Tuesday, October 28, 2014

In Search For Public Criminal Records

By Claire Dowell


The process of hiring the best people for the right job or position is an integral part of an organization's growth. One important cog in the employment process is to scrutinize the applicant's past deeds. In doing so, the aid of documents such as criminal or public arrest records is typically implored. Such procedures revolve around one premise - to assess the applicant's trustworthiness in order to mitigate or avert any future mishaps.

A person's criminal records are excellent tools for this trade because they include all arrests, convictions, sentences and dispositions, including civil offenses, on record for that individual in a certain jurisdiction. The primary goal of this listing is to provide a comprehensive criminal history of that particular person. Background checks for immigration, identification, security clearance, issuance of professional licenses and adoption also make use of criminal records.

The task of maintaining, distributing, and apprising arrest records in the State of Texas falls upon the Department of Public Safety, Crime Records Services. All criminal records of people arrested in the state are stored in this central repository. State laws allow arrestees in the state to obtain a copy of their own arrest records, or appoint someone on their behalf in procuring such. Aside from the person put under arrest, certain law enforcement entities, the Federal Government, and any authorized agencies are allowed access to a person's criminal history records.

Acquiring Texas criminal records via the Department of Public Safety involves few simple steps and two approaches - the name-based criminal history search, and the fingerprint-based criminal history search. The former requires you to access the Crime Records Service section of the Department of Public Safety's official website. You must first create an account via the CRS section. Basic information such as a person's full name, maiden name and the exact birth date is required for the search. You will be charged $3.00 per individual name searched.

The latter approach provides faster and more accurate results. You must first make an appointment online to have your fingerprints scanned and submitted to the DPS. The said department has contracted with a company to provide state-wide electronic fingerprinting services. You must also prepare a written request asking the DPS to obtain your personal arrest record. Next is to have your fingerprint scanned via DPS-authorized Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST). You can also alternatively acquire a fingerprint card approved by the DPS from the county Sheriff's Office. If using the FAST service, you are charged $9.95 for the electronic fingerprinting step, and the stipend $15.00 fee to the Department of Public Safety. Alternately, mail the accomplished fingerprint card along with the $15.00 payment to the DPS via check or money order payable. Requests are typically processed within ten working days.

The power of the World Wide Web has reached several disciplines, including public records search and procurement. The idea has been brought into fruition by concerned government-appointed public records repositories and private service providers out of the need to answer more applications in a faster and more convenient manner. Truly, this idea has become one of the most popular search activities in the Internet, because one can absolutely access and obtain their desired records within a matter of minutes, therefore saving copious amounts of time, cash and effort.




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