Many states don’t allow you to access juvenile records if they’re sealed.

The offender’s full name. You may know the person by a nickname or by his middle name, but the courts know him by his full legal name. Even then, there may be several “John Smith"s in the database, so have more information if possible. A business name if a business was involved. Case number. This is the most reliable way to find a criminal record.

If you don’t see the record you’re looking for, follow up by trying to find a hard copy.

You can view the record for free, but will need to pay a fee if you want to make copies. Depending on how much space they have, the court may have moved older records to a different location. If so, ask whether you should visit that location or submit a request for the clerk to have the file sent back to the court archives.

The defendant’s full, legal name His or her date of birth The specific documents you would like to see. For example: A trial docket (all the materials filed during a trial) The minutes for a specific court date The sentencing document

The benefit of submitting your request in person is that you can ask questions to the person helping you out. Don’t be shy! If you have any questions, ask them before you leave the office.

If you are mailing your request, search the website for a “fee schedule” that tells you how much it costs to print each page. If you are submitting your request in person, ask the person at the desk to help you figure out how much you owe. Some offices only ask you to cover the costs up to a certain amount. They might ask you to write “Not to exceed $10” or “Not to exceed $35” on the check you write. [2] X Research source [3] X Research source

Your first and last names Date of birth Home address, email address, and phone number Your “user type. ” If you are directly involved in a case, mark “Plaintiff, Defendant or Debtor in a Case. ” If you are a journalist, mark “Media,” and so on.

For example, you might search the records for the Middle District of Georgia or the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Even if the document is a thousand pages long, you won’t have to pay more than the $3. 00 max.

However, you have the right to see all documents that your attorney prepared for your own case.

Being as specific as possible will save you money if your attorney charges an hourly fee.

Make sure that you’re looking at an official website by checking the end of the site’s address. It should end in “. gov” instead of “. com. ”

Some states will ask you to get your request notarized by a notary public. A notary public is a person who has the license to administer oaths and serve as a witness. Find a notary public in your area by searching online. You can usually find one at the bank, and often at UPS stores.

You may not be able to access someone’s entire criminal history. For example, Oregon’s Open Records Unit only provides records for the past year. [5] X Research source The agency might tell the person who committed the crime that someone requested his or her court record.

Know the rules about which types of convictions you’re allowed to take into consideration. Many states allow consideration only for crimes related to the job in question. [6] X Research source For example, an accounting firm can refuse to hire a convicted embezzler. However, embezzlement only has a connection to jobs in which the person would be handling money.

Search the website for the fee amount. Include it with the form if you’re mailing your request. Send it separately or pay online if you’re submitting the request on a website. Bring a check or money order with you if you submit the form in person.