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5 Websites with Federal Criminal Records
In general, national databases containing federal criminal records are off-limits to the public. However, with the advent of technology and the Internet, more and more websites are providing public access to federal criminal record information. Here are some of them.
1. Federal Criminal Records on http://www.bis.doc.gov
The website of the Bureau of Industry and Security provides federal criminal records. On the website, you will be able to find the Denied Persons List and The Entity List. The Denied Persons List contains the names of people and groups that have been refused export privileges. The official list can be found in the Federal Register. The Entity List, meanwhile, contains the names of people and groups that require specific license requirements prior to conducting any transactions.
2. Federal Criminal Records on http://www.bop.gov
Another website providing access to federal criminal records is the website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Their database of federal criminal records can be searched using their inmate locator. The inmate locator allows a name search of the federal criminal records, where the exact name queried will be searched for. If a match is found among the federal criminal records, a link will appear to the prison where the individual is or was incarcerated.
3. Federal Criminal Records on http://www.pmdtc.org
The Department of State, specifically the Defense Trade Controls, also provides access to federal criminal records. On the website, you can find the list that contains the names of persons or companies who have violated either the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Arms Export Control Act.
4. Federal Criminal Records on http://www.nsopr.gov
The Department of Justice also provides access to federal criminal records, specifically the National Sex Offender Public Registry. Almost half the states provide online access to their sex offender registry through this site. Aside from containing federal criminal records, the site can also help find sex offenders who have moved to a different state.
5. Federal Criminal Records on https://www.pacer.gov/
Federal criminal records can also be accessed via PACER, or Public Access to Court Electronic Records. PACER is the federal court docket system on the Internet. The website has a U.S. Party/Case Index, which contains a list of litigation and court filings from a number of federal and bankruptcy courts. When visiting the website, check if the court you’re looking for is available by viewing the Courts Not On Index link. Both civil and criminal litigation can be searched for on the website. Keep in mind that when searching federal criminal records using PACER, some of the information and inclusion dates may be limited.
Aside from these, there are a number of other websites providing access to federal criminal records, such as the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control website. Some of these websites require a subscription, while others are open for public searching and viewing. It is a good idea to check the aforementioned websites for federal criminal records when conducting a criminal Background Search.
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