A criminal record is the documented history of a person’s interactions with the criminal justice system — including arrests, charges, convictions, sentences, and in some cases probation or parole status — as recorded across law enforcement agencies, courts, and corrections systems at the local, state, and federal level. These records exist in multiple separate systems that do not automatically share data with each other, which means a complete criminal record search requires searching each relevant system independently. Employers, landlords, investigators, journalists, and individuals use criminal record searches to verify background claims, assess risk, and establish documented legal history. This guide explains exactly how to look up criminal records online — what systems exist, which ones are free, what each one covers, and how to conduct a complete search step by step.
Quick Answer: To look up criminal records online:
- Search the state court portal for the state where the subject has lived — this is the primary source for state criminal convictions
- Search PACER (pacer.gov) for federal criminal charges and convictions
- Search your state’s sex offender registry if relevant
- Check the state’s department of corrections offender search for incarceration history
- Run a Google operator search:
"[Full Name]" "[City, State]" arrest OR conviction OR charged - Verify any finding from an aggregator against the original court portal before treating it as confirmed
⚠️ Legal Notice: Criminal records are public records under most state and federal law, but access rules vary significantly by jurisdiction. Some records are sealed, expunged, or restricted by court order or state statute. Using criminal record findings for employment, housing, or credit decisions requires compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This guide does not constitute legal advice.
The Fastest Method (Under 10 Minutes)
For most subjects, this sequence surfaces available criminal record information quickly using free primary sources:
- Go to PublicRecordHub — find the court record portal for the state where the subject currently lives or last lived
- Search the subject’s full name — note all cases returned, case types, and dispositions
- Search name variations (middle initial, maiden name, known aliases)
- Go to pacer.gov — search the PACER Case Locator for federal criminal cases
- Search the state’s sex offender registry (linked from most state law enforcement websites)
- Search the state department of corrections offender locator for incarceration records
This covers the primary sources for most individuals in under ten minutes. For subjects who have lived in multiple states, repeat Steps 1–3 for each state.
Why Criminal Records Are Not in One Place
The most common misunderstanding about criminal record searches is that a single search returns a complete national criminal history. No such system exists for public access.
Criminal records in the United States are generated and maintained by three separate systems that do not automatically share data with each other: law enforcement agencies (arrest records), courts (charge and conviction records), and corrections agencies (incarceration and supervision records). A person arrested in one county, charged in the state court system, convicted, and sentenced to state prison generates records in all three systems — and each must be searched separately.
At the national level, the FBI maintains the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the Interstate Identification Index (III), which aggregate criminal history records from participating agencies. These systems are not accessible to the public — they are available only to law enforcement and authorized agencies. What the public can access are the underlying state and county records that feed into those systems.
The practical result: a public criminal record search requires searching state court portals, county court systems in relevant jurisdictions, federal court records through PACER, and supplementary systems like sex offender registries and corrections databases — each separately, each for each relevant jurisdiction.
Where Most Criminal Record Searches Fall Short
Searching only one state. A subject who has lived in multiple states may have criminal records in each of them. A search in Florida returns nothing about a case filed in Georgia.
Searching only state courts and missing federal records. Federal criminal charges — drug trafficking, tax fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, weapons offenses — are in PACER, not in state court portals. A subject with a federal conviction may appear completely clean in every state court search.
Confusing arrest records with conviction records. An arrest record shows that someone was arrested. A conviction record shows that they were convicted. These are different documents in different systems. An arrest that did not result in a charge produces no court record. A charge that was dismissed produces a court record with no conviction. See Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records.
Treating aggregator results as primary sources. Commercial background check platforms compile criminal record data from court systems on a delay and with incomplete coverage. Their data can contain expunged records, misattributed records from similarly named individuals, and outdated disposition information. Every criminal record finding from an aggregator must be verified against the primary court portal before being treated as confirmed.
Stopping when no online record is found. A clean online search result means no publicly accessible indexed record was found in the systems searched — not that no record exists. Records behind login walls, records in jurisdictions with limited online access, and records that predate digitization may contain relevant information that online searches miss entirely.
System 1: State Court Portals — The Primary Source
State criminal court records are the most important source for most criminal history searches. They document charges filed, plea history, trial outcomes, and sentences — the official judicial record of what happened after an arrest.
Most states provide free online access to at least basic case information through a statewide court portal. Coverage varies: some states provide full case documents online at no cost; others provide only docket information; a few have minimal online access requiring in-person courthouse visits or written requests.
For the correct portal for any state, PublicRecordHub maintains a directory organized by state and record type. Each state page links to the official portal with guidance on what is searchable.
What State Court Records Show
State criminal court records typically show: case number, charges filed (statute and description), arraignment and plea, trial or plea date, disposition (convicted, acquitted, dismissed, nolle prosequi), sentence (imprisonment, probation, fine), and case status.
What they often do not show: arrests that did not result in charges, cases that were expunged or sealed, juvenile records that are closed under state law, and records from other states.
Searching State Court Portals
Name searches on court portals require exact or near-exact name matching. Run the subject’s full name first, then variations: with and without middle name or initial, maiden name if applicable, and any known aliases. A single name search is rarely sufficient for a complete search.
For the complete state-by-state portal directory, see How to Search Court Records Online.
System 2: Federal Court Records — PACER
Federal criminal records are in PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), the federal judiciary’s public access system. Federal criminal charges cover offenses under federal law: drug trafficking, tax fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud, organized crime, weapons charges, immigration offenses, and national security matters.
PACER is free to register and charges $0.10 per page for document retrieval, with a quarterly fee waiver for users who access less than $30 in documents per quarter. Most casual users pay nothing.
Search PACER’s national case locator at pcl.uscourts.gov — it searches across all 94 federal districts simultaneously. Search by full name, then with middle initial variations. A case type filter allows restricting results to criminal cases specifically.
Key documents in a federal criminal case: the indictment or information (charges and factual basis), any plea agreement (includes a factual admission signed by the defendant), sentencing memoranda (detailed background on the defendant and the offense), and the judgment (sentence imposed).
For the complete PACER guide, see What Is PACER: A Beginner’s Guide to Federal Court Records.
System 3: Sex Offender Registries
Every state maintains a publicly accessible sex offender registry that lists individuals convicted of qualifying sex offenses and required to register under state law. The national sex offender public website (nsopw.gov) allows searching across all state registries simultaneously from a single interface.
Sex offender registry entries typically show: name, photograph, registered address, conviction offense, and registration status. Some states include additional details such as victim age, physical description, and registration compliance history.
Important limitations: the registry shows current registration status, not a complete sexual offense history. An individual who has completed their registration requirement may no longer appear. An offense from a state with different registration requirements may not be reflected. And the registry covers only qualifying sex offenses — not all criminal history.
System 4: Department of Corrections Offender Search
Most state departments of corrections operate a public offender search tool that shows current and historical incarceration records for individuals who served time in state prison. These tools are separate from court portals and cover the corrections side of criminal history — imprisonment, release dates, parole status, and in some cases current supervision status.
Corrections databases are particularly useful for:
- Confirming a sentence was actually served (court records show the sentence imposed, corrections records show what happened after)
- Finding current incarceration status
- Surfacing cases where incarceration occurred but the associated court records are difficult to locate
At the federal level, the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator (bop.gov/inmateloc) provides similar functionality for federal prisoners.
System 5: County-Level Records
In states without a unified statewide court portal, or for records that predate the statewide system, county-level court searches may be necessary. County clerk and county court websites often maintain their own case search tools covering records not included in the statewide system.
This is particularly relevant in large states like California, Texas, and New York, where county courts maintain separate systems and a statewide name search may not return all relevant records. A subject with records in Los Angeles County, for example, may not appear in a statewide California search — requiring a separate search of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s own portal.
System 6: Google Operator Searches
Google operator searches surface criminal record information indexed from news archives, court documents, and government databases that may not be accessible through direct portal searches.
Useful search patterns:
Finding criminal mentions in news:
"[Full Name]" "[City, State]" arrested OR charged OR convicted OR sentenced
Finding court documents as PDFs:
"[Full Name]" filetype:pdf "plaintiff" OR "defendant" site:gov
Finding mentions in government records:
"[Full Name]" site:gov "criminal" OR "indicted" OR "convicted"
Finding mentions in state court systems:
"[Full Name]" site:courts.[state].gov
For the complete operator reference, see Google Dorking for Investigators.
What Criminal Records Do and Do Not Show
Understanding the limits of criminal record searches prevents both over-reliance and missed findings.
What Criminal Records Show
State court records show charges filed under state law, pleas, trial outcomes, and sentences. Federal court records show charges under federal law and federal sentences. Sex offender registries show current registration status for qualifying offenses. Corrections records show incarceration and supervision history.
What Criminal Records Do Not Show
Arrests without charges — An arrest that did not result in a charge produces no court record. Arrest records exist in law enforcement databases that are generally not accessible through public court portals.
Expunged records — A court can order a conviction expunged, removing it from public access. Eligibility and availability vary significantly by state and offense type. A clean court search does not confirm no record ever existed.
Sealed records — Some records are sealed by court order and are not accessible to the public, though they may still be available to law enforcement.
Juvenile records — Most states seal juvenile records when the subject reaches adulthood. These records are generally not accessible through public court portals.
Records in other jurisdictions — A search in one state returns nothing about records in another state. A complete national criminal record search requires searching every state where the subject has lived.
Records not yet online — Many courts have only partially digitized their historical records. Cases filed before a court’s electronic system was implemented may exist only as physical files.
For the distinction between arrest records and conviction records, see Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records and What Criminal Records Are Public.
FCRA Compliance for Employment and Housing Searches
If a criminal record search is being conducted for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, or insurance underwriting, the Fair Credit Reporting Act applies. FCRA-governed searches must go through an FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agency, require written disclosure and authorization from the subject, and follow specific adverse action procedures if the findings are used to make a negative decision.
Using the DIY search methods described in this guide for FCRA-regulated purposes creates significant legal liability. The methods here are appropriate for personal due diligence, investigative research, journalism, and other non-regulated purposes. For employment and tenant screening, use an FCRA-compliant provider.
For an overview of how background checks work under FCRA, see What Is a Background Check.
Criminal Records by State — Direct Access
For the correct criminal court record portal for any state, use the state directory at PublicRecordHub. Each state page links to the official court portal and explains what is searchable online.
Direct links to criminal court records by state:
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Are criminal records free to access online? Most state court portals provide free name searches and basic case information. Some charge for document retrieval or require registration. Federal criminal records through PACER are free to search and charge $0.10 per page for document access, with most casual users paying nothing due to the quarterly fee waiver. For a free starting point by state, PublicRecordHub links to the correct official portal.
How far back do criminal records go online? Coverage varies by state and court. Most online systems cover records from the date the court’s electronic system was implemented — typically the late 1990s or early 2000s. Records predating digitization exist only as physical files at the courthouse and require an in-person visit or written request.
Can a criminal record be removed from online search? Yes — through expungement or sealing. Expungement removes the record from public access. Sealing restricts access to authorized parties. Eligibility and availability vary significantly by state, offense type, and sentence. An expungement in one state does not affect records in other states or federal records.
What is the difference between a criminal record and an arrest record? A criminal record documents charges, pleas, convictions, and sentences — the judicial outcome of criminal proceedings. An arrest record documents that a person was arrested, regardless of whether charges were filed or whether a conviction resulted. These are in separate systems. A person can have an arrest record with no corresponding criminal conviction. See Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records.
Does a background check show all criminal records? No commercial background check is comprehensive. Each provider covers different jurisdictions, updates on different schedules, and may miss records in counties not included in their database. Aggregator coverage is strongest for major metropolitan counties and weakest for rural jurisdictions. A background check result showing no criminal history means no record was found in the sources that provider searched — not that no record exists anywhere.
Can you look up someone’s criminal record without them knowing? Yes — court records are public and searchable without notifying the subject. For anonymous searches that do not expose the searcher’s identity to commercial platforms, see Anonymous Background Check: How to Search Without Being Tracked.
Where to Go Next
For the complete court record search framework: How to Search Court Records Online — state-by-state directory with direct portal links.
For federal criminal records: What Is PACER: A Beginner’s Guide to Federal Court Records.
For understanding what you find: How to Read Court Cases: Dockets, Filings, and Judgments.
For the distinction between arrest and conviction records: Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records.
For conducting a full investigation using these sources: How to Investigate Someone: A Step-by-Step Guide.
For anonymous searches: Anonymous Background Check: How to Search Without Being Tracked.
Related Guides
- How to Search Court Records Online
- What Is PACER: A Beginner’s Guide to Federal Court Records
- How to Read Court Cases: Dockets, Filings, and Judgments
- Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records
- What Criminal Records Are Public
- Civil vs. Criminal Court Records
- How Court Records Work in the United States
- How to Look Up Criminal Records Online
- Anonymous Background Check: How to Search Without Being Tracked
- How to Investigate Someone: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Google Dorking for Investigators
- What Is a Background Check
- PublicRecordHub — Criminal Records by State
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Criminal record access rules vary by jurisdiction. Some records are sealed, expunged, or restricted. Investigations conducted for employment, housing, or credit decisions must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Use these techniques for lawful research purposes only.