If you expect an easily accessible national criminal history database in this age of advanced communication, then you will be disappointed. The technology may be available and the federal constitution may provide a constitutional guarantee for United States citizens to access information, but specific state legislation is required for its implementation.

However, you can still find some bits of information. The Federal Bureau of Prisons website offers an inmate locator service free of charge. You can also check out credible public interest organizations, such as the Family Watch Dog website, which keeps track of sex offenders released from prison. Your next step is to search the separate databases of state correctional facilities, police records, and court records. Before you begin your search, remember to verify the person’s name or identity.

In many states, criminal records are restricted and you need the person’s date of birth and social security number to perform the search. Prospective employers usually have this information, but they are required by law to tell their applicants that they are undergoing a criminal background check. They must also provide the requester with access to the public information they collected.

However, the process involved in conducting a complete free criminal record search online on your own is difficult and time consuming. You may not have the time and patience to search through the mountain of free public information scattered all over the web. You may be satisfied with free public information services if your search motives are simply out of curiosity and your personal or business life is not at risk.

However, whether you are an employer with numerous applicants to research, or a landlord with several potential tenants applying, or a busy professional looking for a caregiver for your children or elderly parents, convenience and time are important to you.

Also, you should be aware that free services not provided by government agencies or reputable government providers need to be double-verified. Collecting data at the national level, such as criminal records, which incur several additions throughout the year, requires a large investment of time and resources. Therefore, sites that offer free information may not have up-to-date records. Free criminal records database providers cannot provide convenience and customer service to help you search.

Your next resource is an online search for fee-based criminal background screening providers. The fee depends on the detail of the investigation you want. The price will vary depending on the scope and quality of your databases. Some database searches are organized by state, while others provide a convenient national criminal history search feature for an annual fee of around $40.

Think about the reason for your search and the consequences of inaccurate information, and then decide whether it is reasonable for you to pay higher subscription fees to providers of quality public information.