Criminal Court Records: Overview

Statewide Criminal Records and National Criminal Records are initial database searches that can give a broad scope of criminal records in multiple states. They are inexpensive and fast. They allow a broad search that encompasses multiple jurisdictions. However, their use as the basis of a denial of employment may require further verification. Docusearch.com’s database searches are an excellent means of identifying jurisdictions where on-site court searches should be ordered. Keep in mind that because databases are not one hundred percent comprehensive, the absence of a record found does not guarantee a clear record. Some records may lack sufficient identifiers, requiring further verification. Database criminal records may be updated on a monthly, quarterly, or semiannual basis.

On-site court searches offer the most specific and up-to-date information available on an applicant. They are more expensive than instant searches and take more time since they require sending a person to the courthouse to actually look up at the records. They must be ordered at the county, and therefore they cannot span a larger jurisdiction like a Statewide Criminal Records or a National Criminal Records. However, they are recommended to verify the most current status of an applicant’s record, particularly in residence counties. They are recommended to verify criminal arrest records and other records found in instant reports. On site court searches cover seven years of felony convictions,  as well as misdemeanors. Keep in mind that because of their narrow scope, the absence of a record from a single county search does not guarantee a clean record.

State criminal records include abbreviated conviction and arrest information from most county and state government agencies. County criminal records are not always reported at the state level. Some state courts make their records available on the Internet, but some states exclude the sensitive personal information online in their criminal records. State courts have to ensure a balance between privacy and accountability while providing criminal data online.

While some state courts offer comprehensive access of their records free of charge, some state courts charge a prescribed fee for online accessibility. The accessibility of the court records online to the public users allows them to monitor the fairness and the equality of operations in the judicial system. The criminal records that are provided by state courts online are in different forms ranging from state services to single jurisdictions. Moreover, if the state courts provide the cost-free, uniform, consistent, and user-friendly information via Internet, it will be useful to the public. They should consider these facts while granting electronic access of their records. So providing online accessibility of criminal records is a great challenge to the state courts.

Statewide searches of criminal records are almost immediate in most states. Strictly speaking, a county level criminal record check is a better option when compared to a state check from a practical perspective because receiving information from a state court takes much more time to have a complete history of felonies and misdemeanors. Indeed all the state criminal indexes receive their date from the counties only. If any error is there in a county criminal record, then obviously state records may not be genuine and complete. Therefore the best option is searching both statewide and countywide indexes.

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