Address or basic geographic location. Many state and county databases allow users to search for sex offenders by address or to view a map of all sex offenders who are located in a specific geographic area. Name. Local sheriff’s departments or local court records can generally give you information about a specific person if enough information can be provided. The subject’s full name is a good start to finding out if he or she is a sex offender. License plate number. Some states allow users to run a search of the sex offender database based upon just a license plate number. Birthdate. While having a name and address is important, a birth date will allow you to be more specific about the person whose record you wish to check. Having this information also can prevent confusion when related, or even unrelated people, happen to have the same name. This is particularly the case if the person has a relatively common name. If you cannot get a birthdate, even having an approximate age is helpful in ensuring that you have the right person. Social security number. If you wish to determine whether a potential spouse or employee is a sex offender, you may have access to a social security number, which can help you get more accurate results. Other Identifying information. Whether or not you have a name, address, or birth date, you also may need to provide other identifying information such as height, weight, and a description of any distinguishing marks, such as scars or tattoos.
Search the local Sheriff’s Department sex offender database online. Request a list of all outstanding criminal warrants in the county for sex-related crimes. Ask for a copy of the county’s “Most Wanted” list, if it maintains such a list.
Some law enforcement agencies maintain various databases of information about local criminal activity. For instance, many county jails and state prisons maintain a database showing who is currently incarcerated and the crimes of which an individual was convicted. Other agencies publish a list of warrants that have been issued each day by the local court system. You also may be able to access all arrests made by local law enforcement agencies on a given day. Law enforcement agencies may charge a small fee to provide this information for you. You may need to have certain identifying information about the person in order to request a criminal history check. Be sure to check with law enforcement agencies in every state and local jurisdiction in which the individual has lived.
If you are just using the information that you obtain for your own personal knowledge, you generally will not violate any federal or state laws. Typically, if you derive your information from accurate public sources, there is nothing to prevent you from repeating the information, telling other people, or even publicizing it by, for example, posting it online. It is only when you repeat false information or confidential information that you have obtained illegally that you may run afoul of the law.
Consider using FindOutTheTruth. com. This reputable private company was started by two private detectives in Florida and has been running background checks for users for almost 10 years. It is among the top rated background check services online, and offers background checks conducted by an actual private investigator. You can visit the FindOutTheTruth. com website for assistance. For other private companies that handle background checks, click here.
Run a basic online search. Running a search on persons’ name on your favorite search engine can provide you with a wealth of information, including current and previous addresses, as well as news and arrest reports. This is an especially helpful technique if the individual has an unusual or unique name. Check the U. S. Marshals Service website. The U. S. Marshal Service is in charge of apprehending unregistered sex offenders. This office provides news updates, as well as a most wanted sex offender list, on its website. Visit the U. S. Marshals Service website for help. [5] X Research source Search court records. Many counties allow users to search through public court records, which include both civil and criminal records. You can generally conduct a search in person or online through the County Clerk’s website or private or governmental services, such as Doxpop. com, Judici. com, or Courtreference. com. Look online or in your telephone book for your local clerk’s office. Their website may have information about how to search court records in your county and/or state, or you can call and ask about their available search options. You may also wish to contact an attorney and request that he or she conduct a search for you. Many attorneys subscribe to paid services that allow them to view records to which the general public does not have access.
