What is the Best Way to do a Criminal Record Check?

Whether you’re conducting business with a stranger, looking to date a new person you hardly know, or don’t know if you can trust your new neighbor, there are countless reasons why you may want to do a criminal record check. This can be a somewhat difficult task depending on what state you live in, so today we’re going to go over a few ways to go about performing this sort of check using information that is publicly available

Making Requests for Criminal Records from Government Agencies.

This can be a complicated path to take, depending on where you live. You also get varying levels of information depending on who you are in relation to the person in question. Many states require a fingerprint to access these records, and some even require a signed form. Some states even go so far as to require for this form to be submitted. If you’re looking to request a federal criminal record check, you can only request those if you’re the person in question. Those require a fingerprint scan to be taken at a USPS then for you to submit the scan through their website.

Checking with your Local Courts and Police Departments.

If you need to find this information but you don’t have access to their fingerprint, worry not. There are a couple of other paths you can take to get this information. Many courts and police departments have some of this information available on their websites It could take you a very long time to piece together any information you find there, and not everything could be listed so you could be coming up with inaccurate or incomplete information. The information available directly on the databases of these agencies also vary based on the county and how much resources they have to pour into creating an easy, publicly accessible database for people to look through.

Using an Online Background Check Website’s Services

Many online background check companies have access to public records all across the country and are able to look through them to give you accurate information that is up to date instantly. SpyFly is a good example of this type of company, they strive to find all of the most relevant information that is publically available.

This method is not only easier, but in many cases it is a lot quicker. Some states require for the record check to be received in the mail, which can take some time, and as we went over manually pouring through court and police records can be a timely undertaking. Using a background check company to complete this task can cut your wait time down dramatically, as in many cases you will be receiving your results instantly.

The Approach Depends on what you Need.

There are definitely always ways to get information that is publically available, and you can choose based on your needs. It can be difficult to find all of the information you need in one place when trying to find the best way to do a criminal record check, especially if you’re trying to run a check on someone other than yourself. In that scenario, it may be your best option to turn to a background check company online so you can utilize their services and get all of the information you need without using up a significant amount of time to collect it.

***SpyFly provides consumers affordable, immediate access to public record information. Federal laws prohibit businesses from using SpyFly’s service to make decisions about employment, insurance, consumer credit, tenant screening, or for any other purpose subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq.***