Is it legal to have someone else’s criminal record?

Yes. Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, all public records, including criminal records, are freely available to US citizens. So long as you know where to go to find them, a criminal record of anyone you know can be found. However, there are many different ways to find a criminal record, with varying degrees of ease and efficiency.

What’s the best way to look for someone’s criminal record?

The best way to find someone’s criminal record is likely an online public records database. The best ones, like SpyFly, provide you with access to public records from all over the country. The information published on their website is extremely accurate, and often identical to the physical copy of the criminal record that the government maintains. Moreover, SpyFly is far faster than the government can ever be and allows you to obtain a person’s criminal record in minutes, rather than days. If you’re trying to find multiple criminal records, or if you’re unsure of the state the criminal record was made in, then SpyFly is undoubtedly the best way to go.

Another advantage of SpyFly is its confidentiality. They do not publish or record any of your identifying information, nor do they notify the people you’re searching that an inquiry has been made. This level of discretion is especially useful when you’re investigating people close to you, such as the person you’re dating. 

Are there other ways to find someone’s criminal record?

Yes, although they possess major issues with them. 

The first of these is to simply go through the courts. Criminal records are initially formed within the court that finds someone guilty of committing a crime. As such, you can technically find any criminal record by simply visiting the court that created it. However, if you’re unsure of the court where it was made, then it may take more time to find it. Even so, the county clerk who will process your request will likely take several days, or even weeks to fulfill it. Afterward, you’ll have to wait until the results are mailed to your house, as many courts do not email public records.

If you’d like, you can also utilize an attorney. Most law offices pay for access to a database wherein public records are stored. Criminal records are chief among these, and lawyers have great access to these. However, they’re unlikely to help you if you’re not a client of some kind. Even so, you’ll likely be charged a heavy consultation fee.

SpyFly provides consumers affordable, immediate access to public record information. Federal laws prohibit businesses from using SpyFly’s service to make decisions about employment, insurance, consumer credit, tenant screening, or for any other purpose subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq.