How to Look Up Someone’s Criminal Record – Detailed Guide
If you want to steer clear of risky, dishonest, or careless individuals, it’s important to search for their criminal history. By performing a criminal records check, you can obtain comprehensive details about a person that can help you determine whether or not to associate with them further.
Fortunately, you can now access background check sites with great ease. BeenVerified, PeopleLooker, and TruthFinder are among the top websites that allow you to look up an individual's criminal record conveniently, quickly, and from the comfort of your own home.
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What Is a Criminal Records Check?
If you're wondering how to look up someone's criminal record, it involves a thorough investigation of how to find someone’s criminal record through an individual's personal information contained in both state and federal public records.
If you're wondering how to find someone’s criminal record, there are various forms of identification that you can use to extract more information from public records. These may include a person's name, phone number, or email address.
The information that can be obtained through a search of how to find someone’s criminal record isn’t restricted to personal information only but can also include potential relatives and acquaintances, employment and education history, court records, location history, sex offender information, social media profiles, and asset ownership.
A standard criminal history report can contain:
- Records from civil courts
- Financial assets
- Bankruptcies
- Aliases
- Detailed name
- Firearms licenses
- Date of birth and age
- Records of offenses and arrests
- Social media accounts
- Photographs
- Professional permits
- Education history
- Liens
If you're wondering how to look up someone's criminal record, it's crucial to utilize only FCRA-approved background check services. It’s illegal to use non-compliant services for employment background checks, and by doing so, you run the risk of facing legal consequences.
If you want to know how to find someone’s criminal record, it’s crucial to conduct a comprehensive search using FCRA-approved services when checking potential candidates.
What Shows Up if You Look Up Someone’s Criminal Record?
If you want to know how to look up someone's criminal record, it's essential to understand that any information related to crimes the individual has been accused of, prosecuted for, or found guilty can be included.
The primary purpose of how to find someone’s criminal record history check is typically to determine whether the person has a history of committing misdemeanor or felony offenses.
Pending criminal charges or arrests are commonly included in criminal record checks.
Specific details that will be included on criminal record check reports include
- The defendant or the person's name who is accused of a crime
- The offense, or the crime, with which the defendant was charged, including the level of the offense (misdemeanor vs. felony)
- The manner of filing, including the case numbers assigned to the charges and other pertinent information about the court case
- The judgment or result of the charge
- The punishment may involve jail time or fines
- The outcome of the case or any information on a settlement
If you're wondering how to find someone’s criminal record, it's important to note that any sealed or expunged criminal convictions should not appear on a criminal record check.
With the rise of marijuana legalization, criminal justice reform advocates have been working to make it easier for individuals to have their records expunged.
If a person has successfully gone through the process of having their records sealed or expunged, this information should not be included in their criminal record report. It’s worth mentioning that the rules regarding expungement may differ slightly depending on the state.
Different states have varying restrictions on the time frame for criminal history checks.
If you're wondering how to look up someone's criminal record, it's important to note that in some states like Kansas, Maryland, California, Montana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington, check companies are prohibited by law from disclosing details on convictions that date back more than seven years.
When it comes to looking up someone's criminal record, it's important to know that different states have varying policies. For example, Hawaii has strict limitations, with felonies only going back seven years and misdemeanors going back five years.
However, some states have no restrictions on how far back criminal checks can go.
Types of Criminal Record Checks
Looking for information on how to look up someone's criminal record for free? There are various types of paperwork that you might encounter during your “how to find someone’s criminal record” search. To give you an overview, here are the most frequently encountered varieties of criminal records:
Conviction Records: While arrest records are public records, how to find someone’s criminal record of conviction can be harder to acquire.
The state's Department of Corrections typically maintains conviction records, making it necessary to get in touch with the DOC in the state where the individual was found guilty to obtain copies of the records.
Arrest Records: The records of arrests are generally available to the public and can be accessed from multiple sources, both online and offline.
How to look up someone's criminal record for free can be done by requesting copies from the court clerk of the county where the arrest took place. To do so, you need to know the exact location of the arrest.
Pending Charges: Discovering if an individual has any pending charges can prove to be challenging because such information is generally not accessible to the public.
How to look up someone's criminal record can be a daunting task. However, there is a way of how to find someone’s criminal record through a trustworthy acquaintance who can inquire on your behalf. This may provide an opportunity to discover if the person you're curious about has any pending charges.
Background Checks: One method of how to look up someone's criminal record is through background checks. Several organizations provide background check services, which generally involve examining all publicly available records to discover any previous criminal history of the individual you’re researching.
Why Look Up Someone’s Criminal Record?
How to look up someone's criminal record can be beneficial for individuals and businesses alike. If you're wondering how to find someone’s criminal record through conducting a search, there are four key reasons why it’s recommended to do so:
- To screen business partners - Being aware of how to look up someone's criminal record of your business partner can provide you with a sense of security and assist you in avoiding any association with an individual who may lack integrity.
- To check up on someone you're dating - Although not a pleasant thought, how to look up someone's criminal record is advisable to conduct a criminal background check before getting too involved with someone to prevent any future heartbreak.
- To check up on someone new in your neighborhood - Conducting a background check on individuals who have recently relocated to your community or neighborhood can provide valuable information on how to find someone’s criminal record.
Differences Between a Criminal Records Check and a Background Check
The general perception of a criminal record check involves accessing an individual's criminal background. However, the extent of how to look up someone's criminal record search is quite restricted. It only provides information on whether or not the person has been found guilty of a crime.
It does not indicate if the person has been apprehended for committing a crime or if there are any pending accusations against them.
When compared to a basic criminal record search, how to look up someone's criminal record through a background check is a more in-depth process.
Apart from providing information on whether someone has been found guilty of a crime, how to look up someone's criminal record through a background check also shows if that person has been taken into custody for an offense or if any charges are pending against them.
Moreover, how to look up someone's criminal record through a background check offers insights into various aspects of the individual's past, such as their work and educational history, as well as any monetary challenges they may have faced.
Ways to Lookup Someone’s Criminal Record
If you want to learn how to find someone’s criminal record, there are various methods available. However, the most effortless and efficient way is to use an online record check service.
How to look up someone's criminal record services can provide you with reliable information about a person's criminal history, which is often difficult to obtain by manually searching public records.
Therefore, opting for how to look up someone's criminal record search through a record check service can increase your chances of finding accurate details.
By utilizing the identification details you provide of how to look up someone's criminal record, these services search through extensive federal and criminal records within their database to extract pertinent information.
They then present the data in an orderly record check report that can be conveniently shared with others.
Having understood the simplicity of how to find someone’s criminal record check with these services, it's time to delve into the top three services of how to look up someone's criminal record and examine their unique features.
We shall briefly review each of these services to identify the factors that differentiate them from one another.
BeenVerified – Best Overall Criminal Record Check Service
BeenVerified is a widely used online platform that provides an option for checking records, including how to look up someone's criminal records.
By using the “how to look up someone's criminal record” check feature, users can easily learn how to find someone's criminal record of people residing in the United States.
If you're wondering how to find someone’s criminal record, our feature has got you covered. You can simply enter the individual's first and last name along with their state of residence, and our tool will generate a comprehensive report that provides all available details about any criminal records found.
This includes information such as charges, sentencing, and court records.
Read the BeenVerified Review
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PeopleLooker – Best for Fast Results
PeopleLooker is an internet-based platform that helps users search for public records, including how to look up someone's criminal record history of individuals.
How to look up someone's criminal record is made easy with our record search tool. Simply enter the person's name, address, or contact number, and our tool will provide you with their criminal records.
If you want to know how to find someone’s criminal record, our tool can be incredibly useful. It gathers information from federal, state, and regional criminal databases to produce a comprehensive report on the individual's criminal history.
The report includes convictions for both misdemeanors and felonies, details about arrests and warrants, sex offender registry status, and other relevant information.
Read the PeopleLooker Review
TruthFinder – Best for Searching the Deep Web
TruthFinder is a leading service for how to look up someone's criminal record checks. Its website is designed to be very easy to use, allowing users to conduct searches using a variety of different information, such as names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Thanks to its extensive database, which includes a wealth of criminal public records, TruthFinder is able to provide reliable and comprehensive information about individuals through public criminal records searches.
By using TruthFinder's record check services and its dark web monitoring tool, you can access information that’s not available anywhere else on the internet.
The cost of how to look up someone's criminal record using TruthFinder is $28.05 per month, and if you opt for a 2-month subscription, the total amount will be $46.
To learn more about why TruthFinder is considered the best choice for how to look up someone's criminal records, read our detailed review.
Read the TruthFinder Review
Intelius – Best Criminal Record Check Service for Accuracy
When it comes to how to look up someone's criminal records, Intelius is just as reliable as BeenVerified.
This people search service is known for its exceptional accuracy and has an extensive database of over 20 billion public records, providing a wealth of information on how to look up someone's criminal record of any individual.
At a cost of $24.86 for it’s how to look up someone's criminal record monthly plan, Intelius is slightly more affordable than its competitors. If you're interested in using Intelius for criminal record checks, take a look at our review for more information. Opting for the 2-month plan will cost you a total of $42.25.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Database
Authorized entities, such as law enforcement agencies, can access a thorough criminal records database maintained by the FBI.
To initiate a search of this database, a request must be submitted through an FBI-approved channeler or a state or local law enforcement agency to the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the FBI.
Although the FBI database is more accurate and complete compared to other options, the process of requesting a search can be more complex, time-consuming, and may require a fee.
However, the search of the FBI database can provide a more detailed and precise account of a person's criminal past, making it a valuable resource for those who need in-depth and reliable information.
State-Level Criminal Record Searches
If one wants to gather details about a person's past criminal activities in a specific state, state-level criminal record searches can be carried out. Every state retains its own database of criminal records that can be accessed by authorized parties such as law enforcement agencies or employers.
To obtain a state-level criminal record search, one usually has to approach the state agency that manages the records, and this process can be lengthy and may entail a payment.
Online criminal record search websites may not be as accurate or comprehensive as state-level searches, which can offer more detailed information.
Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that state-level searches may not always be entirely up-to-date or reliable, and utilizing them irresponsibly can potentially violate privacy laws.
Despite these limitations, state-level criminal record searches are still an invaluable resource for individuals who require comprehensive and precise information about an individual's criminal record within a specific state.
How Long Does Finding Someone’s Criminal Record Check Take?
By utilizing reputable record check services such as PeopleLooker or BeenVerified, you can expect to receive the outcome of your criminal record check within a few minutes. These services are designed to provide fast and effortless results, in contrast to having to wait for days.
How to look up someone's criminal record for free can be done manually or through a consumer reporting or government agency, but be prepared for a considerably longer process.
If you're wondering how to look up someone's criminal record for free, it's important to note that while most record checks can provide results within three to five days, some checks may take longer. For instance, FBI checks are known to require a processing time of around 30 days.
Even though some federal record checks can be expedited, it's advisable to anticipate a 30-day wait for a comprehensive review. Additionally, the duration of processing record checks can be affected by the number of states the person being checked has lived in.
The more states involved, the more databases are required to be searched, resulting in a longer wait time. This is the most frequent cause of delays in record checks.
Additionally, certain record checks necessitate the inclusion of multiple data points such as criminal records and credit checks. If you make multiple requests in a single record check, it may prolong the procedure.
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How Much Does Looking Up Someone’s Criminal Record Check Cost?
The cost of obtaining a record check varies from $10 to $500, depending on the components included in the report.
Criminal searches-only reports are generally cheaper than those that include employment and education verifications and drug testing. It’s important to compare the individual components or searches included in a report with the total cost to compare different vendors.
To conduct a criminal record check using BeenVerified, it’s necessary to first become a member by signing up. The website offers a two-month membership for either $28 per month or a lump sum payment of $46, which breaks down to $23 per month.
Individuals have the option to register for a reverse phone lookup membership with the company for a monthly fee of $4.99. This membership lasts for one month.
It’s important to note that the membership will be automatically renewed unless the member cancels prior to the end of the period.
Additionally, to access the PDF version of the report from BeenVerified, an extra payment of $2 is required.
Factors to Consider When Looking Up Someone's Criminal Record
How to look up someone's criminal record for free requires considering multiple aspects. If you want to know how to do it, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Accuracy of Information
When searching for how to look up someone's criminal record for free, it's important to bear in mind that the information you obtain may not be entirely accurate or comprehensive.
This is because errors can occur during data input or other stages of record-keeping. In addition, keep in mind that records may not contain details about charges that were dismissed or expunged.
Privacy Laws
If you're wondering how to look up someone's criminal record for free, it's important to note that privacy concerns may come into play.
It could potentially be illegal to access their criminal record without obtaining their permission first. Even if it’s allowed, it's imperative to exercise discretion and demonstrate respect for their privacy.
Legal Uses of Criminal Records
The utilization of how to look up someone's criminal record for free is restricted by legal regulations. For instance, employers are generally not allowed to discriminate against potential employees based on their criminal background unless there is a clear link between the job and criminal activity.
How to Look Up Someone’s Criminal Records Check - Frequently Asked Questions
What Fails You on a Record Check?
If a previous conviction appears on your record or if the information provided by you does not match the record check, you may not pass a criminal record check. Additionally, a criminal records check may result in failure due to a history of bad credit, failed drug and alcohol tests, and a poor driving history.
How to Check My Criminal Record for Free?
BeenVerified provides a simple way to conduct a personal record check and view your criminal record as it appears to others. Unfortunately, there are no free options available for checking your own criminal record online.
To obtain information about your personal record check, you may need to apply directly to the appropriate official authorities.
Bottom Line on How to Look Up Someone’s Criminal Records Check
If you're wondering how to look up someone's criminal record, whether it's for personal reasons such as checking your own information or investigating the background of a loved one or friend, or to uncover the truth about a potential partner, the aforementioned services can provide you with accurate information with minimal effort.
Conducting record checks is a complex process that involves contacting various public offices and submitting a request for each record. In addition to paying a fee for each request, you must also review the documents received to locate the desired information.
How to look up someone's criminal record can be made effortless by utilizing top-notch record check services. These services provide comprehensive criminal record check reports with ease.
How to look up someone's criminal record for free can be done easily by entering their name, phone number, email, or physical address into a people search service. Within a short time, you will receive all the required information.
It’s essential to keep in mind that how to look up someone's criminal record for free is accessible to the public to ensure transparency and accountability. However, it’s not acceptable to use these records as a means of harassment or discrimination.
When searching for how to look up someone's criminal record for free, it’s essential to act responsibly and uphold the privacy and dignity of the person whose information you’re accessing.
DISCLAIMER: You may not use the non-FCRA approved services mentioned in this article or the information they provide to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. These services don’t provide consumer reports and are not consumer reporting agencies. (These terms have special meanings under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq., (“FCRA”), which are incorporated herein by reference.)
The information available on our website may not be 100% accurate, complete, or up to date, so do not use it as a substitute for your own due diligence, especially if you have concerns about a person’s criminal history. The services we mention do not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through our website or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review each service’s Terms of Use.