless you’ve stumbled upon something really secretive). Even if information may not appear to be accessible to the general public, you can often get past this barrier with a FOIA request.

Keep in mind that the FOIA also allows agencies to block a certain request. One of the most-likely reasons your request would be denied is if it’s an “unreasonable invasion of privacy”. In other cases, you’ll only receive a partial answer to your request.

Checking Someone’s Record May Not Be As Hard As You Think

Remember: criminal records are public records. You’re a member of the public. In most cases, the only thing preventing you from learning more about someone’s criminal record is a little hard work and a bit of time.

Which Parts of Your Personal Data Are Considered “Public Record”?

A surprising amount of personal data is considered to be part of the public record. You probably assumed that certain things – like marriage records – were public record. But have you ever stopped to think just how much someone can learn about you through public records?

Today, we’re getting to the bottom of things and explaining which parts of your personal data are considered to be public record.

What Is A Public Record?

A public record is generally described as public information that is fixed in any medium and is retrievable in usable form for future reference. Typically, this information is deemed important for retention by judicial, legislative, or local government officials – like local records committees or state records committees.

Public records date back as far as the early beginnings of civilization. Government officials in ancient Babylon kept records in cuneiform writing on clay tablets, for example. More recently, public records laws have expanded to include modern communication platforms – like emails.

In any country, public records are indispensable to the efficient and economical operation of government. Think of it as like the “memory” part of the government’s brain. Instead of having to ask someone “When were you arrested for DUI?” and then taking their word for it, the government can consult their own records and run an orderly society.

Okay, you get it. Now let’s get to the interesting stuff: what’s actually in the public record?

What’s In Your Public Record?

Your public record contains a surprising amount of personally identifiable information about you, including:

Your Name
Birth Date
Home and Mailing Addresses
License Number
Physical Description
Social Security Number
Failures to Appear in Court Records
Failures to Pay Traffic Fine Records
License Status (whether it’s valid, revoked, suspended, or expired, for example)
Major traffic convictions stretching back 7 years (and minor traffic convictions stretching back 3 years)
Voting Records
Birth Certificates
Marriage Certificate Records
Death Certificate Records
Property Records
Court Records
Divorce Records
Arrest Records
Postal Address Information

Most of the above information is held within just one government agency: the DMV. They know almost everything about you.

What’s Excluded From The Public Record?

Certain government records are exempt from disclosure under state and federal law. Most state records laws exempt specific types of records from public disclosure. Some of the things protected under these laws include:

Communications between attorneys and their government clients
State tax information
Trade secrets
Certain lawsuit settlements
Criminal investigation records
Records about industrial expansion

The above are not considered public records, so they won’t be revealed during a public records search.

Criminal Investigations Are Not Public Records

Another major section of records that are blocked off from the public are criminal investigation records.

Records of criminal investigations conducted by public law enforcement agencies – or any criminal intelligence information collected by those agencies – are not considered to be part of the public record.

However, certain information about crimes is always public record. For example, the time, date, location, and nature of a violation of the law are part of the public record, as is the identity of anyone involved in that incident (including their name, sex, age, address, employment, and the criminal charges they were alleged to have committed).

Certain Government Records Are Considered Confidential

The government has some information about you that it will not reveal to the public. That information includes all of the following:

Social welfare information, including Medicare records
Social Security information
Tax information
School records

This information will not be disclosed to the general public.

However, it may be disclosed to certain groups. For example, the government can release your tax information (both federal and state) if it’s part of a court proceeding where tax issues are relevant, if a government agency is trying to locate a parent who owes child support payments, if state financial aid programs have been requested, or if it’s for statistical use or tax administration purposes.

Who Can Get A Copy of Public Records?

You can legally request anyone’s public record. That’s why it’s a public record. Check Criminal Record makes it easy to check someone’s public record. Our online search service can be used for far more than just criminal records searches. We can also deliver information about marriage certificates, death certificates, property holdings, and more.

If it’s part of the public record, then you – or anyone else – can legally access it. However, when you work with a public records search organization like ourselves, searches tend to be more thorough.

Some people take advantage of public records to look up their own public records, while others think it’s entertaining to look up a celebrity’s record under their real name. Whatever you choose to do, Check Criminal Record is here to help.

Do You Really Know The Person You’re Dating?

We live in a world where you can get a date for tonight on Tinder without leaving your couch. But how well do you really know the new person you’re dating?

Whether you met on Tinder, Grindr, Bumble, Instagram, Match, or any one of the dozens of other social media / dating platforms available today, you probably don’t know everything about your new fling.

Sometimes, it’s nice to keep things casual. But if you want to get more serious, then you need to know who you’re dating. Remember: 60% of all violent crimes in America are committed by loved ones or acquaintances.

With that sobering thought in mind, let’s take a look at how you can easily learn more about the person you’re dating.

1) Google Their Name, Phone Number, Address, And All Other Personal Information

The first and easiest step is to use a search engine like Google to learn more about the person you’re seeing.

Yes, this can feel a bit stalker-ish. But hey, you’re doing it to protect yourself.

If you’re dating someone new, then you’re probably already Googled their name at least once. Google their name again and look at news stories mentioning their name. Make sure they’re using a real name that shows up in search results. Look at the images tab to find things that may not show up in the general search – you may be surprised what you find.

You should also be wary if they’re using a name that’s suspiciously common – like John Smith or James Miller (sorry to all the real John Smiths and James Millers out there). A common name isn’t enough to immediately make you suspicious of that person. However, if they have a common name and you can’t find any specific information about that person online, then you may want to take a closer look.

After Googling their name, Google their phone number. Typically, phone number searches won’t reveal anything but websites with lists of all phone numbers in a region. However, you can sometimes find an old business or other organizations with which your new friend is/was associated.

You’ve come this far on your stalking binge, so you might as well go all-in: Google every piece of personally identifiable information about the person – like their address, workplace, and anything else you find or can think of.

Even if you don’t turn up anything nefarious, you’ll at least know a lot more about your boyfriend/girlfriend the next time you get together!

2) Search For A Criminal Record

This might seem a bit intense for a new relationship, but it’s something thousands of men and women do every day.

Running a criminal record search on someone is perfectly legal. There’s nothing to stop you from doing it. Criminal records are public records, and that means someone like you is allowed to look at them.

Today, online services like CheckCriminalRecord.com have made finding someone’s criminal record incredibly straightforward. These criminal search services let you enter a name and find out everything you need to know about that person’s background.

You can check their background in a specific state and county. Or, you can scan the entire country for results.

All searches are performed anonymously and they leave no trace. One criminal records search can turn up information about someone’s criminal record. Or, even things like parking tickets, misdemeanors, and charges that were dropped can appear during a public records search.

We specialize in checking public records and criminal records for new boyfriends and girlfriends. In fact, thousands of people have used our service for precisely that reason.

To get started today, fill out the person’s first and last name using the online form on CheckCriminalRecord.com.

3) Casually Ask About Their Daily Schedule

Is the new person you’re dating really a lawyer at that big law office downtown? Or are they really just a janitor at a bar?

The next time you hang out, ask about their daily schedule. Maybe see if they can meet up to grab coffee on a lunch break, for example. Ask what they did today. You’d be surprised by how many people lie about their jobs. Some people are just insecure about their jobs, while others are hiding something more nefarious.

4) Gently Probe Their Positions On Key Issues

You may think somebody is “the one” – until you hear their stance on abortions, capital punishment, immigration, or some other contentious issue.
Now, it’s probably not a good idea to ask these kinds of heady questions on a first date. But over the next few dates, it’s important to casually probe about serious topics – after all, these are thing that make or break a relationship.

But you want to do it gently.

Instead of coming straight out and saying, “immigrants are the scourge of our nation”, for example, start with something a little softer like “Trump sure has some interesting ideas on immigration, hey?”

5) Talk To Them About It – There Could Have Been A Mistake Somewhere Along the Way

Ultimately, you could find a lot of bad information about someone while Googling or checking their criminal record – only to realize you’ve been looking at the wrong person the whole time.

In other cases, criminal records can be mistakenly placed under someone’s identity, potentially ruining their reputation for life.

If you’re concerned about the results you found, then talk to that person first before doing something drastic – like breaking up over one search result. In some cases, there’s a good explanation. In other cases, there may have been some error along the way.

And then there are some situations where the person was deliberately trying to hide something really bad from you. You never know until you check.

Top 7 Most Popular Reasons to Check Someone’s Criminal Record

Checking someone’s criminal record is a perfectly legal thing to do. Criminal records are public records. They’re accessible to normal people like you and me.

Why would you want to check someone’s criminal record? There are plenty of good reasons. Millions of people check criminal records every day across America to answer important questions in their lives. Here are seven common reasons why people use Check Criminal Record to check someone’s arrest records or background history.

7) Check Your Own Record

Have you been applying for jobs without receiving any responses? Maybe it’s because you have a criminal record.

Many people are surprised what pops up when they search for their own criminal records online. You may find old traffic tickets, for example, or even charges that have been dropped against you.

In some cases, you could find totally erroneous charges that somehow ended up on your record due to some clerical error.

In any case, it’s a good idea to check your own criminal record periodically. It shows you what your future employers see.

6) Checking A New Date

Maybe you met someone online. Maybe you swiped right on the man of your dreams on Tinder. Maybe you just met someone at the dog park and exchanged names and numbers.

Whether it’s the first date or the fiftieth, it’s never a bad idea to search for a date’s criminal record information. Online dating makes it easy for people to hide their true selves. Is your new date hiding something from you? Hopefully not – but you’ll never know for sure until you check their records for yourself.

5) Coworkers And Bosses

You work with certain people every day. But do you really know these people? Or are they a total mystery to you? Running a confidential criminal background check on your coworkers is a fast and easy way to get valuable information.

Has your creepy boss received sexual assault charges in the past? Are your coworkers telling the truth about their legal age? Public records searches can turn up this information and help you answer crucial information about the people around you.

4) Learn More About Your Neighbors

Are your neighbors being truthful? Whether you know the names of your neighbors or not, a public records search can give you crucial information about the people living around you.

Find out if there’s a sex offender living on your street. Discover the number of people living in the household across the street. See if the new neighbors moving in next door have any criminal history you need to know about. A quick public records search can help protect your children and your family.

3) Discover Marriage And Divorce Records

Public records searches can reveal more than just a criminal record: they can also reveal marriage and divorce records. Has that coworker in your office been married before? Did your boss really get divorced last year? A quick marriage and divorce record search can reveal interesting information.

2) Find Someone’s Real Birthday

How old are the people around you really? Is your coworker being honest about his real age? Public records searches and criminal record checks can reveal someone’s real birthdate. Many people are surprised to learn the person they’re dating is years older than they claimed to be. Others find that the opposite is true, and that the person they’re dating is years younger.

Whatever your situation may be, public records checks are an excellent way to discover someone’s real birthdate.

1) Analyze Someone’s Driving Record Before a Road Trip

Criminal record searches can turn up a wide range of information about someone. In addition to criminal records and police reports, you can find things like traffic and speeding tickets.

How good is someone at driving? Is your friend’s driving record really as clean as they claim it is? Did your boss really get a DUI while on vacation last summer? If you’re catching a ride with somebody, it’s okay to be nosy about their driver safety record!

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