Showing Posts In "Public Records" Category

What Types of Criminal Records Are Available Through Public Records?

Although criminal records are considered to be public record in the United States, some types of records are not available through public records searches. These include records relating to criminal activity for anyone under the age of 18 and records that have been expunged, sealed or otherwise cleared by the court. Available information includes felonies, […]

The State of Public Records Research: Are We There Yet?

At the beginning of the pandemic, many courts were forced to close their doors to public access. Some courts later began to offer services via email requests, but no one was prepared or staffed properly to handle these in a timely manner. Fast forward to May 2021 and progress toward reopening is being made. Most […]

Seven Tips for Using Public and Private Records

The process of performing investigative research can be time-consuming, tedious, and costly, but with the right strategies for searching in public and private records databases, gathering the appropriate data can be done quickly and easily. A criminal history check gathers past arrests of convictions and a public records search can make it possible to view […]

Disturbing Appeals Court Ruling on MVRS Containing Accidents

A District Court decision was overruled by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in a case concerning driving records (MVRs). In the case, a CRA obtained an MVR from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), which included two moving violations and a “noncompliance suspension,” and reported it to the client. The […]

THE WASHINGTON REPORT – DECEMBER 2019

On The Hill

On December 6th, Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced H.R. 5332, the Protecting Your Credit Score Act, which would amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to ensure that consumer reporting agencies are providing fair and accurate information in consumer reports. The bill has been ordered to be reported by the House Committee […]

Facts About The Currency and Accuracy of Criminal Records at State Criminal Record Repositories

Employers and state occupation licensing boards often depend on states’ criminal record repositories as primary resources when performing a criminal record background check. However, these entities may not realize that a search of these record repositories may not be as accurate and complete as assumed, regardless if fingerprints are submitted.

Every two years the DOJ’s Bureau […]

The Fundamentals of Public Record Searching

The depth and scope of information that exists on people, businesses, and places is staggering. What used to be mostly paper and microfiche trails of data have turned into cyber trails of bytes managed by the government and by private companies.

“Yes,” says the clerk at the County Recorder’s Office. “All our recorded documents are online.”

Important to Illinois Public Record Searchers

The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation recently issued a “cease and desist” letter to a PRRN (Public Record Retriever Network – www.prrn.us) member based in Illinois for performing public record research and not having a private investigator’s license. The Department interpreted that the act of researching public records is considered to be performing an […]

Motor Vehicle Record News

Arkansas:
As of December, 2011. Arkansas Drivers may now request, view and print their own record online at https://www.ark.org/personal_tvr/index.php . The name, DOB, DL, the DL issue date, and last five digits of the SSN are required along with a major credit card. The fee is $8.50 for an insurance record or $11.50 for a […]

California Birth and Death Certificates

Effective January 1, 2012, the fee for a certified copy of a birth, death, or fetal death certificate increases by $2.00 per record. This increase will take place at the California Department of Heath (CADH) and also at the county level. The fees at various county clerk and recorder’s offices vary and do not necessarily […]