Can I Check Out Another Person’s Criminal Record?

There are more than 70 million adults with criminal records in the United States. By the age of 23, 33 percent of American adults have been arrested. Criminal records list all of their arrests. Criminal records include charges that lead to convictions and not guilty rulings. They may also contain sentencing information for any charges the subject of the record was convicted of. Cases that were dismissed are also part of a person’s criminal record. You can usually review another person’s criminal record, although there are some exceptions.

Reasons to View Criminal Records

There are several reasons you may want to access a person’s criminal record. You may have a new neighbor and want to ensure that they are trustworthy. This is one way of identifying local sex offenders and others who may pose a safety risk. You may also be considering a face to face meeting with a person you’ve communicated with online. It can be a good idea to run a criminal record check before meeting a person under these circumstances to ensure your safety. You may also have a friend or family member who is pursuing a new relationship and wants to determine if the person is trustworthy. Employers may also want to view a job applicant’s criminal record to determine if they are suitable for employment.

Restricted Records

Not all records may be accessible to the public. Some records are automatically sealed when an individual turns 18. A judge may opt to seal a record if they determine that there is a threat to the safety of witnesses who testified. Cases that involve national security may also be sealed. Individuals can also apply to have their records sealed or expunged. They must wait for up to 10 years to be eligible to have their request considered and show that they have not committed additional crimes since their conviction. Sealed records can be accessed with a ruling that it is in the public’s interest. For example, the police may suspect a subject’s involvement in a crime and wish to view their sealed records. Records that are expunged are destroyed. The court does not retain a copy. Nobody can view those records.

Public Records

You can find public arrest records online. Reputable background investigative site GoLookUp operate like a personal search engine. They include a person’s criminal record with their background report. You can access any public records through their system. GoLookUp requires users to be 18 years of age. They also prohibit employers from using their system for hiring purposes. If you do perform a background search there you can receive a list of addresses where the individual lived, a record of their arrests, traffic tickets, convictions, marriages, divorces, and custody records. You may also be able to learn if they owe child support or have other financial judgments against them.

Courthouse Records

Courthouses keep records of all criminal proceedings. You can go to the court clerk’s office, pay a fee, and order a copy of a person’s criminal record. They will provide you with a printed copy of the file. You can also go to the state’s judiciary website and perform a search there. The site requires that individuals be 18 years of age or older to perform a search. You can input the person’s first name and last night, or just their last name with an initial if you aren’t certain about their full legal name or spelling. The website will list all records that fit the parameters you enter. You can review charges. Records for each case will indicate if the subject was found not guilty, convicted, fined, or sentenced, or if the charges were dismissed.

Law Enforcement Records

Law enforcement agencies have access to criminal records. Police may need to run a criminal record check when they respond to an incident to determine if there are any outstanding warrants or if they have a history of violence. An individual’s criminal record may help police determine whether or not an individual has had a lapse in judgment for a specific reason, or whether they have a history of legal issues. They can also use this information to assess whether or not the person poses a threat. Only law enforcement officials have access to records through their system.