Recently some posted an inquiry concerning how criminal records are offered
nationwide. Here is how it's done. Although there has been some posts recently
concerning the use of NCIC to conduct criminal records checks, for the most
part; that's off limits to private investigators. The only other "nationwide
criminal records" database is that newspaper index which only lists
posts that have been made in major newspapers. Since the overwhelming majority
of criminal charges and convictions are not listed in newspapers, this database
is just not that useful. Most criminal records searches are done on the
local county level by accessing the records at the county courthouse. Nineteen
states permit access in the private sector of criminal conviction records
from state repositories. They are:
COLORADO
State Criminal Records Repository 303-239-4680
CONNECTICUT
State Criminal Records Repository 860-685-8480
FLORIDA
State Criminal Records Repository 904-488-4931
HAWAII
State Criminal Records Repository 808-587-3106
IOWA
State Criminal Records Repository 515-281-5138
KANSAS
State Criminal Records Repository 913-296-8200
KENTUCKY
State Criminal Records Repository 502-573-2350
MAINE
State Criminal Records Repository 207-624-7009
MINNESOTA
State Criminal Records Repository 612-642-0670
MISSOURI
State Criminal Records Repository 573-526-6153
MONTANA
State Criminal Records Repository 406-444-3625
NOTH DAKOTA
State Criminal Records Repository 701-328-5500
OKLAHOMA
State Criminal Records Repository 405-848-6724
OREGON
State Criminal Records Repository 503-378-3070
PENNSYLVANIA
State Criminal Records Repository 717-783-5592
SOUTH CAROLINA
State Criminal Records Repository 803-737-9000
TEXAS
State Criminal Records Repository 214-358-2840
TEXAS WEB SITE for convictions ($31.5 each)
http://records.txdps.state.tx.us/dps/default.htm
WASHINGTON
State Criminal Records Repository 360-705-5100
WISCONSIN
State Criminal Records Repository 608-266-5764
Although more and more state criminal records repositories are open to private investigators, it's important to point out that these records are forwarded from each county. There are time g problems and the problem of non-reporting from the county level.
Some of the state records repositories require signed releases and/or fingerprint cards on the subject while others do not. The state of Texas recently placed a database for this which can be accessed on the web.
There are other ways to obtain access to this type of information coming from the county level:
Here are some interesting facts:
45% OF ALL COUNTIES WILL DO CRIMINAL CHECKS BY PHONE
By using reference works such as THE GUIDE TO BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS you can obtain access by phone/fax to these records.
The overwhelming majority of the remaining counties (there are 3,000 plus) will permit access to criminal records via the mail and paying a small fee (usually $5.00 0r under). Information brokers who resell this information use tools such as:
Which lists every county and explains how to go about accessing the record for each source. Some have made arrangements with user deposits on file to obtain the information by phone/fax. Still others have set up networks of people who go into the county courthouse and conduct hand searches for the information.
It's important to point out that in the overwhelming majority of states, it's not lawful to report arrests, only convictions-- especially in pre-employment screening services. It's also important to use personal identifiers such as DOB, SSN Number and Driver License Number to make sure the criminal record you are reporting belongs to the person under investigation and not another party.