Criminal History Search | Check Criminal Record

Is It Legal to Check Someone’s Criminal Record Without Permission?

Maybe you’re hiring someone or renting an apartment. Maybe you’re curious about a neighbor or coworker. Whatever the situation may be, you want to check someone’s criminal record, and you’re concerned about whether or not you need permission.

Is it legal to check someone’s criminal record without permission? Do you need to request someone’s permission before running a criminal record check?

In some cases, you need to ask permission before checking a criminal record. In other cases, you do not need to request any type of permission.

Confused? We’ll explain how it works below.

You Must Request Permission in Professional Settings

If you’re running a background check in a professional setting, then you may need to request permission.

Employers must request permission before running a background check on a prospective employee, for example. You cannot screen a job candidate without first getting permission from that candidate.

The same rule applies to landlords checking a tenant’s background or criminal history. If you are renting your place to someone, then this is considered a professional setting. You must request the prospective tenant’s permission before running a background check.

You may also require permission in other settings.

Are you using the background check to make an important decision about the person’s future? If so, then you may need to request permission.

If you need to request permission, then you must also comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA requires background check services to abide by specific regulations and requirements. You must use an FCRA-compliant background check service when running a background check in professional settings.

The FCRA also requires you to inform the candidate about the results of the background check in certain situations. If you run a background check on someone, for example, and it reveals information that prevents you from hiring that person, then you may need to inform the candidate of the specific item that prevented the hiring.

Employers and landlords who fail to follow the FCRA may expose themselves to liability. An employer who fails to follow the FCRA then rejects a qualified candidate, for example, could be sued by that candidate.

Permission is Not Required in Personal Settings

If you’re running a background check in a personal setting, then you may not need permission. You can check someone’s background without their permission or knowledge.

If you want to check a co-worker’s divorce certificate, for example, then you may be able to do so without the co-worker’s permission or knowledge. If you’re curious about a neighbor’s criminal record and want to learn more, then you should be able to run a check without the neighbor’s permission.

Similarly, it’s legal to run a background check on a date. If you just met someone and want to learn more before continuing with a second date, for example, then you can run a background check. Dating is a personal reason, and you should be able to legally run a background check without permission.

Personal settings where permission is not required can include:

Background Checks for Personal Relationships or Dating: If you meet someone on Tinder and want to learn more, then you can run a background check on that person. Many people do this to verify someone’s identity, for example, and make sure they are who they claim to be.

Babysitting, Coaching, and Other Casual Jobs: You may not need to run a background check before hiring a babysitter. Running a background check on a babysitter can reveal crucial information about someone who is going to be around your children, and it’s a good idea to run a background check in this situation.

Curiosity or Snooping: Is your boss really divorced? Is your friend’s wife really 35 years old? Did that neighbor really commit a felony? Some people call it curiosity. Others call it snooping. In most cases, you can freely snoop on someone without requesting that person’s permission.

Checking your Own Background: It’s legal to check your own background. In fact, thousands of Americans do this every day. Checking your own background can reveal errors on your history. It could also help explain why you keep getting rejected by landlords or employers. Many people are surprised to discover what appears on a background check.

Generally, if you’re not using background check information to decide someone’s future, then you do not need someone’s permission to run a background check.

Can Someone Tell You Checked Their Background?

If you’re concerned about checking someone’s record without their permission, then you may also be concerned about whether or not they can tell you ran a background check.

If you run a background check on someone, does that person receive a notification of any sort? Can someone tell that you checked their criminal record or pulled certain database files?

With most background check services, the person will not receive any notification that you ran a background check, and there’s no way for someone to tell you ran a background check. Your search should be completely private and anonymous.

Rest assured, snoopers: if running a background check for personal reasons, you should be able to run the check anonymously and without permission.

Final Word

In many cases, it’s legal to check someone’s criminal record without their permission. In other cases, it’s legal to check someone’s criminal record – but you need to ask their permission and use an accredited service.

Run a criminal record check on someone today in just a few minutes online. Enter a first name, last name, and location to start your background check.

How to Check County Court Records to Discover Surprising Information About Someone

County court records can reveal surprising information about someone. Background check websites might check federal and state databases, but they may not check county records.

County courthouses contain plenty of background information. If you were arrested in that county, for example, then you might have a record in that county – even if your record in your home county seems clean.

County records can also contain marriage and divorce certificates, speeding tickets, parking tickets, dropped charges, and more.

Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about county courthouses, including how to request county court information, how much it costs, and what you’ll learn.

Some States Have State Databases, While Others Have County Databases

Why do you need to check county databases? Isn’t this information held in federal or state databases?

Some states collect all statewide information into one convenient database. You can request information at a state level about any individual within that state.

Other states, however, separate it by county. You must request individual records by county. You cannot perform a statewide search. You must search records county-by-county. Or, if you know the county where someone lived or was convicted, then you can narrow your search to that county.

County or state databases may include the following information:

Civil and family case information
Traffic case information
Criminal case information

Case Information May Not Be Available Online

You may think Google gives you all the information you need about someone, but that’s not the case. Instead, most states and counties do not openly publish case information online. You need to request information specific to each case or individual.

This information is stored in private databases. It’s available upon request, but it’s not openly available for anyone to access via the internet.

How to Request Information from County Courthouses

Each county courthouse has a specific information request process. This process varies between courthouses, although there are certain similarities at most major courthouses in the United States.

Things to know before requesting information from a county courthouse:

Some county courthouses publish certain information online for free. A county courthouse might not publish criminal convictions online, for example, but they might publish traffic and local ordinance cases or family case information online.
Many county courthouses require you to visit the courthouse in-person – or request information by mail.
You should be able to request to view information online (via a database portal or platform) or have it delivered via other means. Some courthouses still use CDs to share data, for example, while others print paper copies of information you request.
If requesting information about a specific case, you may need to provide the case number, case name, and the title of the documents requested.

How Much Does It Cost?

County courthouse pricing varies. Typically, you pay a nominal fee to access county records.

Fees vary depending on the medium you are requesting. You may need to pay $0.50 per page, for example, or $5 per CD.

Expect to pay a higher fee for each certified document. A certified document contains information verified by the courthouse. You may have to pay a $40 certification fee for a certified document, for example, plus $0.50 for each page within the document.

Most courthouses also charge for more detailed searches. If your search lasts longer than 10 minutes, for example, then you might have to pay a $15 fee.

How to Request State Court Information

County courthouses can reveal crucial information about someone. However, you may want to start your search at the state level before narrowing it by county.

State courthouses have different rules and requirements. Certain state court information is public record, while other information is private. Some information is openly available online, while other information is only available by request.

Typically, the opinions of the state’s Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal are public record, whether published or unpublished.

You may also be able to search case information via an online form.

The California state court system, for example, allows you to search case information online through courts.ca.gov. You can search the system for an opinion, for example, or other information in a specific case.

Use a Background Check Service to Simplify County Court Record Searches

County court record searches can be complicated. Rules and fees vary between courts.

Instead of individually requesting information from each state and county, consider investing in an online background check. A good online background check costs money – but it can reveal specific information about someone.

Just enter someone’s name into an online form, then let the site do the hard work for you. Instead of individually requesting info from each court – and paying each fee – you can pay one fee and let the professionals do the hard work.

What Do Employers Discover on a Background Check?

Most employers run a background check before hiring someone new.

Whether it’s a minimum wage job or a top secret position, you may need to undergo a background check to get hired.

But what do employers discover on a background check? How far back does an employer background check go? Should you be worried about an employer background check? Today, we’re explaining what employers see on a background check.

Employment Verification

First, most employers will use a background check to verify your employment history. Maybe you claim to have worked at the CIA for 20 years. The employer could trust you. Or, they could run a background check to verify your employment history.

A background check can identify the names of previous employees, your job title, your salary, and other information about previous professional positions. Sometimes, employers check this information automatically. In most cases, however, the employer will contact previous employers to request this information.

Credit Checks

Employers may check your credit. A credit check can reveal personal information like your address, previous addresses, social security number, financial picture, debt, car payments, credit history, and more.

Why does your employer care about this information? Well, if you are in charge of finances for a company, then your employer may want to verify you have a good financial picture. An employer may not want to hire someone with debt problems to handle a multi-million dollar budget, for example.

Curious about what’s on your credit report? You can obtain a free copy of your report once per year from each of the three major credit bureaus in the United States. Request a report from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion to discover what employers see on your credit check.

Running credit checks on employees is controversial. 11 states have prohibited employers from checking your credit during an employment screening. States where the practice is prohibited or limited include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Additionally, New York City has passed legislation preventing employers from running a credit check on prospective employees.

Criminal Record

The criminal record check is the most important part of an average background check. The employer can see any major offenses on your criminal record, including felonies and convictions.

The details of a criminal record check vary depending on your state, the background check service, and your employer. If you’re applying for a job with the federal government, for example, then you might undergo an extensive criminal record check, and years of criminal history might appear on this check.

Generally, you can expect an employer’s criminal record check to reveal seven years of criminal convictions, including minor and major offenses. However, more serious convictions – like felonies – may appear on a criminal record check for life.

Why Do Employers Run Background Checks?

Employers interview candidates to ensure they’re qualified. So why do employers also run background checks? Background checks give employers crucial information about the candidate.

Reasons to run a background check include:

Job Competency: If you’re hired to be a rocket scientist, then your employer might want to verify your educational and professional qualifications. They want to check your school and work history to verify you can perform your job effectively.

Workplace Safety: Employers have a certain responsibility for protecting employees and customers. Employers run a background check to protect themselves from dangerous employees – like people with a history of violent crimes or someone who has previously attacked a coworker. If an employer hires a dangerous person, and that person attacks an employee or customer, then the employer may be liable because the employer did not conduct an adequate background check.

Workplace Theft: Someone might apply to a job specifically because they want to steal. Someone might request a job at a bank, for example, to identify the inner security systems of a bank. Or, someone might attempt to get hired a tech company to install a tracking system or hack a database. Employers have a responsibility to protect themselves from theft performed by insiders, and background checks deter workplace theft.

Verify Honesty: An employer background check verifies a new employee’s honesty. Was the prospective employee honest about their educational and professional experience? Did the employee try to hide a previous conviction? Lying about information on a background check could cast doubts on the employee’s honesty and integrity.

Other Things to Know About Employer Background Checks

Confused about employer background checks? That’s okay. Here are other things you need to know about employer background checks.

Be Aware of Ban the Box Laws

Many states have passed ‘ban the box’ laws that prevent employers from asking about your criminal record until the later stages of the hiring process. Employers cannot screen candidates immediately by forcing them to check a ‘box’ confirming their criminal record. Instead, employers must assess each candidate fairly, then only perform a criminal record check during the later stages of the interview process.

Your Employer Must Use an FCRA Compliant Service

Employers cannot use free background check websites or similar sources to verify your information. Instead, they need to use a background check service that’s compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These background check services must abide by specific legal standards and follow rules. Free background check reporting websites often have no regulation.

Your Employer Must Inform You of the Background Check

Employers cannot check your background without your permission. Employers must request your permission before running the background check. If the employer takes action against you because of your report, the employer must notify you in writing and provide a copy of the report, giving you the right to dispute inaccurate information.

Final Word

An employment background check reveals crucial information about the candidate. It can reveal the candidate’s professional and educational background, for example. It can protect employers and their employees from danger, theft, or liability. It ensures a safe and effective workplace for everyone.

Curious about what employers are seeing on your background check? Run a background check on yourself. You may be surprised what’s out there.

Reasons to Hire Someone With a Criminal Record

Employers perform criminal record checks on new employees. In many cases, employers immediately deny anyone with a criminal record.

However, evidence suggests that companies may be missing an opportunity by not hiring reformed criminals. Hiring someone with a criminal record can help companies qualify for a tax credit, for example. It can also get employers an excellent employee at a bargain price.

As the economy nears full employment, companies are looking for unique ways to attract talent.

Here are some of the reasons to consider hiring someone with a criminal record.

1 in 3 Americans Have a Criminal Record

When you think of a criminal, you have a certain image in your head. However, having a criminal record is much more common than many people realize.

According to the FBI, 73.5 million Americans have a criminal record, or about 1 in 3 adults. Roughly 11,000 names are added to the FBI’s criminal database every day.

Many of these people were arrested without being convicted, yet the incident still appears on a criminal record check.
Approximately 2.2 million Americans – or about 3 of 100 people – are currently in prison.

No matter how you look at it, many Americans have some connection to America’s prison system or criminal databases. Being a criminal is more common than you think.

Employers who ignore people with criminal records are eliminating a significant portion of the population – including people with unique skills, experience, or talent that cannot be found elsewhere.

You May Qualify for Tax Credits

Companies that hire people with a criminal record may qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). This tax credit can give your business an additional $1,200 to $9,600 every year. Plus, hiring multiple employees can raise the savings even further. For small businesses, this tax credit can make an enormous impact on the bottom line.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit does not apply to all businesses in all situations. If your business qualifies, however, then you can save a substantial amount of money.

They’re Loyal and Hardworking

“If you knew that the only way that you could survive is if you did well at your job, would you work really hard? Of course you would,” explains Ron Stefanski, who runs a website called JobsForFelonsHub.com, in a chat with GoodHire.com.

“And this is the exact situation that people who have records face. They understand that they don’t have a lot of opportunities in the job market and will do anything they can to go above and beyond expectations.”

Studies back up the idea that felons work harder. One SHRM study showed that HR professionals believe people with criminal histories have an equal or better quality of work as people without criminal histories.

It’s Becoming More Common and Acceptable to Hire People with Criminal Records

Today’s labor market is tight. That’s one reason why a growing number of employers are hiring people with criminal records.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Charles Koch Institute (CKI) recently released a study showing that employers are willing to hire someone with a criminal record if that person is the best person for the job.

“Two-thirds of managers and three-fourths of HR professionals have hired people who committed misdemeanors or substance-related felonies such as DUIs,” explains SHRM.org.

“And more than two-thirds of HR professionals who have hired people with criminal histories think their quality of work is as high or higher than the work of employees who don’t have a criminal record.”

The report also found that only 14% of human resource managers would not consider hiring ex-criminals.

That’s why more American companies, including McDonald’s, Comcast, and Delta Air Lines, are hiring ex-criminals as part of a specific inclusion strategy.

They Have Already Served Their Time

For many criminals, the justice system works as intended. The person got caught committing a crime. The person does their time, gets reformed, and never commits a crime again.

People with criminal records have already served their sentence. In the eyes of the law, they received a punishment for the crime and did everything that was asked of them. According to the law, further punishment is not required.

Punishing someone with a criminal record after they have already served their time does not make sense.

Hiring Ex-Criminals Can Genuinely Help Someone

People with criminal records are often discouraged while searching for work. It’s hard enough to find a job, but finding a job with a criminal record can be significantly more challenging.

People with a criminal record may have many rights stripped from them. They may be unable to work or find a place to live, for example. Some can no longer vote.

When a company hires someone who has a criminal record, it makes a genuine difference in that person’s life.

Statistics back up this idea: studies show that employment reduces recidivism. Ex-criminals who get a job are significantly less likely to re-offend than ex-criminals without a job.

Approximately two-thirds of ex-offenders in the United States are arrested for a new offense within three years, creating a vicious and unbreakable cycle. America has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, which means criminals are much more likely to re-offend in the United States than, say, Norway, where fewer than 20% of criminals re-offend.

By hiring an ex-criminal, employers can help break that cycle – and get a loyal, hardworking employee.

Obtain Equal Talent at a Cheaper Salary

Finding cheap talent in this competitive labor marketplace can be tough. Ex-criminals may be a bargain for employers.

Many ex-criminals are willing to accept a lower salary – even if they have the same experience and qualifications as other potential hires. Candidates with felony convictions just want a job regardless of wages. Many want a chance to prove themselves through full-time work.

Employers who take a chance on a reformed criminal may get great talent at a reduced cost.

They’re Not Necessarily Dangerous

The word ‘felon’ creates certain images in your head. However, many people with felonies have non-violent convictions.

There are plenty of dangerous ex-criminals who re-enter the population, but many people with criminal records are not dangerous and have not committed a violent crime.

Final Word

Employers can enjoy unique benefits by hiring someone with a criminal record.

Consider all of the benefits above before hiring someone with a criminal record.

Top 10 Tips and Tricks for Checking Anyone’s Criminal Record

Every day, thousands of Americans scan public databases for arrest records. Some are checking their own records to see what pops up. Others are curious about the background of a neighbor, partner, friend, or coworker.

Checking someone’s criminal record is generally legal – as long as you’re doing it for personal reasons and not for employment or professional purposes.

Here are 10 tips and tricks you can use when checking someone’s criminal record.

Check Your Own Criminal Record First

Want to hone your criminal record checking skills? Try checking your own criminal record. Check the state criminal record databases for any states in which you’ve resided. Check any county courthouses. You may be surprised at the amount of information that pops up.

Even if you have never been convicted of a crime, for example, your record might show arrest records, marriage and divorce certificates, and other information.

After checking your own criminal record, you’ll be easily able to check anyone else’s criminal record as well.

There’s another advantage to checking your own criminal record: you can eliminate any mistaken entries or false data from your record. Someone may have used your identity to commit a crime, for example, or an erroneous entry may have been added to your record.

Get Consent If Checking Someone’s Criminal Record for a Job or Lease

Landlords will often check a tenant’s criminal record before renting an apartment to someone. Employers will check someone’s criminal record before offering a job. Checking someone’s criminal record is legal in these situations as long as you get the consent of the individual.

It’s generally legal to check someone’s criminal record for personal reasons – say, if you are just curious about someone’s background. However, if you are engaging in any type of business activity with that individual, it’s best to get consent before performing a background check.

Understand What’s Included on a Background Check

Many people know that a background check reveals crimes – like felony and misdemeanor convictions. However, some people don’t realize what else is on a background check.

A basic background check performed by a business for employment screening will consist of the following components:

Criminal records check, including national and county record searches for any crimes, misdemeanors, or arrests
Social Security Number (SSN) validation, which ensures the applicant is using a legitimate SSN and name
Address history check, including any previous addresses used by the applicant
US terror watchlist check, which screens the candidate against US terror watchlists (this is especially common for any security-related jobs)
Sex offender registry check

If you’re unsure what information is out there, you may wish to perform a background check on yourself. You may be surprised at the information available to prospective employers. In rare cases, a mistaken entry – like a crime committed by someone else with the same name – may be preventing you from leasing an apartment or getting a job.

Understand Certain Records Are Off Limits

You may be surprised to learn that certain records will never appear on a background check.

Thirteen states, for example, make it illegal for employers to access criminal record information that’s more than seven years old. Most arrests or convictions older than seven years will not appear on a background check.

Some states have even gone so far as to pass ‘ban the box’ laws. These laws prevent employers from asking about any criminal record information until the later stages of the interview process.

You Can’t Access All Records, Even If They’re Newer Than Seven Years

Not all records are accessible during a background check – even if those records are newer than seven years old.

Laws vary from state to state. Many states only grant access to certain organizations, corporations, or private companies, for example, and ordinary people cannot access these records. In these states, you might have to rely on third-party criminal record search services to perform a background check.

Additionally, military service records are generally off limits.

Employers may be able to access your health records (and some will check this information), although they cannot use your health to deny employment. Generally, health records are only checked in positions where your health impacts your ability to perform a job – say, as a pilot or nurse.

Arrest Records Might Appear

A background check can reveal your arrest record. It’s a history of every time you’ve been arrested – even if you were never convicted of a crime. you might have a clean criminal record with no misdemeanors or felonies, for example, but an arrest still pops up on your record and affects your employment opportunities.

You Can Expunge Certain Arrest Records

Frustrated about certain records on your background check? You can expunge certain items to remove them permanently.

You can request expungement of your records if:

You were arrested but not convicted
Your conviction was overturned on appeal
It has been at least one year since you were arrested or won your appeal
No charges are pending against you

In this case, you can contact the county courthouse in the county where you were arrested to have your record expunged.

You Can Expunge Certain Convictions – Even Felonies

It makes sense you can expunge arrest records if you were never actually convicted of a crime. But you can also expunge certain convictions from your record.

Certain misdemeanors and Class D (Level 6) felonies can be expunged from your record, although some organizations (like police and lawyers) will always be able to view these records. More serious felonies will always remain on your public record, although they will be clearly marked as ‘expunged’.

To expunge a conviction from your record, you must pay civil filing fees. You are generally only allowed to file one petition for expungement in your lifetime. It’s recommended that you hire a lawyer before doing so.

Be Wary of Free Online Background Check Websites

Free online background check websites may sound like a great thing.

Unfortunately, many of them are too good to be true.

In reality, these websites often display the same information you could find using Google. Then, they dangle lucrative information in front of your eyes and demand hefty payments.

The site might claim that you can reveal “4 More Serious Convictions” for an individual just by paying a $100 fee, for example. In reality, the person has a clean record and the website is luring you into making a payment.

If you’re serious about checking someone’s criminal record or background, then you should be prepared to pay at least a small fee. Access to criminal record databases may cost money, and requesting a record from a county courthouse comes with a small fee, so you can expect this fee to get passed on to you.

Avoid Defamation Lawsuits By Not Spreading Falsehoods

You can check someone’s criminal record for personal reasons without that person’s consent. However, you are not immune from all consequences of your actions – like defamation lawsuits if you spread false information about someone.

Let’s say you’re suspicious about your child’s soccer coach. You run her name through a sex offender registry and find multiple serious convictions. You inform other parents of your findings, and they withdraw their kids from soccer practice. Unfortunately, you got the records for the wrong person. That person had the same name as the soccer coach. The soccer coach could sue you for defamation.

For that reason, it’s crucial that you avoid spreading falsehoods about people after running a criminal records check – especially if you’re not 100% sure the results are accurate.

Easily Find Criminal Records For Anyone

Finding someone’s criminal record is easier today than ever before. By following the tips above, you can make the background check process as easy as possible.

7 Reasons to Run a Criminal Background Check in 2020

Many people are surprised to learn that it’s legal to run a criminal background check on someone.

Yes, running a criminal background check on someone is perfectly legal in many situations. Many people run a background check before going on a date, for example. Others snoop on coworkers or neighbors.

Here are some of the most common reasons to run a criminal background check in 2020:

Verify Your Next Date: The proliferation of dating apps has made it easier than ever to hook up with randoms. Unfortunately, many people also use dating apps to mask their identity. Fight back by running a criminal background check on your next date. Whether you run the check before the first, second, or third date is up to you.

Protect your Family: Worried about a new neighbor? Curious about a coach or teacher? Your child interacts with plenty of people during an average day. A simple criminal background lookup can give you valuable peace of mind.

Snoop on Coworkers: Is your new coworker divorced or married? Did your boss really get charged with sexual harassment last year? Does Dave from accounting really have three DUIs? Check the records of your bosses or coworkers to gain surprising insight.

Find Criminal, Arrest, and Police Records for Anyone: Criminal record checks let you quickly find arrest records, police records, criminal charges, and other information for anyone you interact with.

Marriage and Divorce Records: A records lookup can reveal more than just criminal charges; it can also reveal marriage and divorce records. Find out which one of your friends, relatives, coworkers, or bosses is married or divorced. All marriage and divorce records are publicly available through your county’s records department.

Verify your Neighbors: Your neighbors make or break a community. A good neighbor can be trusted to watch your house when you’re away. A bad neighbor will rob you. Use a criminal record check to verify the public records of homes in your neighborhood. Find out which of your neighbors is a sexual predator, for example. Or, get the age and phone number of people in your community.

Check Ages: Is one of your coworkers lying about her age? Are you curious how old your child’s teacher or coach really is? A background check can reveal complete birth date information.

Ultimately, checking a criminal record is a legal and common thing to do. If the record check comes back clean – then that’s great! You’ve earned added peace of mind. If the record check comes back with some previously-undisclosed information, then you may have just protected you and your family from a disaster.

Try out a search with Check Criminal Record (CheckCriminalRecord.com) or check state and county arrest record databases to discover surprising information about the people around you.

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.

What Do I Need to Check Someone’s Criminal Record?

Checking someone’s criminal record is a legal and common thing to do. Every day, thousands of Americans check criminal records for personal reasons. With someone’s permission, you can also check someone’s criminal record for professional reasons.

What do you need to check someone’s criminal record? What type of information can narrow down search results? Today, we’re explaining what you need to bring when checking someone’s criminal record.

A Name

In most cases, all you need is a name to get detailed information about a person’s background. With just a first and last name, you can learn surprising information about an individual. You can search state and county databases for any criminal records, marriage and divorce certificates, and more, for example.

Having additional information – like a date of birth, current address, or birthplace – can narrow down your search results. This information can be particularly useful if the individual has a common name. However, it’s not required for many criminal records searches.

Keep in mind that you do not need the person’s consent for most personal criminal records searches. If you are simply curious about a neighbor or teacher, for example, then it should be legal to run a criminal background check on that individual.

As soon as you start using the person’s criminal records check to make decisions about that person’s future, however, you may need that person’s consent. Landlords need a person’s consent prior to running a background check on a prospective tenant, for example. Employers need consent if preparing to hire a new employee.

The Person’s Consent (Required for Employment Screenings)

If you are running a criminal background check on someone for professional reasons (say, if preparing to hire them or rent a condo to them), then you need that person’s consent.

The background screening industry is highly-regulated, and an individual’s privacy is protected by various regulations. Nationwide, background checks are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Additionally, employers cannot look at information that is older than seven years for civil judgments, arrest records, collection records, and paid tax liens (although bankruptcies stay on your record for ten years).
You can’t just have the person check a box saying, “I consent to this background check”. The consent must clearly explain that you are performing the background check and that the results of the background check will be used for hiring, promotion, or retention. After providing this notice, the employer must receive consent (either on paper or online) from the individual to run a background check.

Additional Information Can Narrow Down Search Results

Additional information is not required before checking someone’s criminal record. However, it can certainly help narrow down search results.

If the individual has a common name or has lived at multiple addresses, for example, then it may be tricky to track down arrest records across the country. Some people have changed their names or used different aliases. Others have changed their name after getting married.

Some of the additional information you can use to narrow down a criminal records check includes:

Full name (first, middle, and last name)
Known aliases
Maiden name
Social Security Number
Date of birth
Birthplace
Current and past addresses
Driver’s license number

Armed with all of this information, you can run a detailed criminal background check on someone.

Is It Legal to Look Up a Criminal Record for Anyone?

It’s easy to look up someone’s criminal record online. But is it legal to check someone’s criminal record?

It’s perfectly legal to check someone’s arrest record in some situations but not others.

Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about the legality of looking up someone’s criminal record.

It’s Legal to Check Someone’s Criminal Record for Personal Use

Are you curious about a neighbor’s marriage or divorce? Do you want to check if your daughter’s new coach has any previous criminal convictions? Are you interested in learning how old your coworker really is?

These are all considered personal requests. In most states and in most cases, it’s perfectly legal to check someone’s criminal record if you’re using the information for personal use.

If you’re not hiring someone or renting a house to someone, for example, then you can run a criminal record check on virtually anyone as long as you have that person’s first and last name.

You Need Consent to Check Someone’s Criminal Record for Professional Use

If you plan on using someone’s criminal record check for employment or housing, then you will generally need that person’s consent.

An employer needs the consent of the prospective employee before running a criminal record check, for example. A landlord needs the consent of the potential tenant before a background check.

If the criminal record check is going to be used to make important decisions about the future of the individual, then consent is generally required.
If you are requesting consent from an individual to perform a background check, then that consent form needs to indicate how the background check works. The consent form must explain how the information will be used, for example (say, to approve employment or a lease application).

Once you have received consent in writing (either online or in paper), you should be able to proceed with the background check.

‘Ban the Box’ Laws Restrict Employers from Asking About Criminal Convictions

Certain states have passed ‘ban the box’ laws. These laws prevent employers from requesting a criminal background check until the later stages of a job application process.

California’s ban the box law, for example, took affect on January 1, 2018. The law makes it illegal for private and public employers with five or more employees to ask about criminal history until the later stages of the application process.

The purpose of the law is to encourage employers to assess each applicant’s fitness for the job instead of immediately denying someone based on a criminal past.

As of December 2019, thirteen states (and the District of Columbia) have passed ban the box laws, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

Employers Must follow Additional Anti-Discriminatory Regulations with Background Checks

Only thirteen states have passed ban the box laws. However, employers in all states must follow other laws. There are federal anti-discrimination laws, for example. Certain states have passed laws restricting questions about an applicant’s criminal history.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), for example, has warned that employers that ask about an applicant’s criminal history may be violating anti-discrimination laws.

In order to avoid discrimination during the hiring process, the employer must individually verify each applicant’s crimes. If someone committed a non-violent, unrelated misdemeanor seven years ago and is otherwise qualified for the job, for example, then you may be discriminating against that applicant if you choose a less-qualified applicant with a clean record.

Some States Restrict Background Checks for Cases Older Than Seven Years

If you committed a crime eight years ago, then that crime may not appear on a criminal background check. In fact, many states have passed laws preventing employers from seeing someone’s criminal record back more than seven years.

In California, for example, employers are not permitted to check someone’s criminal record more than seven years in the past and use that information to make an employment decision.

Twelve states follow the ‘seven year rule’ and restrict reporting on any case older than seven years, including California, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, and Washington.

Outside of these states, most employers check an applicant’s history over the last 5 to 10 years.

Types of Criminal Background Searches

Depending on the type of criminal background search being performed, laws can vary widely. You might have to follow California’s background check laws when scanning criminal records in California, for example, but not in Texas.

The four major types of criminal record searches available today include:

Nationwide criminal databases (includes state and local crimes)
Federal criminal court (U.S. district and appellate courts for federal crimes)
County criminal court (County courts for charge and disposition cases)
Statewide criminal records (State courts and police records)

Consider Using a Professional Criminal Record Search Service to Avoid Legal Headaches

Confused by all of this legal information? That’s okay! There are professional criminal record search services that have compiled all of this information for you.

Professional criminal record search services like CheckCriminalRecord.com will scan millions of criminal records across federal, state, and county databases.

Thanks to these services, you don’t have to manually check each record and worry about legal problems along the way. Instead, these services take care of everything.

In many cases, you can actually save money by using these professional arrest record search services. Instead of paying a fee for each county or state record, you pay one simple fee, then rely on the search service to collect all of this information for you.

Final Word

It’s generally legal to look up a criminal record for anyone for personal reasons.
For professional reasons, however, like for landlords or employers checking the backgrounds of applicants, you generally need the consent of the applicant.

As with any legal questions, we recommend consulting with a lawyer to determine if your unique situation qualifies as a legal or illegal criminal record check.

If you need professional, instant, and fast criminal background check services, then use CheckCriminalRecord.com.

What Shows Up on a Criminal Record Check?

We’ve all heard of background checks. However, many people don’t understand the difference between criminal record checks and background checks.

What type of information shows up on a criminal record check versus a background check? Which check should you perform? Is it legal to run a criminal background check?

Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about what shows up on a criminal record check.

What’s on a Criminal History Check?

A criminal background check or criminal records search reveals all of the following information:

Criminal Convictions: If a person has committed a felony or misdemeanor, then this information should appear on a criminal record check.

Arrest Records: Some states have laws prohibiting employers from asking about arrest records or using them for employment-related decisions. That’s because arrest records are not a proof of guilt. Someone could be arrested and then released without being charged, for example. If you are running a criminal record check for non-employment reasons, however, then it’s generally legal to check arrest records.

Dismissed Cases: Dismissed cases may appear on a person’s background check. A criminal charge could stay on a person’s record even if the charges are later dismissed or if the person is declared not guilty.

Seven Years of Data: There is no federal law stipulating how far back a criminal record must go. Each state mandates this on a state level. On average, however, a criminal background check goes back seven years. In California, for example, arrest and conviction records more than seven years old cannot be included on a background check report by law.

What Is Not on a Criminal Background Check?

Certain things will never (or rarely) appear on a criminal background check, including all of the following:

Expunged or Sealed Records: Someone might petition to have a criminal record sealed or expunged. If this petition is successful, then this record will not appear on any background check. The record has been removed from existence. In this case, the candidate can even answer “no” to the question, “have you ever been convicted of a crime?”.

Traffic Tickets, Speeding Tickets, and Other Citations: Traffic tickets are civil citations. They’re not misdemeanors or felonies. They will not show up on a criminal background check. However, certain serious driving violations are considered misdemeanors or felonies, including reckless driving offenses and DUIs. These convictions may appear on a criminal background check. Traffic citations are kept, however, by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Previous Employment or Education: A criminal background check is exactly what it sounds like. You’re checking someone’s background for any criminal activities. A criminal background check will not reveal anything about a person’s past employment or education.

Is It Legal to Run a Criminal Background Check?

It’s legal and common for an average person to run a criminal background check on another person in most situations.

In general, it’s legal for an ordinary person to run a background check if they’re not planning on hiring the person being checked. If you don’t plan on paying or hiring the individual, then you should be able to run a background check without the other person’s consent.

If you’re running the background check in a professional setting, however, then you will require the consent of the person being screened. A landlord doing a background check on a tenant, for example, needs the permission of the tenant, and an employer checking the criminal record of a potential future employee needs consent.

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 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.

Want To Know More About Criminal Records? We Have The Answers

Criminal record checks are a complicated subject. Understandably, people ask a lot of questions about how our services work. Here are some detailed answers about our criminal record search services.

Why Do I Need a Criminal Record Check Service If Records Are Publicly Accessible?

Criminal records are part of the public record. When a record is a “public” record, it means general members of the public can access them.

However, there’s a big difference between a public record and a widely-available public record. For example, most criminal records aren’t just stored online and available with the click of a button.

Instead, to access someone’s public record, you typically have to work with a court researcher and other county-level officials. These individuals will scan the public record for the individual and then give you a result.

In many cases, courts and other organizations don’t easily give up information to the public. They may require you to be a member of an authorized organization, for example. Or, you may just get bumped around from office to office until you finally talk to the person you need.

Ultimately, a criminal records search service has the contacts, databases, and systems needed to find a criminal background.

Why Are Some States More Difficult for Criminal Background Checks?

Different states have different regulations. That’s why some states are notoriously difficult for background checks.

California, for example, makes it difficult for an ordinary individual to access criminal records. In California, heavy regulatory restrictions and lengthy turnaround times can frustrate criminal records searches. California has 58 courts and most allow employers to clear a candidate online – which is good. However, if a criminal record is found in any court, then all the other courts must use their court researcher to retrieve the entire record.

California isn’t the only state with this complicated process: New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Nevada are also notoriously difficult.

Why Do Two Separate Criminal Record Checks Return Different Results?

Sometimes, a criminal record may change between searches – even if the searches were conducted in a short period of time. There are a number of reasons for this.

First, the individual could have committed a crime in the time between your searches. In other cases, changes may have occurred at the courthouse or a case may have progressed to a certain point where it appears on a criminal record check.

In some cases, there may have been changes in the law that affect how someone’s information is presented on their criminal record.

To help combat this, some employers introduce post-hire monitoring, where an employee’s criminal record is monitored after they’re already hired.

How Soon Can I Receive My Criminal Record Search Results?

Many criminal background searches are returned right away. We have a fast, automated, and highly thorough process for criminal record searches. We automate our searches wherever possible to make sure you get the information you need as quickly as possible.

In cases where you’re searching multiple counties, multiple individuals, or in a particularly difficult state, searches may take a little longer to perform.

Are Your Criminal Searches 100% Accurate?

Unfortunately, no (honest) criminal record search provider will guarantee a 100% accurate background check. There are too many different moving parts and too many areas of ambiguity to guarantee 100% accuracy every time.

For example, if a state or county court records an error in their submission (like one wrong letter in a last name), then that throws off our accuracy – even though it’s not our fault.

We cannot alter county or state records. We can only report on them. However, we strive for accuracy every time and in most cases, criminal background searches performed through our service are 100% accurate.

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!

Check Criminal Records Now

You Must Request Permission in Professional Settings

Permission is Not Required in Personal Settings

Can Someone Tell You Checked Their Background?

Final Word

Some States Have State Databases, While Others Have County Databases

Case Information May Not Be Available Online

How to Request Information from County Courthouses

How Much Does It Cost?

How to Request State Court Information

Use a Background Check Service to Simplify County Court Record Searches

Employment Verification

Credit Checks

Criminal Record

Why Do Employers Run Background Checks?

Other Things to Know About Employer Background Checks

Be Aware of Ban the Box Laws

Your Employer Must Use an FCRA Compliant Service

Your Employer Must Inform You of the Background Check

Final Word

1 in 3 Americans Have a Criminal Record

You May Qualify for Tax Credits

They’re Loyal and Hardworking

They Have Already Served Their Time

They’re Not Necessarily Dangerous

Final Word

Check Your Own Criminal Record First

Get Consent If Checking Someone’s Criminal Record for a Job or Lease

Understand What’s Included on a Background Check

Understand Certain Records Are Off Limits

You Can’t Access All Records, Even If They’re Newer Than Seven Years

Arrest Records Might Appear

You Can Expunge Certain Arrest Records

You Can Expunge Certain Convictions – Even Felonies

Be Wary of Free Online Background Check Websites

Avoid Defamation Lawsuits By Not Spreading Falsehoods

Easily Find Criminal Records For Anyone

Here are some of the most common reasons to run a criminal background check in 2020:

National Sex Offender Registry (NSOPW.gov)

Each State’s Department of Public Safety

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC.org)

People Search Websites and Social Media Websites

Check Criminal Record (CheckCriminalRecord.com)

Final Tips On Finding Criminal Arrest Records

A Name

The Person’s Consent (Required for Employment Screenings)

Additional Information Can Narrow Down Search Results

It’s Legal to Check Someone’s Criminal Record for Personal Use

You Need Consent to Check Someone’s Criminal Record for Professional Use

‘Ban the Box’ Laws Restrict Employers from Asking About Criminal Convictions

Employers Must follow Additional Anti-Discriminatory Regulations with Background Checks

Some States Restrict Background Checks for Cases Older Than Seven Years

Types of Criminal Background Searches

Consider Using a Professional Criminal Record Search Service to Avoid Legal Headaches

Final Word

What’s on a Criminal History Check?

What Is Not on a Criminal Background Check?

Is It Legal to Run a Criminal Background Check?

Before You Start Searching Records

Step 1) Check Sex Offender Registries

Step 2) Check the Arrest Record Database for Your State

Step 3) Repeat for Each State

Step 4) Check County Records

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

The National Driver Register (NDR) And The DMV

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

Submitting A Request Through The FBI

Using The Freedom of Information Act To Learn More About Someone

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

Why Do I Need a Criminal Record Check Service If Records Are Publicly Accessible?

Why Are Some States More Difficult for Criminal Background Checks?

Why Do Two Separate Criminal Record Checks Return Different Results?

How Soon Can I Receive My Criminal Record Search Results?

Are Your Criminal Searches 100% Accurate?

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

2) Search For A Criminal Record

3) Casually Ask About Their Daily Schedule

4) Gently Probe Their Positions On Key Issues

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

7) Check Your Own Record