{"id":6910,"date":"2022-07-15T15:42:37","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T13:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blinkx.com\/?p=6910"},"modified":"2022-07-15T15:42:37","modified_gmt":"2022-07-15T13:42:37","slug":"how-can-i-find-out-criminal-records-of-someone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessfinancenews.com\/background\/how-can-i-find-out-criminal-records-of-someone\/","title":{"rendered":"how can i find out criminal records of someone"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are many reasons for learning how to find someone\u2019s criminal record without them knowing. Whether it\u2019s for personal curiosity or to safeguard loved ones, knowing how to find someone\u2019s criminal record is a useful skill.<\/p>\n

According to federal and state laws, if a background check is being conducted for any professional reason, such as employment, financial decisions, adoption or residency approval, then consent of the person being checked is required.\u00a0<\/i><\/b>It is illegal to conduct a background check for official reasons without first obtaining consent.<\/p>\n

However<\/em>, finding someone\u2019s criminal record isn\u2019t difficult since criminal histories, for the most part, are considered public records. As such, anyone can search them for personal reasons without permission from the person being checked.<\/p>\n

This full guide outlines the methods available to find criminal records on anyone.<\/p>\n

Find Someone\u2019s Criminal Record in All 50 States<\/h2>\n

There are three main methods involved when trying to discover if someone has a criminal record:<\/p>\n

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  1. Search State Court Clerks (Department of Justice records)<\/li>\n
  2. Search State Police and Law Enforcement<\/li>\n
  3. Search State and National Sex Offender Registries<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Each of these three options provides access to public criminal history and records, but the availability and the process for actually getting the criminal records can be different for each state or local jurisdiction.<\/p>\n

    In some cases, a specific form must be filled out before the state will release any documents or information about a person\u2019s criminal record. In others, checks can be conducted online with instant and (and sometimes) free results. Many states and local repositories charge a fee for official criminal records requests. While these are usually small (from $5-$25), when searching more than one state, the time and cost involved can add up.<\/p>\n

    Also keep in mind that the type of criminal information available may also vary from state to state. For example, some states only retain a record of felonies committed, while others include all misdemeanors, warrants (not to be confused with federal warrants), recent arrests and criminal offenses such as probation. In addition, the age (how long ago the crime happened) of the conviction or arrest impacts whether or not a record will be available.<\/p>\n

    In order to perform a single nationwide criminal history search, fingerprints are required, and would therefore necessitate consent from the person being checked. However, anyone can<\/em> use the following methods to search each state ( and local jurisdiction) and manually locate past criminal records. The downside of this strategy is that it will take longer and may be more costly than contacting a reputable background check service.<\/p>\n

    Steps For Searching Criminal History Records Online<\/h2>\n

    In order to complete an online search for criminal history records, there are several steps you should take. These steps include:<\/p>\n

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    1. Determine the type of criminal record you are seeking (arrest, pending charges, previous convictions, previous incarcerations, etc.).<\/li>\n
    2. Identify the correct jurisdiction to search (state or county).<\/li>\n
    3. Find an online database that is specific to that state or county (either the Department of Justice, local court clerks, or state and local law enforcement agencies).<\/li>\n
    4. Enter the person\u2019s name and other identifying information into the search engine.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Always remember to check local regulations for a personal criminal records search, because different states have different requirements regarding how background checks can be done on others without their consent. This applies to both online and offline methods.<\/p>\n

      Using State Courts to Find Criminal Records and Convictions (State Criminal Records)<\/h2>\n

      When locating details on someone\u2019s criminal record, the first place most people turn is court clerk records.<\/b> These are public documents where information about arrests, charges, hearings, and trials can be found within the state, if a criminal act occurred there.<\/p>\n

      While most states make criminal history records open to the public, there are some exceptions \u2013 usually involving juvenile offenders \u2013 that prevent anyone from accessing the sealed record.<\/p>\n

      The process is relatively simple. For example, to find criminal court records (and others) in Missouri:<\/p>\n