Criminal Records Free Access
Criminal records free access is a cost-effective way to look up information regarding individuals looking for employment or wanting to rent a house or apartment. Ideally, you want to perform nationwide checks as well as federal checks.
When looking up information for nationwide checks federal arrests and court cases may not appear. In most cases, you will need to conduct a federal search through federal criminal records online search portal such as PACER. PACER provides information for cases filed in a federal court of law only. Information on obtaining court documents and the type of court documents that are available can be found on the PACER website.
Searching for Criminal Records Free Access
Free access to criminal records varies depending on where the case was filed. Some states have a statewide online search portal and in others, you would need to obtain information in the county where the case was filed.
You can also perform a search on the statewide department of law enforcement. You would need to search for the state’s website and find out if they provide a criminal records free access search portal. Some states require you to conduct a background check to access criminal records for that state. However, if you are searching for criminal records free access portals in certain counties, it might be easier to look with the county courthouse, jail, and/or sheriff’s office.
Where to Look for Criminal Records Free Access
There are a number of places that you can look for criminal records aside from the courts and law enforcement. You can look up information on the state’s Department of Corrections website or look at county jails.
Information Found
The information that is provided on the criminal records search will vary depending on where you are searching. Most criminal records will list the offense, the time and date of the offense, court case information about the offense, and personal information about the subject that is being searched.
Verifying Criminal Records
If you need to verify criminal records, the first step would be to contact the judicial district that the court case was filed in. You can also check with the arresting law enforcement agency and see if they will provide you with free access to arrest records. If the information that you obtain is from the department of corrections, the information should be accurate.
In some circumstances, you might be able to contact the state or district attorney’s office that prosecuted the case in question. The information that they provide or can verify might be limited.
What the Public Should Know
When you are looking at criminal records, you should always verify the accuracy of the information obtained. Arrest records do not always constitute a conviction for the crime. Therefore, it would need to be verified with a court to see if the individual was convicted of a crime.
The public has a right to inspect and research criminal records and court cases. This is considered public information unless the case has been sealed, expunged, or if the individual was a juvenile at the time.