Criminal Records in the United States
A criminal record is a documented history of a person’s criminal activities. This information is used by potential employers, lenders and gun sales staff to ascertain a person’s trustworthiness and identify problems that may appear later. Criminal records can vary within jurisdictions in the United States, but most will carry such information as a physical description, full name, aliases, date of birth, a photograph, siblings and relatives, addresses, convictions, arrests, charges dismissed, charges pending, acquitted charges and descriptions of each crime. Some activists argue that having charges that a person is acquitted of listed on the criminal record is wrong, because it hangs a cloud over potential innocents and could swing an opinion in the negative.
A standard criminal records check is for those who are over 18. A vulnerable criminal records check in the United States means checking for any criminal record that is assigned to someone who is under the age of 18. There are four different levels of criminal records checks. Level 1 is the most basic and level 4 is the most rigorous.
Level 1: This level contains records of criminal convictions
Level 2: This level contains level 1 records plus outstanding charges
Level 3: This level contains levels 1 and 2 records plus records of discharges
Level 4: This level contains levels 1 through 3 plus an additional check on local police databases, court and law enforcement agency databases
A criminal records check in the United States is often part of a background check for obtaining a certain level of security clearance. Some businesses that may require a background check include schools, churches, health care facilities, financial organizations and security firms. Additionally, the Brady Bill requires a criminal records check before the purchase of a firearm/ handgun can be completed. Criminal records are compiled on local, state and national levels, but are often shared in between law enforcement agencies within the United States.
