Get access to free criminal public records

As our society becomes much more security-minded, the idea of being able to search for any possible criminal records on our new neighbors, the teachers in our schools, prospective employees, or even that potential date we have just met has a growing appeal. We have an increased need to know whom we are dealing with and some idea of what they have or have not done in the past. To fill this ever growing need there has been a massive increase in websites that advertise access to free criminal public records. But do they truly provide these labor-intensive searches for free or is it the beginning of a chain that will ultimately require paying before the requested information is released to you?

Depending on what level of search you are requiring, it may not even be possible to access everything or be guaranteed that the search is complete or accurate. On a national level only the FBI maintains criminal records throughout the entire country and it is illegal to access this information unless you are in law enforcement or the judicial system. On a state level for criminal checks, only 29 states offer the ability to search their criminal records. In order to get a better report, a county-level search is most effective. However, this cannot usually be done online but requires a person to physically go and visit the county courthouse in the county they are searching for the information in.

Even when you make this effort, it will not always be freely given. With the growth of online search sites that require a fee for their services, many counties have realized that revenue can be had from these requests and have begun charging for the service of providing you information in their local databases. As example the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charges $25.00 to provide a statewide search of their records and The Indianapolis Police Department requires $15.00 for their criminal history records on an individual. Despite the concept that public records are free to the public, more and more it is becoming necessary to pay for the information even when it is taken from supposedly free public records.