Criminal Records Answers

• What does a Department of Justice background check typically contain?

  A Department of Justice (DOJ) background check typically contains an individual’s criminal record, including all arrests and convictions as reported by law enforcement. In most states, the State Department of Justice compiles all criminal records. Each state’s Department of Justice u ...

• What types of criminal record background checks are typically performed by potential employers?

  Several types of criminal background checks can be performed by potential employers, including a Department of Justice criminal background check, an FBI criminal background check and an instant criminal background check that can be performed online through a private company. In many states, such ...

• Can employers run a criminal records check?

  Yes, anyone can run a basic criminal records check, provided that they have information such as the birthdate, name, address, and Social Security number of the person they want to check out. Many employers conduct a criminal record check instead of accepting the employee’s background chec ...

• How long does a criminal check take?

  It all depends on which service you use. If you use an online service, you should receive a thorough criminal check on the same day, sometimes instantaneously. If you apply by mail, most services will mail you a criminal record report on the same day the request was received, thus taking anywher ...

• What will a criminal record show?

  Criminal records, or criminal histories, show any felony arrests and gross misdemeanors. Every time you are arrested and your fingerprints are entered into a national database, this information goes into your criminal record. Criminal record checks can be requested by an individual. Certain em ...

• Can I order a criminal record check on someone other than myself?

  Yes, you can. But, to get more thorough results with your criminal record check, you may need to have the person's Social Security number and date of birth. A number of companies provide criminal record checks so you don't have to undertake this tedious task on your own. These searches generall ...

• How can I order criminal records?

  You can obtain a criminal records history by attempting to compile the information on your own, or by using the services of a provider that specializes in obtaining this information. While taking the former route may be the cheapest option, doing so can be time-consuming. And, if you're not ski ...