Free Criminal Background Check? Here's How To Get The Information
Are you interested in a free criminal background check? Unfortunately, detailed records regarding arrests and criminal convictions can be hard to find online. But with Instant Checkmate, it's as easy as entering a name.
Free Criminal Background Check
Is there a way to get a free criminal background check?
If you know where and when the crime took place, you can visit a local courthouse, file a request, and perhaps pay a small administration fee to view criminal records. But this process can be long and inconvenient. If someone has a criminal record in another city or state, you'd have to travel all that way to that courthouse to view their record.
Instant Checkmate is not free, but for an affordable price, you can view someone's criminal history in minutes. Just enter a name to begin.
Related: An In-Depth Look At Instant Checkmate
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that grants public access to federal agency records, with some exceptions. Since the passage of the FOIA in 1966, most states have followed suit and passed similar legislation mandating that members of the general public have access to state government records as well. To learn more about the history of the FOIA and why this law is so important, visit the Instant Checkmate YouTube channel and watch episode 1 of our series, "How Is That Even Legal?"
What About Government Free Background Checks?
Because of the wide availability of both federal and state government records, it is usually possible to create your own free criminal background check using various free government arrest records. However, users should be advised that there are significant obstacles in creating your own free background check reports.
First off, many states and counties require a processing fee to obtain court documents such as criminal records. Going solo to create a background check for free usually stops there. There are sites and services that offer free background checks, but those sites usually pay for all records up-front and add them to their own database. Then, they serve the old data to you and usually support the site via advertising revenue.
Most offer free criminal checks on a trial basis, then allow users to continue using the site only if they register for a subscription. Because the data contained in these free criminal background reports is often old information, and because state and government agencies are NOTORIOUS for having inaccurate data, you rarely will be able to get current, reliable facts from these free online background check sites.
Your other main barrier to finding free criminal background checks is knowing where to look. Most states have laws that require that each county and jurisdiction make their arrest records, criminal records, sex offender records, and other similar information publicly available, but they don't necessarily mandate how or where. The result is that each state and local government stores public records in their own way, in separate databases, and the records are not clearly connected.
Basically, it's a huge mess just trying to locate these records, let alone attempting to understand how to access them. Some jurisdictions make it easier than others, but often it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. So even if you are looking for government arrest records in a location that makes them easier than others to find, there's no guarantee that A) they're free or B) they're accurate.
We haven't even mentioned all the time it will take you to create your own "free" criminal background check. You might as well pay a service to create one for you because it's unlikely you'll find what you're looking for within a day or two.
What Kind Of Information Is In An Instant Checkmate Report?
Criminal records are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what's included in an Instant Checkmate report. Here's what else you might find in your background report.
Personal Information
This section may include a full name, aliases, possible photographs, date of birth, and age.
Education And Job History
This section may include someone's possible education and employment history.
Possible Relatives
Are you curious to see who might appear as a possible relative in your report? This function is a great resource for finding long lost relatives! Enter your own name now to find out:
Criminal Records and Arrests
Criminal and arrest records may also include traffic tickets, DUI's, and warrants.
Sex Offender Maps
Contact Information
Did you know you may also find contact information with an Instant Checkmate search? You may find phone numbers, email addresses, and current and previous addresses.
Social Media Profiles
Social profile data on Instant Checkmate may include profiles from Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Amazon, Flickr, and more. In some cases, you may even find dating website profiles. Could your significant other still be active on a dating website?
Are you ready to run a criminal background check? Enter a name in the box below to begin:
