Criminal Records: Understanding the Source

Good explainer from OPENONline about which criminal records are and which are not included on their database.

"OPENonline provides access to ... criminal records from all 50 US states. The ever-growing menu of information available at your fingertips ... can be daunting because of the wide variety of choices and discrepancies in what is available from state to state. Criminal records vary by jurisdiction, and each state has its own rules that control the release and use of criminal history information. If you understand the different sources of criminal records, you will navigate the menu of criminal offerings with ease."

From: December 2006 OPENedge