/ Check Types
Criminal background check: what it is and what it returns
A criminal background check searches court and government records for charges and convictions tied to a verified identity. A defensible check combines a national database sweep for pointers with county-level court searches, which are the authoritative source.
The layers of a criminal search
- National criminal database — a broad aggregation used to find where to look. It is a pointer, never a primary source.
- County criminal court — the authoritative record for most crimes in the US, searched by jurisdiction of residence.
- Statewide repository — available in some states; completeness varies widely.
- Federal district court — for offenses prosecuted federally, such as fraud, trafficking, and interstate crimes.
- Sex offender registry — a national multi-state registry search.
- Global watchlists and sanctions — OFAC and related lists for regulated roles.
Why database-only checks are risky
Database coverage is uneven and often stale. Records can be missing, out of date, or attached to the wrong person. Any potential hit must be confirmed at the source court before it is reported — that confirmation step is what separates a compliant check from a search-engine result.
- Ethur confirms identity biometrically before any criminal search runs, so records are matched to a verified person rather than a name and date of birth alone.
Frequently asked
Is a national criminal check enough?▼
No. It should always be paired with county-level searches for the jurisdictions in the candidate's address history.
Do criminal checks include federal cases?▼
Only if a federal district search is ordered — county searches do not cover federal court.