Criminal Records

AA criminal record is a list of all the crimes that a person has been previously convicted of and includes the individual's specific arrest records and personal records.An arrest is the actual taking of the accused into custody by law enforcement officers or personnel. In contrast, a conviction is when the accused is found guilty in a court of law.Crimes can be separated into felonies and misdemeanors.

A felony is a crime such as murder, rape, or burglary which is punishable by a more stringent sentence, either imprisonment of more than one year or even death.Criminal records can be obtained for inspection in various ways depending upon the specific jurisdiction. Understand that the purpose for obtaining the criminal record can also affect the procedure.Many businesses and organizations obtain the criminal records of prospective employees to weed out applicants who many have criminal histories or unsavory pasts.

Therefore, if you have ever been convicted of a felony, your criminal record may likely deter you from many of life's offerings. This is meant to act as one of many deterrents to criminal activities.Some websites provide access to criminal records free of charge.

Even some courts waive the prescribed fee in view of public interest. Criminal records come in two different types, public and non-public records. Now, almost all state, county, and federal courts maintain their own set of criminal records online. One can search for criminal records on the Internet, rather than having to go through the courts themselves.

By: Jennifer Bailey