County Criminal
Records Check

The County Criminal Records Search is the foundation of any Background Check and is the most popular search when doing Employment Background Checks.

• What Is A County Criminal Records Check?
• What Is Included In A County Criminal Search Report?
• Why Search County Criminal Records?
• No National Criminal Database
• Criminal History Check Recommendations
• Other Criminal History Record Searches available from A Matter of Fact
• Related Resources

A County Criminal Records Check searches for cases prosecuted in a particular county that fall under the state penal code. The search focuses on felony records but may also include misdemeanor and infraction records.


The report shows the county searched, the name searched, identifiers used, charges, disposition, and key dates.


Employers have an obligation to provide a safe environment for employees, customers and the public. Finding out if an employment candidate has a history of criminal activity helps an employer determine if the applicant fits the job requirements. The County Criminal Records Search is important in the defense against negligent hiring and negligent retention.


There is NO true national database of criminal records. Because county courts normally do not share records with other courts, each county court's records must be searched separately for cases prosecuted in that specific county. With more than 7,000 significant courts in the United States there is really no practical nation-wide criminal record check. 'National' databases only have some records from some courts in some parts of the nation.

Court systems, procedures, policies and even terminology can vary widely between courts. The best searches are done by court researchers that are familiar with the specific courts being researched.

Note: Federal Criminal Record information does not appear in County Criminal Records (see Federal Criminal Records Check below).


A Matter of Fact recommends Background Checks for all staff, including full-time employees, part-time employees, temps, contractors, and volunteers. For a Quality Criminal Record Check, we recommend the following:

• A Social Security Number Scan to reveal any jurisdictions the applicant purposefully or inadvertently failed to disclose to you. For more about this search see Social Security Number Scan.
• County Criminal Record Checks for all counties of residence, work, and school for a period of at least seven years. For more details about our County Criminal Record Search product, see County Criminal Records Check.
• 'Statewide' Criminal Database Checks for each state where county searches are made. See 'Statewide' Criminal Records Check.
• Other Criminal History Checks as appropriate for the position (see below).

Employers need to choose carefully among the various criminal record searches available. For a more complete discussion of what we recommend in an Employment Background Check, see Employment Background Checks: What Do We Recommend?


Other Criminal History Record Searches available from A Matter of Fact

• Federal Criminal Records Check
• 'Nationwide' Criminal Database Check
• National Wants and Warrants
• Sex Offender Registry Check
• International Criminal History Records Searches

• Comprehensive Background Check: The Best Background Check
• The Best Background Check Service: The Inside Story
• Summary Of What Can Be In A Background Check
• Employment Background Check Knowledge Index
• Criminal Checks: Cost Versus Risk
• Criminal Database Limitations: A Database Search Is Not A Background Check

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