Help

Find the Right CriminalWatchDog Background Check

You want to be thorough when running criminal background checks, but knowing what you need can be confusing especially when criminal records are scattered across different databases all over the US.

To make the decision painless, we've described each product and provided tips on when to use each. Not sure which regions' databases you need to check? No worries, we've provided guidance on that, too.

Description

Regions*

When You'll Get it

When to Use

Services

Criminal Background Check

Starting at $12.95

Scans over 500 million criminal and sex offender records to reveal felonies, misdemeanors, probations, and other criminal offenses

Learn more about where we get this information.

National, regional, and state*

Instantly

  • When you're sure of an individual's name spelling and date of birth, as people may lie about both to escape being connected with their criminal record
  • When you need added security, as a national check also scans the International Terrorist Watchlist (OFAC)

Criminal Search

Sex Offender Search

Terrorist Watch List(OFAC)†

FCRA Compliance

Social Security Number Validation + Address History

County Courthouse Criminal Search

Advanced Background Check

Starting at $18.95

Verifies known aliases based on an individual's social security number. These names, along with the primary name, will be included in your subject's criminal search.

National, regional, and state*

Instantly

  • When an individual has used multiple names, such as maiden names, previously married names, nicknames, and aliases. These names, based on the subject's social security number, will be included in the criminal search so that you won't have to run several standard searches for each name variation.
  • When you want to verify someone's address history to ensure they're not hiding an address where a possible criminal record exists.

Criminal Search

Sex Offender Search

Terrorist Watch List(OFAC)†

FCRA Compliance

Social Security Number Validation + Address History

County Courthouse Criminal Search

Advanced Check Plus

Starting at $49.95

Check and County Criminal Background Check products to scan all databases by social security number and retrieve county records from a courthouse

National and county*

1-4 business days

  • When you want to save money and time by incorporating all available criminal check services into one search
  • When you need a better understanding of what counties to search. You'll receive an address history for the applicant, which allows you to choose the counties where a record is most likely to be filed.

Criminal Search

Sex Offender Search

Terrorist Watch List(OFAC)†

FCRA Compliance

Social Security Number Validation + Address History

County Courthouse Criminal Search

Description

Regions*

When You'll Get it

When to Use

Services

County Criminal Background Check

Starting at $19.95

Since many county court records aren't accessible online, we send a licensed investigator to the court to gather the most up-to-date criminal record data in that county

County only*

1-4 business days

  • When you need up-to-the-minute information on someone, as national, regional, and state records are only updated monthly
  • Information from a court that limits record retrieval to on-site access
  • When you need to verify information from an instant records search. Those searches rely on name and DOB matches, so country searches help you verify that you have the right individuals' records.

Criminal Search

Sex Offender Search

Terrorist Watch List(OFAC)†

FCRA Compliance

Social Security Number Validation + Address History

County Courthouse Criminal Search

US Trace

$7.95

Provides all names, addresses, and phone numbers associated with a given social security number

National*

Instantly

  • When you need to verify someone's social security number
  • When you want to cross reference the name and address history provided by an applicant. We recommend doing this before performing a county search to ensure the information is accurate.

Legal Names

AKAs

Address History

US Validation

$6.95

Identifies invalid social security numbers and cross references social security numbers with people listed on the Death Master Index (DMI)

National*

Instantly

  • When you need to verify someone's social security number
  • When you want to be sure a social security number isn't listed on the Death Master Index

Social Security Number Validation

*Not sure whether you should be running a national, state, regional, or county background check? Here we break down exactly when you should use each.

Location scans When to Use
National All State databases When you're hiring or renting to someone who has lived in various places throughout the US. Particularly helpful when you're hiring from all over the country.
State One state's records When you're hiring or renting to someone who has only ever lived in one state
Regional Several states' records When you're hiring or renting to someone who has lived in a few states, but all in the same region. Regions include: eastern, midwestern, southern, and western US.
County A specific county When you need information from a court that limits record retrieval to on-site access. County searches give you the most up-to-date information on an individual.
Need all of the above? All state databases and up to 3 specific county records When you're hiring or renting to someone who has lived all over the country and need a combination of national database and local county resources.