12/20/2019 A quick search for ‘check criminal records
online’ will reveal thousands of search results. But how can you choose the
right criminal background check service? What separates a good criminal records
search platform from a bad one? Which services are cheapest or most expensive?
Today, we’re explaining everything you need
to know about choosing the right criminal background check service.
5 Ways to Compare Criminal Background Check ServicesWhat’s Included?All criminal background check services
might seem to advertise the same thing. In reality, however, they’re made up of
many different checkups. A criminal record check service could reveal one or
more of the following items:
·
Social Security Number traces
and address validations
·
Misdemeanor and felony criminal
records searches at the county, state, and national levels
·
Sex offender registry searches
·
Civil records checks
PricePrices vary widely between criminal
background check services. The services used by employers, for example, are
different than the services used by curious individuals for personal checkups.
There’s no industry-standard price range, but generally, prices look like this:
Basic Screening: $15 to $30 for basic criminal records check and identity
verification, including national criminal database searches and sex offender
registry searches.
Standard Screening: $30 to $60 for a more detailed report for employers, including
everything in basic plans plus a county criminal court search with up to seven
years of records.
Advanced Screening: $60 to $100 for the most detailed report, including everything in
standard and basic plans plus education and employment verifications.
There may be additional fees. Some criminal
background check services charge setup fees for new customers, for example.
Some shady criminal record check services have hidden fees that aren’t revealed
until you get to the final checkout page.
AccuracySome criminal record check services have
outdated databases filled with inaccurate information. They might have
incorrect names and aliases, for example, or get records mixed up between
individuals.
Clear, accurate reporting is important in
any dataset, but it’s particularly important when checking someone’s background
and criminal record.
Accreditation and ComplianceCriminal background check services must be
FCRA compliant. If the background check service is not FCRA compliant, then it
cannot legally be used for pre-employment screening purposes. Check the Professional Background Screening
Association (previously known as the NAPBS) to find accredited services.
Keep in mind that accreditation and
compliance does not matter if checking criminal records for personal reasons.
If you’re not planning to hire a person, then you should be able to use any
criminal record check website.
Turnaround TimeHow long does the criminal record check
service take to deliver results? Turnaround times vary widely. Sometimes, you
can’t afford to wait days or weeks for results to be returned. Most online
search services, including CheckCriminalRecord.com, have turnaround times in
minutes – not days.
Final Word
Using all of the above metrics, you can find
the right criminal background check service for your unique needs.

Check Criminal Record is a local company that provides an online service to help you uncover public records information about the people around you. The Dallas, Texas-based website serves customers across the state of Texas and all of America. Whether you’re investigating a colleague, a boss, or a…
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