How to Check My Criminal Record for Free
How to Check My Criminal Record for Free: Official State Court Searches and Background Check Guide
You can often check your criminal record for free by searching the official public court records website for the state or county where your case was filed. Many state court systems allow searches by name or case number without charging for public docket information.
Start with the state judiciary’s case-search portal, search your legal name, check relevant counties and review the disposition of any matching criminal cases. If the case does not appear online, contact the courthouse and ask whether you can inspect your public court file for free.
However, free public court searches are not the same as a complete criminal background check. A fingerprint-confirmed state or FBI criminal-history report may require a processing fee, even when a basic court docket is available at no cost.
Can I Really Check My Criminal Record for Free?
Yes, in many cases. If you want to know whether you have a publicly accessible criminal case, what charges were filed or whether a case ended in conviction or dismissal, an official court search may provide the answer without a fee.
The free options depend on your state and the type of record you need.
| What You Want to Check | Best Starting Point | Is It Free? |
|---|---|---|
| Your criminal court cases | State judiciary public case-search portal | Often free for basic case and docket information |
| A conviction or dismissal | Original criminal trial court | Docket may be free; certified copies may cost money |
| Older county court records | County criminal court clerk | Inspection may be free; clerk searches and copying fees vary |
| An employer’s screening report about you | The consumer reporting company used by the employer | Free report disclosures are available under applicable FCRA rules |
| Statewide official criminal history | State police or state criminal identification bureau | Depends on state and request type; many services charge |
| FBI fingerprint-based criminal history | FBI Identity History Summary | Normally $18; financial hardship waiver can be requested |
| Federal criminal court cases | PACER or federal courthouse | Courthouse terminal access is free; limited PACER usage charges are waived |
| Current jail or prison custody | Sheriff inmate search or state corrections website | Often free, but not a complete criminal-history search |
How to Check My Criminal Record for Free Online: Step-by-Step
This method works best when you are checking your own public criminal court records and know the state where an arrest or charge may have occurred.
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Identify the state where the case occurred.
Criminal records are primarily maintained within the jurisdiction where the arrest and prosecution occurred. If you lived in more than one state, you may need to search each relevant jurisdiction.
Start with the state where you remember being arrested, receiving a citation or appearing in court.
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Find the official state judiciary case-search portal.
Go to the website operated by that state’s courts. Common labels include Case Search, Criminal Case Search, Public Access, Court Records, Docket Search or Online Case Information.
Use the official state links in the next section instead of purchasing a report from a commercial people-search website.
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Choose the correct criminal court type.
Some states divide criminal cases among district, municipal, county, circuit or superior courts.
A misdemeanor may be filed in a different court from a felony. If you are not sure, check both relevant public court systems.
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Enter your first and last name.
Use your full legal name. Add a middle name, previous legal name or approximate filing date if the system supports those fields.
Do not enter your Social Security number into a general public search box unless an authorized government process specifically requires it.
- Choose the county or court location. A county filter can narrow common-name results. Use the county where the criminal case was filed rather than assuming it matches your current home address.
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Review matching criminal case records.
Look at the court, filing date, case number, charge description and available identifiers.
Do not assume that another person with the same name is you.
- Open the case docket or register of actions. Review the case’s public event history. Look for arraignment, plea, dismissal, judgment, sentence, acquittal or other final disposition.
- Verify the final outcome. A criminal complaint alone does not mean you were convicted. Check whether the case ended in conviction, dismissal, acquittal, diversion or another disposition.
- Save a copy of the available docket. If the court allows downloads or printing, keep a PDF for your personal records. Record the case number, court and date of the search.
- Contact the court if information is missing. If the case is older, sealed, absent from the portal or the online outcome is incomplete, ask the court clerk what records you are legally entitled to inspect and whether a copy or certificate can be requested.
Free Criminal Record Search by State: Official Court Websites
Several states provide online public access to criminal court records. The examples below link directly to state judiciary websites or their official public case-search services.
These are court case searches, not necessarily complete state criminal-history reports. Availability, court coverage and access to documents differ by state.
| State | Official Court Search | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | UJS Public Case Search | Free public docket sheets from Courts of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Courts and other qualifying courts; no ordinary public account needed |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) | Search publicly available Wisconsin Circuit Court records by name or case details; record-display and confidentiality rules apply |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Court Records Online | Free public case information and eligible document downloads; pending criminal cases generally cannot be found by defendant-name search |
| Maryland | Maryland Judiciary Case Search | Public case information from District and Circuit Courts; some dismissals, acquittals and other nonconvictions are excluded from online results |
| Missouri | Missouri Case.net | Search publicly available court cases by litigant name, filing date or case number; document access can differ |
| Indiana | Indiana MyCase | Public case information from courts using Odyssey; many nonconfidential documents are free online |
| Arkansas | Search ARCourts | Statewide Circuit Court information and participating District Courts; some District Courts have limited online coverage |
| West Virginia | WVPASS and Magistrate Search | Free magistrate case lookup without registration; free Circuit Court case browsing with registration and paid document access |
| Michigan | Michigan MiCOURT | Search participating trial-court cases; some courts apply a seven-year criminal-sentence display filter |
How to find your state if it is not listed
Not every state has a complete statewide public criminal case-search portal. For states such as California, Texas and Florida, county Superior, District or Circuit Court record systems may be the most useful starting point.
Use the USA.gov State Government Directory to find the official state government and judiciary, then locate its court-record access instructions.
Look specifically for the criminal court serving the county where your case occurred.
Special limitations worth knowing
Minnesota
Minnesota MCRO generally does not return pending criminal cases when searching by a defendant’s name. A case-number, citation-number or attorney-based search may be necessary.
This does not mean the pending case has disappeared from the court system.
Maryland
Maryland limits online visibility for certain charges ending in dismissal, acquittal, nolle prosequi or qualifying stet dispositions.
Some records may remain available at the courthouse even though they are no longer displayed in the ordinary online search.
Michigan
Some MiCOURT courts restrict public online criminal conviction display based on the date of sentence.
An old case that does not appear online may still have a public court file.
Arkansas
Search ARCourts covers Circuit Court information and participating District Courts, but not every lower court has identical electronic coverage.
Contact the local clerk if a District Court misdemeanor is missing.
How to Check Your Criminal Record for Free at a County Courthouse
If your state’s criminal records are not available online, the next step is usually the court clerk where your case was filed.
In many jurisdictions, members of the public can inspect nonconfidential court records without paying a record-retrieval fee when using courthouse public-access terminals or inspecting an accessible file. Copying, certification and clerk-assisted searches may still cost money.
How to inspect your county criminal record
- Identify the filing county. Use the location where the charge or prosecution occurred.
- Find the criminal trial court. Depending on the state, it may be called Circuit Court, Superior Court, District Court, County Court or Court of Common Pleas.
- Visit the official court website. Locate its Public Records, Criminal Records, Court Records or Clerk of Court section.
- Ask whether public record inspection is free. Find out whether the courthouse provides self-service computer terminals or another no-cost inspection method.
- Bring the information you know. Prepare your name, approximate case year, charge information and case number if available.
- Review the court file. Check the criminal docket and final disposition before deciding whether additional documents are necessary.
- Request copies only if you need them. If the court charges for printing or certification, ask whether viewing or noting down the relevant case information is enough for your personal purpose.
What should you ask the court clerk?
A short request might be:
I’m trying to check my own criminal court record. Is there a free public case search or courthouse terminal I can use? If the record is not online, can I inspect the public case docket without paying for certified copies?
Clerks generally cannot give legal advice about whether a conviction should affect employment, licensing or immigration. Their role is to provide information about court records and applicable access procedures.
How to Tell Whether You Have a Criminal Conviction
Finding your name in a court database does not automatically mean you have a criminal conviction.
A record can concern an arrest, a dismissed charge, an unresolved prosecution, a guilty plea, an acquittal or another disposition.
| Record or Docket Term | What It Means | Does It Prove a Conviction? |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest | Police took a person into custody | No |
| Criminal complaint | A formal allegation or charge | No |
| Indictment | A grand jury issued a formal accusation | No |
| Pending | A case has not reached a final disposition | Not by itself |
| Dismissed | A charge or case was dismissed | No conviction on that dismissed charge |
| Acquitted or Not Guilty | The defendant was found not guilty of the charge | No conviction on that acquitted charge |
| Deferred adjudication or diversion | Special legal disposition or program, depending on state | Depends on the statute and completed court proceedings |
| Guilty plea | A plea admitting guilt to an offense | Review the court’s formal judgment and applicable law |
| Judgment of conviction | Formal court determination of conviction | Yes, subject to later modification or appeal |
| Sealed or expunged | Record access has changed under an authorized legal process | Depends on the relief and original disposition |
What if your case has multiple charges?
Some prosecutions contain several criminal counts. The case may end with one dismissed count and another count resulting in conviction.
Check each charge separately. A general case status may not explain the result of every count.
What if your record says the charges were dropped?
A dismissal, nolle prosequi or withdrawal can mean the prosecutor or court discontinued a charge, but the exact effect varies.
The arrest and docket history may still exist unless state law automatically clears or restricts the record or a court grants record-clearing relief.
What’s the Difference Between Court Records, Arrest Records and a Criminal Background Check?
These services may return different information even when they concern the same person.
Criminal Case and Docket Search
Shows publicly accessible criminal case proceedings such as charges, hearing dates, pleas, dismissal orders, convictions and sentences.
Often free online, but availability depends on the court.
Arrest and Police Reports
Police agencies record arrests, incidents, investigations and related events.
Public disclosure may be limited, and the agency can charge for copies or redaction work.
State Criminal History Report
A state police or criminal identification bureau maintains reportable statewide criminal-history information.
Fingerprints may be required for an accurate personal history review.
FBI Identity History Summary
The FBI’s fingerprint-based report can include records submitted to federal systems by participating criminal justice agencies.
The normal processing fee is $18.
Why a public court search and background report may disagree
Possible reasons include:
- The arresting agency never submitted particular information to the state repository.
- A court disposition has not been reported or updated.
- A public website omits confidential, sealed or legally restricted records.
- The case occurred in a different state or federal court.
- An arrest did not lead to prosecution.
- A background-screening company retained an outdated record.
- A name-based search matched the wrong individual.
When official proof is important, obtain the court’s final disposition and follow the appropriate state criminal-history review process.
How to Check the Criminal Background Report an Employer May Have on You for Free
This is an option many people overlook. If a company has prepared an employment background report about you, you may be able to request a free copy of the information it maintains.
Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumer reporting companies must provide file disclosures under applicable rules, and people have rights to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information.
How to request a free copy of an employment background report
- Identify the company used by your employer. Check any background screening authorization, applicant email, report notice or other correspondence.
- Visit the screening company’s official website. Look for a section labeled Applicant Support, Request My Report, Consumer File Disclosure or Privacy Requests.
- Ask for your consumer file disclosure. Request a copy of the information the reporting company currently holds about you.
- Complete the required identity verification. You may need to provide identifying information through a secure official process.
- Receive and review the report. Compare the criminal case details with the original public court records.
- Dispute any incorrect information. If the report lists another person’s case, an incorrect conviction, an outdated disposition or information that should not legally be included, follow the company’s FCRA dispute procedure.
Can you get a free Checkr background report?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lists Checkr as an employment-screening consumer reporting company.
According to the CFPB, Checkr provides a free copy of a report if one of its clients previously requested a report about you. It also offers a separate free limited-data service for people with arrest or conviction records.
Use the CFPB’s Checkr information page for the current request instructions.
What if your employer uses another company?
The CFPB also lists employment-screening companies such as Asurint, IntelliCorp, Certiphi and other reporting services.
Check whether the company has a file on you. An employment-screening business may not have a report unless an employer or another authorized client previously ordered one.
Your rights before and after an employment background check
When an employer uses a consumer reporting company for an employment background check, the FTC explains that the employer must generally provide the required disclosure and obtain written permission.
If an employer is considering adverse action based on the report, it must provide a copy of the report and the required summary of rights before taking that action. Additional notice obligations apply after the decision.
Will a free credit report show your criminal record?
Ordinary reports obtained through AnnualCreditReport.com concern credit reporting. They are not a substitute for a criminal court search or employment criminal-history screening.
Do not confuse a free credit report with a free criminal background check simply because both may be discussed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
How to Check Your FBI Criminal Record: Is It Free?
If you need a more comprehensive fingerprint-based review, the FBI offers an Identity History Summary Check, commonly called an FBI rap sheet.
The normal FBI processing fee is $18 for either an electronic or mail request. Fingerprinting services or approved channelers can charge additional fees.
How to request your FBI Identity History Summary
- Open the FBI’s official Identity History Summary page. Use fbi.gov, not a third-party commercial background-check advertisement.
- Choose the request method. The FBI offers electronic and mail options.
- Submit the required information. Follow the FBI’s identity-history request application.
- Provide fingerprints. You can use an approved fingerprint submission method or mail the required fingerprint card.
- Pay the $18 processing fee or obtain waiver instructions. If you cannot afford the FBI charge, contact the FBI before submitting your request.
- Receive your personal results. Electronic responses can be downloaded and printed. Mail requests are returned through the applicable procedure.
- Review for errors. If information is incorrect or incomplete, use the FBI’s official Identity History Summary challenge process.
How to request an FBI fee waiver
The FBI states that applicants who cannot pay the $18 fee may request instructions for a waiver.
FBI Identity History Summary Help
Telephone: 304-625-5590
Email: identity@fbi.gov
Ask: How to request a fee waiver for a personal Identity History Summary Check.
Important: Contact the FBI for instructions before submitting the application if you need the waiver.
A fee waiver is not automatic. Fingerprint collection or third-party service charges may still apply.
Does the FBI report show every arrest in the United States?
No report should be assumed complete without understanding its source.
The FBI’s Identity History Summary is based on fingerprint-supported information submitted to its systems. It may not include an arrest that was never reported, may lack an updated case outcome and may not reflect every local court proceeding.
For a missing or incorrect state arrest disposition, the FBI may direct you to the appropriate state identification bureau or reporting agency.
Can you request a free NCIC criminal background check?
No general public NCIC criminal-record search is available. The National Crime Information Center is a restricted criminal justice information system for authorized users and purposes.
Members of the public who want to review their own fingerprint-based criminal history should use the FBI Identity History Summary or the applicable state agency’s personal-record request process.
How to Check Federal Criminal Court Records at Little or No Cost
Federal criminal cases are not included in state court case-search websites.
For a prosecution in a U.S. District Court, use the federal judiciary’s PACER system or inquire about public access at the relevant federal courthouse.
Can you search PACER for free?
Under the rules in effect in October 2026, PACER charges for certain electronic searches and document access, but usage fees are waived when the account’s total charges are $30 or less in a quarterly billing cycle.
The federal judiciary also allows free access to public case information at courthouse public-access terminals. Court opinions are available without charge through PACER.
Important 2027 PACER fee change
The federal judiciary has announced a scheduled increase beginning January 1, 2027:
- The per-page electronic access fee will rise from $0.10 to $0.12.
- The automatic quarterly fee-waiver threshold will rise from $30 to $40.
Check the current PACER fee schedule if you are reading this guide in 2027 or later.
Free Criminal Records vs. Paid Background Checks: What Should You Choose?
Choosing the right search depends on what you actually need to prove.
| Your Goal | Recommended Search | Cost Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Find whether a local case exists | Official state or county court portal | Often free |
| Find out whether a charge was dismissed | Court docket and final disposition | Online information may be free; certified order may cost extra |
| Check your old misdemeanor conviction | County court case lookup | Frequently free for accessible docket information |
| Review a background report an employer obtained | Consumer reporting company file disclosure | Free disclosures are available under FCRA requirements |
| Obtain an official state background check | State police or state identification bureau | Fees depend on the state |
| Get nationwide fingerprint-based history | FBI Identity History Summary | $18 standard fee; hardship waiver instructions available |
| Find a federal criminal court case | PACER or federal courthouse terminal | Courthouse access free; limited PACER usage fees waived under threshold |
| Prove a conviction or case dismissal officially | Certified court judgment or disposition | Court certification fee may apply |
Examples of state criminal-history services that charge fees
Even states with free court docket searches may charge for their official criminal-history reports.
- Pennsylvania: Standard State Police PATCH background checks cost $22; separate personal Access and Review costs $20.
- Michigan: Public ICHAT name-based criminal-history checks cost $10.
- Arkansas: Public ARCH criminal-history searches cost $24, while the separate authorized state CBC service lists $22 for ordinary Arkansas name-based checks.
These are examples rather than a national fee schedule. Check each state agency before paying.
When is a paid check necessary?
A formal state or fingerprint-based check may be necessary for professional licensing, adoption, certain employment roles, immigration-related procedures, regulated volunteering or when you need a more complete personal record review.
Always ask the requesting organization which agency and type of check it requires. Paying for the wrong kind of background report may not satisfy the requirement.
Why Can’t I Find My Criminal Record Online?
A missing search result can have several explanations. It does not necessarily mean the arrest, charge or conviction never occurred.
| Problem | Possible Explanation | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| No case appears under your name | Different spelling, middle name or former legal name | Repeat the search using accurate name variations |
| Case occurred in another county | County search may not cover other jurisdictions | Search the county where the prosecution was filed |
| Recent arrest has no court case | Charges may not have been filed or processed yet | Contact the proper clerk or arresting agency |
| Old conviction missing from online portal | Historical data limitation or public website display cutoff | Ask the clerk about archived files |
| Misdemeanor absent from felony search | Different lower court maintains the misdemeanor | Check District, Municipal or County Court as appropriate |
| A sealed case is unavailable | Sealing or expungement may legally restrict public access | Use only authorized court or agency record-review procedures |
| State record check differs from court docket | Reporting delay, excluded category or incorrect disposition | Obtain the original court judgment and follow correction procedures |
| A federal charge does not appear | State trial courts do not handle federal prosecutions | Use PACER or the relevant U.S. District Court |
| Someone else’s case appears under your name | Common name or mistaken identity | Compare lawful identifiers and seek a correction if the record is incorrectly attributed to you |
What if you have never been arrested?
It is possible that public court searches will return no criminal cases. However, an ordinary name-based search does not establish a government-certified statement that you have no criminal history.
If you need official proof for an institution, ask whether it accepts a state criminal-history clearance, a fingerprint-based record review or another government-issued certificate.
How to Correct a Criminal Record That Shows Wrong Information
Criminal-history errors can involve incorrect identity matches, an arrest mistakenly attributed to you, a missing dismissal, an inaccurate conviction or a case disposition that was never updated.
The correct agency to contact depends on which record is wrong.
Step 1: Identify the source of the error
| Where the Error Appears | Who to Contact First | What to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Court docket | Clerk of the court that handled the case | Certified judgment, order or court correction procedure |
| Arrest information | Arresting police agency | Agency record correction or identity verification |
| State criminal-history report | State identification bureau or State Police records unit | Certified court disposition and agency records |
| FBI Identity History Summary | FBI record challenge process or reporting state agency | Documentation showing the incorrect entry or updated disposition |
| Employment or tenant background report | Consumer reporting company and applicable information furnisher | Certified court order and formal FCRA dispute |
Step 2: Obtain the correct court disposition
Request the signed judgment, dismissal order, acquittal or other official document that establishes the proper case outcome.
That document is often the strongest evidence when a criminal-history database reports an incorrect status.
Step 3: Submit an official dispute or challenge
If the FBI record is incorrect, follow its Identity History Summary challenge procedure. The FBI states that challenging an Identity History Summary carries no filing fee.
Step 4: Check for outdated private screening reports
If the court or state agency has corrected its record, a private background-screening company may still have an older version.
Request your file disclosure, send the official correction document and follow the company’s dispute procedure. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that consumer reporting companies must investigate applicable disputes without charging a dispute fee.
Can You See Your Criminal Record After It Has Been Sealed or Expunged?
Sealing and expungement affect public access differently depending on state law.
A sealed record may remain in a government database but no longer be visible to ordinary public users. Expungement can result in removal, destruction, nondisclosure or another form of relief depending on the governing statute.
A court case disappearing from a public search is not, by itself, proof that it was legally expunged.
How to verify whether relief was granted
- Find your original case number and court.
- Locate the signed sealing, set-aside or expungement order if one was entered.
- Check the state’s official record-clearing instructions.
- Ask whether the clerk transmitted the order to the state criminal-history repository.
- Follow the authorized personal record-review process when necessary.
- Correct any outdated consumer screening reports through the applicable dispute procedure.
Can you legally say you have no criminal record after expungement?
The answer depends on the state’s statute and the purpose of the question.
Some laws permit eligible individuals to deny certain sealed or expunged convictions in ordinary private employment situations. However, government employment, professional licensing, firearm eligibility, immigration and security-clearance procedures can impose different disclosure obligations.
Do not assume that a public court search showing no results answers every legal disclosure question.
How to Avoid Fake Free Criminal Background Check Websites
Searching for “free criminal record check” often brings up commercial services that offer a free preview but charge for the underlying report.
Some websites also use alarming language suggesting that a criminal record exists without confirming a real court case.
Warning signs
- The website claims every person’s complete national criminal history is available instantly for free.
- You must provide credit card details to unlock the supposed free result.
- The website does not identify an official court or state agency as the source.
- The preview suggests criminal records may exist without showing a verifiable case number.
- A free trial automatically converts to a subscription.
- The site asks for unnecessary Social Security, banking or identity information.
- Search results use misleading language about possible arrests or convictions.
The Federal Trade Commission has previously taken action against commercial people-search and background-report practices that used misleading criminal-record suggestions in promotional results.
For free public court research, prefer official judiciary websites ending in .gov or an independently verified government-operated court portal.
Should you search your own name on Google?
A general internet search can sometimes help you identify a court, news article or old public filing, but search engine results are not official criminal-history reports.
If a search result mentions an arrest or conviction, verify it through the original courthouse and final court disposition before drawing a conclusion.
Free Criminal Record Self-Check Checklist
Use this checklist to organize your search before paying for any background-check service.
- Search the official court website for the state where the case occurred.
- Use your current legal name and relevant former names.
- Search both felony and misdemeanor court systems when appropriate.
- Check each county where a charge may have been filed.
- Record any criminal case number and court location.
- Read the final disposition of each criminal charge.
- Save a copy of the public docket when available.
- Ask the courthouse whether free public inspection is available.
- Request an existing employment screening report if a company has one.
- Identify whether an official state or FBI record review is necessary.
- Obtain certified court documents if an official institution requires them.
- Dispute incorrect information through the responsible agency.
- Verify whether any sealing or expungement order has been processed.
For a simple personal check: The first seven steps may be sufficient to learn about your publicly available court cases.
For a comprehensive personal history review: You may need records from multiple states and a fingerprint-based state or FBI report.
Frequently Asked Questions About Checking Your Criminal Record for Free
How can I check my criminal record for free online?
Start with the official public court-record search for the state or county where your case occurred. Enter your name or case number, select the criminal court type and review available docket and disposition information. Many state court portals are free, although coverage and document access vary.
Is there a free nationwide criminal background check?
There is no single unrestricted public government service that guarantees a complete free criminal-history report from every U.S. jurisdiction. You can search free state and county court portals, but official state and FBI fingerprint-based reports may require payment or a qualifying fee waiver.
Can I look up my own felony conviction for free?
Often, yes. Search the criminal trial court in the county where the felony was prosecuted. Public docket access may be free, while certified judgments or older archived document requests may carry fees.
How do I check if I have a misdemeanor on my record?
Search the District, Municipal, County or other lower criminal court serving the location where the misdemeanor case was filed. If the court participates in a statewide public portal, you may be able to find the case online for free.
Can I see arrests that never resulted in charges?
Possibly, but not every arrest is recorded in a public court docket. Arrest records are maintained by law-enforcement agencies and state criminal-history repositories. Disclosure may be limited, and an official personal record review can require fingerprints or a fee.
How much does an FBI criminal background check cost?
The FBI currently charges $18 for a personal Identity History Summary Check. Fingerprint provider fees may be additional. If you cannot afford the FBI charge, contact 304-625-5590 or identity@fbi.gov for fee-waiver instructions before submitting the request.
Can I get a copy of my employment background check for free?
Yes, free file disclosures or report copies are available under applicable Fair Credit Reporting Act rules. Contact the consumer reporting company that prepared your report. If an employer is considering adverse action based on the report, additional disclosure and notice rights apply.
Can I check my criminal record using my Social Security number?
Ordinary public court portals generally use names, docket numbers and court or county filters. Do not enter your Social Security number into an unverified website. Official state or federal identity-verification procedures may request additional personal information when legally required.
Why does my criminal court search show no results?
Possible explanations include using the wrong county or court, name differences, an older case outside online coverage, delayed updates, confidentiality rules or a sealed or expunged case. An empty search result does not establish that no criminal-history record exists.
Can I check criminal records in more than one state for free?
Yes, you can individually search the public court portals of multiple states where records may exist. However, a group of free state court searches is not equivalent to a comprehensive fingerprint-based national criminal-history report.
Can I check a federal criminal case for free?
Public federal court records can be inspected through courthouse public-access terminals without charge. PACER’s electronic usage charges are waived when they total $30 or less per quarterly billing cycle under the current 2026 rules.
What if my criminal record has incorrect information?
Get the correct final court disposition and contact the agency responsible for the error. For state criminal-history records, begin with the state identification bureau. The FBI also offers an Identity History Summary challenge process without a challenge fee. Incorrect employment-screening reports can be disputed with the consumer reporting company.
Is a criminal record still visible after expungement?
That depends on the law and the form of relief granted. Sealed records may remain accessible to authorized agencies even when they disappear from public websites. Expungement may produce different results depending on the state. Verify the signed order and its implementation.
Can I request a free criminal record check from my local police department?
Some agencies provide certain public arrest or incident information, but they may charge for copies and generally do not provide complete nationwide criminal histories. Contact the department’s records office to ask what public information and personal-review procedures are available.
Official Sources for Free Criminal Record Searches and Personal Background Checks
The following judiciary, FBI, Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resources support the search instructions in this guide.
National and federal government resources
- USA.gov – Find Official State Government Websites
- FBI – Identity History Summary Checks
- FBI – Identity History Summary Fees, Waivers and Challenges
- FBI – Official State Identification Bureau Directory
- PACER – Find Federal Criminal Court Cases
- PACER – Free Access and Fee Exemptions
- PACER – January 2027 Fee Change Announcement
- FTC – Employer Background Checks and Your Rights
- CFPB – Consumer Reporting Companies and File Disclosures
- CFPB – Checkr Free Background Report Requests
- FTC – Misleading Commercial Criminal Background Report Practices
Official free state court-search resources
- Pennsylvania – UJS Public Case Information
- Wisconsin – Circuit Court Access
- Minnesota – Court Records Online
- Maryland – Judiciary Case Search
- Maryland – Public Criminal Case Records and Restrictions
- Missouri – Case.net
- Indiana – MyCase Search Instructions
- Arkansas – Search ARCourts
- West Virginia – Criminal Court Record Access
- Michigan – MiCOURT Case Search