National Criminal search is a database search of available public records across multiple jurisdictions. It may search back up to 15 years where federal and state law allow, which may sometimes include older records not available through county or state searches. Please note that not every jurisdiction in the country makes records available, and updates may lag behind. National Criminal searches are a supplemental search used to direct more detailed county or statewide investigations. Records found in the database are verified at the source before they are reported.
Statewide Criminal Search aggregates criminal records at the state level. Its scope and timeframe vary across states, as some may provide more comprehensive coverage while others have limited access due to licensing or data availability. Statewide searches are particularly useful for broader investigations encompassing multiple counties within the same state. By default, the search runs in the applicant’s current state of residence, and you can choose a different state when you order. Additionally, statewide searches aggregate county-level records from all counties within a state, providing a comprehensive view of an individual’s criminal history. These searches are typically offered as optional add-ons to standard background checks, and their comprehensiveness depends on the availability of records from each county within the state.
County searches entail records inspection with the courthouse in a given jurisdiction. This is the most accurate method of search given it is real-time, full-file, and available in every county in the United States. County-level criminal searches will search up to 15 years where federal and state law allow. Records other than convictions, such as arrests that did not lead to a conviction, generally can't be reported after 7 years, and some states limit reporting further, often to 7 years. It is ideal for thorough, localized searches when the targeted county is known.