Where you can search for free public police records

The United States officially has the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world, according to a recent 2009 survey. The best part of this statistic is that it does not include those who are on probation, undergoing rehabilitation, or have been previously convicted and have completed their sentences. Is it safe to say that you may not be absolutely sure if the people you trust have clean criminal records? Do you want to search your police records for free? If so, there are a few things you need to know before you start doing it.

Public police records are a great place to get a full check to see if someone has violated certain laws or regulations. Police records are different from criminal records in that they are not just a consolidation of crimes and convictions. It will also include warnings, tickets, or any other time a person may have had an interaction with the police. Even if it doesn’t interest you, it will also include all public complaints against that person or any company that may be doing business under that person’s name. Some of the arrest-related parts of the records include arrests, driving tickets, sex offenses, gang-related violence, and drug-related charges. Along with all of your police records, the registry will also have a list of very relevant information such as applied firearm permits, address histories, aliases, family members and their addresses, missing persons, property records, and more.

Online public records search websites are by far the best place to do a free police records search. Unfortunately, many of the government-run sites are not comprehensive and do not allow full access to your information. Privacy laws will also limit the people who can ask to see a police record to people who have a good reason or permission from the person they are trying to search. Keep in mind that it is illegal for prospective employers to ask employees if they have ever been arrested.

Records can also be retrieved that essentially indicate that a person has “no record.” So if you are a job seeker, you do not have a registration and you think it will improve your chances of employment, you can go to your local police department and get a “certificate of no registration”. This will show your employer that you have never had a record, although you are not allowed to ask.