If you are expecting an easily accessible national criminal records database in this age of advanced communication, you will be disappointed. The technology may be available and the federal constitution may provide a constitutional guarantee for United States citizens to access the information, but specific state legislation is required for its implementation.
However, you can still find some bits of information. The Federal Bureau of Prisons website offers an inmate locator service free of charge. You can also check out credible public interest organizations, such as the Family Watch Dog website, which tracks sex offenders released from prison. The next step is to search the independent databases of state prison facilities, police records, and court records. Before starting your search, remember to verify the person’s name or identity.
In many states, criminal records are restricted and the person’s date of birth and social security number are required to perform the search. Potential employers typically have this information, but are required by law to inform their applicants that they are undergoing a criminal background check. They must also provide the requester with access to the public information they collected.
However, the process of conducting a comprehensive search for your free criminal record online is difficult and time-consuming. You may not have the time and patience to search the mountain of free public information strewn all over the web. You may be satisfied with free public information services if your reasons for searching are simply out of curiosity and your personal or business life is not at risk.
However, if you are an employer with numerous candidates to research, or a landlord with several potential tenants applying, or a busy professional looking for a caregiver for your children or elderly parents, convenience and time are important to you.
Also, you should be aware that free services not provided by government agencies or accredited government providers need to be double checked. Collecting data at the national level, such as criminal records, which involves multiple additions throughout the year, requires a large investment of time and resources. Therefore, sites offering free information may not have up-to-date records. Free criminal history database providers cannot provide convenience and customer service to help you search.
Your next resource is an online search for fee-based criminal background investigation providers. The fee depends on the detail of the investigation you want. Pricing will vary based on the scope and quality of your databases. Some database searches are organized by state, while others provide a convenient nationwide criminal record search feature for an annual fee of around $ 40.
Think about the reason for your search and the consequences of inaccurate information, and then decide whether it is reasonable for you to pay higher subscription fees to quality public information providers.