How to Run a Background Check Using Public Records
Arrest Ledger does not run background checks or sell reports. This guide shows how to check the four major public record systems yourself, directly from official sources — free or at nominal cost.
- County sheriff and clerk of court records
- State criminal history repositories
- Federal court records (PACER)
- State and federal inmate locators
The four record systems to check
A thorough public-records check covers multiple independent systems, because no single database holds everything:
- County criminal records. Arrest records, charges, dispositions, and sentencing from each US county the subject has lived or worked in — held by the county sheriff and the clerk of court.
- State criminal repositories. Many states maintain a central criminal history database that aggregates county-level records, usually run by the state police or department of public safety.
- Federal court records. Cases filed in US District Court (federal criminal matters), accessed through the federal PACER system.
- Inmate locators. Active custody status from state departments of correction and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
How to do it yourself
- Start with the county. Use this directory to find the county page for each place the subject has lived or worked. Check the sheriff's jail roster or arrest log, then the clerk of court's case search for dispositions.
- Check the state repository. Search for your state's name-based criminal history check — most state police or public safety departments offer one to the public for a modest fee.
- Search federal courts. Register for PACER to search US District Court records. Fees are $0.10 per page and are waived entirely if you accrue $30 or less in a quarter.
- Check inmate locators. Every state corrections department publishes an inmate locator; for federal custody use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
FCRA notice
Arrest Ledger is informational and is not a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Information you gather from public records this way may not be used for any FCRA-regulated purpose, including employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance, or licensing decisions. For FCRA-regulated screening, use a licensed consumer reporting agency.
Common reasons people check public records
People search public records for a wide range of reasons — most of them entirely routine: reconnecting with a long-lost relative, looking up a public official, journalistic research, or simply checking what information about themselves is publicly visible. None of these uses are FCRA-regulated, and all are well-served by checking the official sources yourself.
If you are screening someone for an employment, housing, credit, or insurance decision, you must use a licensed consumer reporting agency that follows FCRA procedure — including the candidate's written consent and the FCRA-required pre-adverse action notice. Arrest Ledger is not licensed for those uses.