How to Search Federal Criminal Records?

Navigating federal criminal records can be overwhelming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the federal court system. These records document violations of federal law and include key details such as charges, case outcomes, and sentencing, all handled within the jurisdiction of federal courts across the U.S.

Whether you’re running a background check or researching a specific federal court case, access has become more streamlined thanks to digital platforms like PACER. Still, understanding the process and knowing where to look is essential. This guide covers everything you need to know, from what qualifies as a federal crime to how to access records through public databases.

Understanding Federal Criminal Records

Federal criminal records are documents maintained by the federal court system that pertain to criminal cases prosecuted under federal law. These records are distinct from state and county criminal records in several important ways.

The United States federal courts have jurisdiction over matters involving the U.S. government, the Constitution, and federal laws. When someone violates federal criminal law, their case is tried in federal court rather than state or local courts. This distinction is crucial because county and state criminal searches don’t return federal records, and vice versa.

Federal criminal records typically contain detailed information about the defendant, the nature of the charges, court proceedings, and the final disposition of the case. This information is maintained by the federal court system and is generally accessible to the public, though some records may be sealed or redacted to protect sensitive information.

What Qualifies as a Federal Offense?

Understanding what constitutes a federal crime helps clarify what types of cases you might find in federal criminal records. Federal offenses include a wide range of crimes that either violate federal laws, occur on federal property, or cross state lines.

Common examples of federal crimes include:

• Bank robberies: Since banks are federally insured
• Child pornography: Including possession, production, and trafficking
• Crimes against federal employees: Such as assaulting a postal worker
• Crimes committed on federal land: Including national parks and military bases
• Crimes that cross state lines: Including kidnapping and certain fraud cases
• Drug trafficking: Especially cases involving large distribution networks
• Fraud: Including mail fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud
• Tax evasion: Failure to pay federal taxes
• Terrorism: Acts of domestic or international terrorism

It’s important to note that county and state criminal searches won’t return federal records, underscoring the importance of specifically searching federal databases when conducting comprehensive background checks.

The PACER System

The Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system serves as the central repository for electronic court records from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. PACER revolutionized access to federal court documents by providing a unified electronic platform for the public to search and retrieve case information.

Registering for a PACER Account

To access PACER, you’ll need to register for an account:

1. Visit the PACER website
2. Click on “Register for an Account”
3. Choose the appropriate account type based on your needs: “Case Search Only” for general public access, “Attorney Filers for CM/ECF” for licensed attorneys, “Non-attorney Filers for CM/ECF” for individuals authorized to file but not licensed attorneys, and “Group Billing” for organizations managing multiple users under one billing account.
4. Complete the registration form with your personal information
5. Create a username and password
6. Provide payment information for billing purposes

Once registered, you can access the PACER Case Locator, which allows you to search for cases across multiple courts, or you can search individual court databases directly.

Navigating PACER and Search Techniques

PACER offers several search options to help you locate federal criminal records:

• Case Locator: A national index for U.S. district, bankruptcy, and appellate courts that allows you to search by party name, case number, or date range
• Court-specific searches: You can search within specific federal courts using more detailed criteria
• Advanced search options: These allow filtering by case type, filing date, and other parameters

When searching by name, it’s important to note that PACER searches are name-based and don’t use other identifiers such as Social Security numbers or birth dates. This can sometimes result in false positives, especially for common names.

Understanding PACER Costs

PACER offers access to federal court records but charges $0.10 per page for most documents, with a $3.00 cap per document, and $2.40 for audio files. Court opinions are free, and if your total fees stay under $30 per quarter, charges are waived, making light use effectively free.

To reduce costs, search by case number instead of party name, apply filters like date ranges to narrow results, access free court opinions, and consider using public terminals at federal courthouses for no-cost access.

Federal Court Websites as Resources

Beyond PACER, individual federal court websites can be valuable resources for accessing case information. Each federal court (district, appellate, and bankruptcy) maintains its own website with searchable databases of cases filed within that jurisdiction.

These websites typically offer basic case information and docket entries, access to court opinions and some case documents, court rules and procedures, contact information for the clerk’s office, and forms and filing instructions. To locate a specific federal court website, visit uscourts.gov and use the court locator tool. From there, you can navigate to the appropriate district, appellate, or bankruptcy court website based on geographical jurisdiction.

Information Retrieved from Federal Criminal Searches

A federal criminal search typically provides publicly available case details such as the case number, charges, court jurisdiction, disposition, sentencing, and key dates. However, most records redact personally identifiable information (PII), so while case facts are accessible, personal details about defendants are often limited to protect privacy.

Accessing Historical Federal Criminal Records

For federal criminal records that predate digital systems, you’ll need to follow a different process. Most pre-PACER federal case files have been transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

To access these older records:

1. Start with the court: Contact the clerk’s office of the relevant federal court with as much information as possible about the case (names, approximate year, case type)
2. Request a search: The court can perform a name search for a fee (typically $34)
3. Order the file from NARA: Once you have the case information from the court, you can order the file from NARA using their reference information

NARA charges vary depending on the size of the file:

• $90 for a case file up to 150 pages
• Additional fees apply for larger files (either by page count or time spent scanning)

While this process is more involved than using PACER, it provides access to valuable historical records that may not be available digitally.

Creating Alerts for Federal Case Updates

If you’re tracking ongoing federal cases, consider setting up alerts to receive notifications about new developments:

• PACER RSS Feeds: PACER offers RSS feeds for case activity notifications
• Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC): For bankruptcy case notifications
• Third-party services: Tools like CourtAlert and Docket Alarm provide real-time federal case alerts

Setting up alerts can help you stay informed about case developments without having to manually check for updates.

Limitations and Challenges of Federal Criminal Record Searches

When searching federal criminal records, be aware of these potential limitations:

• Name-based searches: Without unique identifiers, common names may return false positives
• Jurisdictional limitations: You may need to search multiple jurisdictions for comprehensive results
• Sealed or expunged records: Some records may not be publicly accessible
• Historical record gaps: Older records may be incomplete or harder to access
• Record maintenance variance: Different courts may maintain records differently

Understanding these limitations can help you conduct more effective searches and interpret results appropriately.

Legal Considerations and Ethical Use

When accessing and using federal criminal records, keep these legal and ethical considerations in mind:

• Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): If using records for employment purposes, follow FCRA guidelines
• Privacy concerns: Respect the privacy of individuals whose records you access
• Accuracy verification: Verify information before making decisions based on records
• Sealed/expunged records: Respect legal restrictions on using sealed or expunged records

Responsible use of criminal record information is essential for legal compliance and ethical conduct.

Conclusion

Searching federal criminal records requires understanding the federal court system, knowing which resources to use, and applying effective search techniques. Whether you’re using PACER, federal court websites, or alternative resources, a methodical approach will help you access the information you need.

For comprehensive background checks that include federal criminal records, consider professional services like Sapphire Background Check that can navigate these systems efficiently and ensure thorough results. With the right tools and knowledge, you can effectively access and utilize federal criminal records for your research, due diligence, or background screening needs. Contact us to get started.

FAQs

What exactly are federal criminal records?

Federal criminal records are documents maintained by federal courts that contain information about criminal cases prosecuted under federal law, including charges, court proceedings, and case outcomes. These records are typically associated with a federal court case and may involve serious offenses such as fraud, drug trafficking, or crimes that cross state lines.

Are US criminal records public?

Yes, most U.S. criminal records are public, though access varies by jurisdiction. Federal records are available through PACER, while state and county records may require local databases. Sealed, expunged, or juvenile records are restricted, and in rare cases, a Supreme Court ruling may affect access.

Are all federal criminal records digitized?

No, older records may still exist only in paper form and require special requests to access through the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) or the originating court. Processing times can vary, so it’s best to contact the appropriate agency in advance to understand access procedures.