Are you interested in finding out whether someone has a criminal record? Or perhaps you’d like to check your own rap sheet. Fortunately, most criminal court records are accessible to the public. But if you’ve never searched public records before, you probably don’t know where to start when it comes to sifting through decades of criminal records — or what information you might uncover.

In this article, we will explore some methods to search criminal records and provide guidance on navigating the documentation, both online and offline — including what you might want to investigate.

How to Look Up Someone’s Criminal Record

The easiest way to find out if someone has a criminal record is by searching public records. Public records consist of documents and information available to the general public, including court records, arrest records, and criminal convictions.

1. Search mugshots online

You can often find mugshots by conducting an online search using search engines like Google or Bing, even if the records have been sealed or expunged.

One useful website for this purpose is Arrests.org – a mugshot publishing website with satellite local sites for 39 US states. Arrests.org collects and posts mugshots by gathering information from public records such as police records, arrest records, court records, and booking information. Their profiles include details like mugshots, full names, dates of birth, height, weight, addresses, arrest records, charges, and prior arrests.

While mugshot websites like Arrests.org provide a public service by collecting and publishing criminal records, it’s important to note that all arrestees are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This means that finding an arrest record for someone doesn’t necessarily indicate their guilt. To conduct a more thorough investigation, you can search for relevant court records to see if the person has been convicted of the crime they were arrested for.

2. Search court records

If you know where someone was arrested, you can check the court clerk’s office, and in some cases, a court or state agency website, to search for conviction records about that person.

If you’re uncertain whether someone has ever been arrested, you can visit or contact the courthouse in the county where the person currently resides or has lived in the past. Most courthouses provide public terminals for record searches.

Alternatively, you can look for criminal history records online. Many states have online databases that allow you to search for criminal records. Simply search for the name of the county or state along with “criminal history records.”

In the case of federal crimes, when someone is arrested and/or convicted, it becomes a public event, and the records of that event are typically accessible to anyone who knows where to look. You can locate a federal court case by using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), or you can check National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) for information about sex crimes.

3. Use a Third-Party Service

There are several third-party services available that can assist you in locating someone’s criminal records. These services typically gather information from public records, social media, and other sources to create detailed reports on the person you’re interested in.

Here are some websites that offer criminal records:

1. Social Catfish – Social Catfish is a comprehensive people search tool that provides information about individuals, including their contact information, criminal history, and social media profiles. It also offers background checks, reverse phone lookups, and email address searches.
2. PeopleFinders – PeopleFinders is a people search tool that offers public records searches, background checks, and reverse phone lookups. It provides information about individuals’ contact details, criminal history, and other personal information.
3. Intelius – Intelius is a people search tool that offers background checks, reverse phone lookups, and public records searches. It provides information about individuals’ contact details, criminal history, and financial records
4. TruthFinder – TruthFinder is a people search engine that allows you to search for individuals using their name, email address, phone number, or username. It provides detailed reports that include contact information, social media profiles, criminal records, and more.
5. Whitepages – Whitepages is a directory of contact information for individuals and businesses. It enables you to search for people using their name, address, phone number, or email address. The platform also provides background checks and reverse phone lookups.

4. Conduct a background check

Another way to find out if someone has a criminal record is by conducting a background check on the person. A background check involves searching public records, credit reports, and other sources of information to gain a comprehensive understanding of a person’s background.

Public records searches can be time-consuming and confusing. The most reliable method of running a background check on someone is to hire private investigators or utilize background check companies to do it for you.

5. Ask the person directly

If you feel comfortable doing so, you can always ask the person directly if they have a criminal record. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone will be honest about their criminal history. Therefore, it’s crucial to verify any information they provide. If the person admits to having a criminal record, you can ask for details about the conviction, such as the type of crime, the date of the conviction, and any other relevant information.

6. Get your own criminal records

You can obtain a copy of your own criminal history records from the FBI, known as ”Identity History Summary Checks”. Note that you cannot request someone else’s records.

You can submit your request online by visiting edo.cjis.gov. Your request must include proof of your identity and payment of an $18 processing fee.