Is there is a public record or free background check website to check if one has a criminal record?
Full Question:
Answer:
Not all states allow public access to statewide criminal records information. Some allow online access, while others require written application forms. Fees vary, and access may require a specific authorization form and/or specific identifying information such as full name, address, date of birth, social security number, and county of residence.
Information provided by a statewide record system may be incomplete due to limited date ranges or the limited number of courts and offenses for which records are maintained. “Offender” or “inmate” searches are generally limited to individuals who were sentenced to state prison. Many states provide free online access to sex offender registries (SORs), but information provided through these registries is also limited. Check with the sources listed about such limitations.
Criminal records checks include convictions and sometimes arrests. Child abuse registry checks can reveal if a person was named in a report, but registry checks are not available in all states.
You might contact the Department of Justice Records Review Unit, P.O. Box 903417, Sacramento, CA 94203; (916) 227-3849.