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8 Best Criminal Background Check Sites of 2024
Are you looking to conduct a criminal background check? We’ve compiled a list of the best background check websites for criminal records searches. Whether conducting pre-employment screenings or due diligence on a potential roommate, you can use this list as a guide for the capabilities and key features of these popular companies and why each one might be the right fit for you.
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The overall best criminal background check websites are GoodHire, BeenVerified, and TruthFinder, because of their search options and quick turnaround times. Each of these background check companies offers a wide range of background check services, a streamlined reporting system, and customized pricing options. Each company has different key features, though; the best criminal background check for employers may be a company like GoodHire, for example, which complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and can be used for employment purposes. The best criminal background check for someone looking to search individuals on their own may be a people search site like BeenVerified or TruthFinder, which can be used to search for love interests, new friends, neighbors, and more.
1. GoodHire
GoodHire is one of the best criminal background check services because it offers a variety of criminal background checks, including national, federal, state, and county checks along with international criminal checks. GoodHire provides customizable package options that work especially well for small- and medium-sized businesses, offering a combination of criminal records checks, driving records, employment history and education verification, and more. All GoodHire criminal background check packages include a Social Security Number trace, national criminal database search, and search of the Sex Offender Registry.
GoodHire is FCRA-compliant, offering employers peace of mind when running pre-employment background checks. In April 2022, Checkr acquired GoodHire, another highly-ranked background check company. Together, they are among the best criminal background check sites with many options to help scale your business and provide an excellent experience for both customers and candidates alike.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Charge type • Offense date • Disposition • Pending cases |
| Key features: | • Robust candidate portal • ATS and HRIS integrations • International searches • Adverse action workflow |
| Pricing: | • Packages start at $29.99 • No monthly search requirement • Volume discounts available for organizations with large hiring volume |
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Another top contender for the best criminal background check is TruthFinder. As a consumer-focused people search site, TruthFinder is not FCRA-compliant and cannot be used for employment, tenancy, or similar purposes. However, the site lets you search for someone using their name, address, email, or phone number. In addition to financial results, social media profiles, location history, and business profiles, TruthFinder can return results from public criminal court databases.
The site searches through billions of public records—including county, state, and federal sources—to create a single easy-to-navigate data report. Users should note that these results may exclude pending cases or sealed and expunged court records.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Traffic and court records • Misdemeanor and felony charges • Offense details and convictions • Sex offender registration |
| Key features: | • Deep Web searches • Mobile application |
| Pricing: | • Packages range from $4.99-$29.73 per month • based on your needs |
3. Intelius
Intelius is one of the best criminal background check service options for consumers looking for non-FCRA-compliant background searches, including criminal and traffic records checks. Users can search using a person’s name, phone number, or address to get started with a nationwide criminal background check or add a state for more accurate results. Intelius also offers reverse phone lookup, public records searches, reverse address lookup, background checks, and more.
Unlimited reports are available and users can even opt into instant searches for faster reports. The site searches county, state, and federal data services and asks curated questions that can help narrow down the results. You can also use the Intelius Connection tool to quickly learn more about someone’s connections from their people search report.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Offense type • Date of the offense • Case number • Outcome of the charges |
| Key features: | • Unlimited background checks • Mobile app |
| Pricing: | • $0.95 for a 7-day trial • Packages start at $24.86 per month |
4. Instant Checkmate
Another people search option to consider is Instant Checkmate. Though you can’t use this site for employment or tenant purposes, it may still be one of the best background checks for criminal history for consumers. This people search site sources data from county, state, and federal records and may return criminal history, arrests, and traffic records, although the site warns users that some information may be out of date.
The site also offers an inmate search of federal and state prisons, too. Results may also contain other personal information such as someone’s social media accounts, email addresses, aliases, financial records (like bankruptcies, liens, or judgments), location history, asset records, and more.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Charge/offense • Offense date • Record source • Charge status |
| Key features: | • Reverse lookup options • Geographic crime statistics |
| Pricing: | • Packages for people reports start at $28.09 per month • Other reports can be added, ranging from $1.99-$5.99 per month |
5. Sterling
Sterling is another top choice for the best background check for criminal history. They deliver reports that may be used for FCRA permissible purposes (such as employment and tenant screening), support a large number of integrations, and are accredited by the PBSA.
Sterling offers general screening, drug and health screening, education and employment verification, motor vehicle record (MVR) checks, and more, for a variety of industries. Criminal history checks utilize Sterling’s CourtDirect technology to give you access to about 90% of US criminal search records at the local, county, state, and federal levels. They also offer international searches in over 240 countries.
Its domestic criminal background checks have a seven-step process, including three AI SmartData technology steps focused on matching and verifying a person’s identity, filtering results to comply with state and federal laws, and applying your custom criteria based on your needs before delivering a final report.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Charges/offenses • Pending cases and convictions • Case outcome • Restrictions or sanctions |
| Key features: | • AI technology for identity verification • ATS and talent management integrations |
| Pricing: | • Contact Sterling for a quote |
6. Spokeo
Spokeo doesn’t meet FCRA compliance guidelines, so it can’t be used for employment purposes. However, this company may still help you conduct the best background check for criminal records on acquaintances, friends, neighbors, online sellers, and more. The criminal record check searches public data sources at the federal, state, and county level and provides the results in a downloadable PDF.
Spokeo also offers a range of other report options, including real estate searches, wealth and asset data, social media searches, property records, and even historical records.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Charge/offense • Offense date • Current case status • Convictions |
| Key features: | • Automatic report updating • Reverse phone search |
| Pricing: | • Packages start at $29.95 • Criminal records may be an additional add-on cost |
7. Accurate
Another of the best criminal background check websites is Accurate, which offers criminal background checks along with a number of other background screening options and monitoring services. Accurate works with a variety of industries and can conduct background checks on applicants from over 200 countries. They are PBSA-accredited and provide reports that are FCRA-compliant, so the results can be used for employment purposes.
Accurate offers county, state, federal, and international criminal record searches, as well as county, state, and federal civil searches. The company uses built-in machine learning to instantly report motor vehicle records and clear criminal search results, and claims to have a 99.9% accuracy rate.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Charge/offense • Offense date • Result of the case • Convictions |
| Key features: | • ATS integrations • Smart background check API |
| Pricing: | • Contact Accurate for a quote |
8. HireRight
HireRight was one of the first companies to create an internet-based background screening service and is one of the best criminal background check sites available, especially for global and criminal searches for very large companies. The company provides screenings for FCRA permissible purposes, including employment, and is accredited by the PBSA. Within the US, you can choose from county, statewide, and criminal records searches. HireRight also offers a Widescreen Plus product that can supplement criminal background checks with information from additional sources, including proprietary HireRight data.
| Criminal record reports may include: | • Charges and offenses • Date of the offense • Convictions • Sentencing |
| Key features: | • ATS and HRIS software integration • Global ID digital identity verification |
| Pricing: | • Contact HireRight for a quote |
FAQs About Criminal Background Checks
What is the best way to get a criminal background check?
The best, and often easiest way, to get a criminal background check is to work with one of the top-rated background check companies, like those listed above. These companies offer a variety of reporting and pricing options depending on your company size, background check needs, and how the report will be used.
Many of these companies also offer quick turnaround on reports, giving you the comprehensive information you need, whether you’re making a hiring decision or simply using that information for peace of mind. If the report is used for employment purposes, FCRA compliance can require multiple steps. Partnering with a consumer reporting agency (CRA) can save you time and offer more accurate results to help you make the most informed hiring decisions.
How to choose the best criminal background check company
Finding the best criminal background check companies depends on the purpose of the background check and how you plan to use the reported information. If you’re using the results for employment purposes, you should consider partnering with a background check provider that meets FCRA-compliance requirements. Additionally, the desired scope of your search will help you choose which provider helps meet your needs. Some companies only offer local and state reports while others provide global results as well.
To find the best criminal background check company, be sure to spend time determining what screenings you need, why you need the information, and how you are legally allowed to use the results to help you find the right company to meet your needs.
Why conduct criminal background checks?
Criminal background checks can help employers make informed hiring decisions, confirm candidate eligibility and qualifications, and maintain workplace compliance and safety through pre-employment screenings.
Candidates can also choose to conduct a background check on themselves before applying for a job to see the results that may appear. Searching for criminal history can also provide peace of mind regarding acquaintances such as friends, love interests, and roommates.
How long does a criminal background check take?
The average turnaround time for a criminal background check is 1-3 days, though it depends on the company running the check and the scope of the report requested. Local and state records may be faster than global checks, for example, and the more comprehensive the report the longer it may take to be returned.
Get A Criminal Background Check With GoodHire
The best criminal background check sites offer a range of services and reports to meet your needs. The best criminal background check for employers, for instance, will offer a variety of screening options that help you customize your background check packages. That way, you can optimize the hiring process, simplify the candidate experience, and maintain workplace compliance, while also complying with FCRA and other applicable regulations.
GoodHire offers comprehensive criminal background checks and continuous criminal checks with customizable packages so you can add additional searches to meet the needs of your screening program. Our platform offers ATS and HRIS integrations for a more streamlined hiring experience for both employers and candidates alike, while fast turnaround times help you onboard quicker while minimizing candidate dropoff. Get started today.
*Website images and pricing mentioned in this article are accurate as of date of publication.
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Disclaimer
The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We advise you to consult your own counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.
About the Author
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As GoodHire’s managing editor, Sara Korolevich produces educational resources for employers on a variety of employment screening topics, including compliance and screening best practices, and writes about GoodHire’s company and product news. Sara’s experience stems from 20+ years working as a B2C and B2B PR and communications professional.