A criminal records search is usually a standard part of any background check. There are various sources that you can use to determine if someone has a criminal record and what route you take will depend on the information you have about your subject at the start.

Nationwide Criminal Records Check

Currently there is only one database available that includes nationwide criminal records. The NCIC (National Crime Information Center) is owned and maintained by the FBI. It is available to law enforcement officials only and cannot be accessed legally by the general public.

The fact that this information is not available to the general public has created an enormous underground market. Quite often the information is obtained from former law officials who have an associate on the inside. However, obtaining information from the database in this manner is not only illegal for the provider but there are also strict penalties for the buyer of such information.

A legal source that is available to anyone for limited information is the Federal Prison Locator. Although they will not provide you with a person's criminal history, you can find out if your subject has ever spent time in a federal prison within the United States. Contact numbers are as follows:

Federal Prison Locator - Records From 1981 to present - (202) 307-3126

Federal Prison Archives - Records before 1981 - (202) 307-2934

State Criminal Records Check

Currently there are 26 states that will allow you to search for criminal records statewide. If your subject is within one of these states, this is probably a good place to start. However, even if a statewide check is available to you, a county level record check may be an option that you do not want to overlook. Quite often weeks or even months can elapse before you receive the information requested from a statewide check. As well, some states may require a signed release or may not provide a complete history of your subject.

State and county contact addresses and other related material is available within the 'State' and 'Offline Resources' sections of the program.