Find out if Someone Is a Convicted Felon
Whether you are hiring someone for a job or need to find out about him or her for personal reasons, a criminal background check is an important investment of your time or money. You can find out if someone is a convicted felon by either paying an online service or doing the leg work yourself.
Instructions
1. Know that perusing county criminal records is the best way to find out if someone is a convicted felon, if you are willing to travel and you have the history of the person's residencies. Most county records go back 7 years, and include state police arrest records, suspended sentences, dismissals, probation and incarceration records. You will need the person's last name, first name and middle initial (if available). If you also know the birth date and Social Security number, you will have better results. The problem with this approach is that you may have to visit every county the person has lived in.
2. Explore an online federal court docket system called PACER that is offered in U.S. District Courts. Not every court has this system. It does not go back as far as county records, and the information is not as complete. Some courts do not have access terminals, so you will have to submit a request to a clerk and wait a few days for the results.
3. Be forewarned that statewide criminal records are usually incomplete, because not all court records are registered. Some allow online access and others require a written application and a possible fee. Check the state's official website for information.
4. Consider online databases; they are sometimes, free but the information is less detailed and may not be current. Popular sites include SearchSystems.net, eFindOutTheTruth.com and Intelius.
5. Find out as much as you can on the individual beforehand. Having the correct spelling of a name is important, as well as any other names the individual may go by, including maiden names. Birth dates and Social Security numbers will narrow the search. And of course, the history of where the individual has lived is important. To find where an individual has lived, you can search dmv.org.
Tags: Convicted Felon, convicted felon, county records, criminal records, Find Someone
