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Criminal Records
Understanding search methodologies, limitations, and best practices
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Criminal Records 2.0: No Single Source is Sufficient Criminal record information exists in a fragmented landscape of over 10,000+ courts and record sources across the United States. No single database or search method can capture the complete picture. Effective screening requires a strategic, multi-layered approach using overlapping tools. Criminal Record Sources Federal Sources • FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) • Federal District Courts (94 districts) • Federal sanction and watch lists State & County Sources • State criminal repositories • Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) systems
• Individual county courts • Municipal and town courts • Tribal courts on reservation lands
Best Practice Strategy Layer multiple search types to create overlapping coverage. Start with address-based county searches, supplement with statewide databases where available, add federal court checks, and use nationwide databases as an additional safety net—not as a primary source.
Specialized Databases • State prison systems and corrections departments • Sexual predator registries (state and national) • Civil court records
• Proprietary vendor databases • Local police department records
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