{"id":4303,"date":"2026-07-24T04:48:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T04:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/?p=4303"},"modified":"2026-07-24T04:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T04:48:13","slug":"what-states-dont-share-criminal-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/","title":{"rendered":"What States Don\u2019t Share Criminal Records"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Criminal records contain an important documented history of a person\u2019s run-ins with the criminal justice system, including minor offenses and indictable crimes. This information can be vital for employers screening job applicants or any licensing authorities determining a person\u2019s professionalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many people wonder what states don\u2019t share criminal records and keep that information confidential. Every U.S. state participates in some form of criminal record sharing. This could be with federal agencies, law enforcement, authorized employers, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep reading to find out more about how states generally treat criminal records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/#What_States_Dont_Share_Criminal_Records_Explained\" >What States Don&#8217;t Share Criminal Records? Explained<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/#Can_I_Access_Criminal_Records\" >Can I Access Criminal Records?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/#What_States_Dont_Share_Criminal_Records_Common_Misconceptions\" >What States Don&#8217;t Share Criminal Records? Common Misconceptions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/#Myth_1_Moving_to_Another_State_Can_Erase_Your_Record\" >Myth 1: Moving to Another State Can Erase Your Record<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/#Myth_2_Every_Background_Check_Can_Cover_All_States\" >Myth 2: Every Background Check Can Cover All States<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/#Myth_3_Public_Databases_Have_Every_Criminal_Activity_on_Record\" >Myth 3: Public Databases Have Every Criminal Activity on Record<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/what-states-dont-share-criminal-records\/#Criminal_Records_Exist_for_a_Reason\" >Criminal Records Exist for a Reason<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_States_Dont_Share_Criminal_Records_Explained\"><\/span><a><\/a>What States Don&#8217;t Share Criminal Records? Explained<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All states share criminal records in one form or another. If a person is arrested or convicted of a crime, the state will usually store the details of that incident in a central criminal history repository.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This data is also shared with federal systems used by law enforcement and specific government agencies, allowing other states to access relevant documentation when permitted by the law as well. Therefore, all states share criminal records; there isn&#8217;t a state that doesn&#8217;t share criminal records with other states or background check companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, there can be differences across states regarding how complete, current, and publicly available criminal records are. Some states, like Georgia, mandate that agencies transmit electronic arrest and fingerprint data to the state&#8217;s central repository within a set timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This increases the accuracy of the criminal records, especially compared to other states where the law might not be as strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_Access_Criminal_Records\"><\/span><a><\/a>Can I Access Criminal Records?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The general public, including you, can usually access criminal records, but your search results can vary. Many states do provide searchable online records, but others can require users to actually submit requests directly to the court. If the record you\u2019re looking for is restricted by the county or state, you might not be able to find it at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many people use search tools to quickly locate publicly available data, such as criminal and <a href=\"https:\/\/checkpeople.com\/arrest-records\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arrest records<\/a>. This proves to be especially useful if the criminal has lived in multiple places, as these tools can gather a variety of sources into one report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also find additional details, such as their address history, contact information, possible relatives, and other records that point to court filings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re an employer, you\u2019ll most likely have access to professional background screening companies that have the authority to conduct more extensive background checks across multiple jurisdictions. The check can span county criminal courts, state criminal repositories, sex offender registries, global watch lists, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using a search tool online can help you get a solid idea of the picture before moving on to professional screening agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_States_Dont_Share_Criminal_Records_Common_Misconceptions\"><\/span><a><\/a>What States Don&#8217;t Share Criminal Records? Common Misconceptions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are various misunderstandings people have about how criminal records work. Let\u2019s take a look at a few of these ideas and what the reality is like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_1_Moving_to_Another_State_Can_Erase_Your_Record\"><\/span><a><\/a>Myth 1: Moving to Another State Can Erase Your Record<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reality<\/strong> <strong>Check<\/strong>: Moving states can\u2019t erase your record because it will remain with the jurisdiction where the offense occurred. Authorized agencies can easily find these records across states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_2_Every_Background_Check_Can_Cover_All_States\"><\/span><a><\/a>Myth 2: Every Background Check Can Cover All States<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reality Check<\/strong>: This is not necessary, as background checks vary widely. One employer might order searches in every county you have lived in, whereas another might only look at one state repository. For more sensitive posts, such as in healthcare or government, the background check is likely to be more extensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Myth_3_Public_Databases_Have_Every_Criminal_Activity_on_Record\"><\/span><a><\/a>Myth 3: Public Databases Have Every Criminal Activity on Record<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reality Check<\/strong>: No database is perfect, regardless of the state you live in. Information can often get lost in communication, and local court practices can differ from region to region. Some records might be sealed, and only a select few agencies can have access to them. Don\u2019t expect public databases, including search tools, to be 100% accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Criminal_Records_Exist_for_a_Reason\"><\/span><a><\/a>Criminal Records Exist for a Reason<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">States share criminal records to protect the public and make certain that law enforcement agencies, employers, and other authorized parties can have access to accurate criminal history data when required. This information can help us make more informed decisions by conducting more detailed background checks for housing, employment, and other cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can access these records through search tools and online criminal history repositories for the state you\u2019re in. However, this data can be limited and inaccurate at times. You can get a more complete picture of the situation by using reputable sources and screening agencies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Criminal records contain an important documented history of a person\u2019s run-ins with the criminal justice system, including minor offenses and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4303"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4305,"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4303\/revisions\/4305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/derekdemars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}