If you have come across this article you may already be frustrated when searching for criminal records online. It can be a tedious and daunting task, especially if you are trying to conduct your search for free. I have been a private investigator for many years and I specialize in finding records online. Hopefully, I can point you in the right direction.

One major factor that will affect your search is the area you want it to cover. If you are just concerned with one town or even one state that will help you narrow down the area you need to look. Most states offer a conviction search. I my experience, this can be found on the state's Judicial website.  For example, the State of Connecticut offers four categories that are searchable. They have records for Criminal/Motor Vehicle, Housing, Small Claims and Family/Civil. Since we are just concerned with Criminal/Motor Vehicle records that is the search to select.  This will provide results of any court proceedings that are associated with a name that you have input in the search.  You can then further research the docket numbers in their respective courts by contacting the clerk of courts or checking if they have data online.

The above method will produce results provided your subject has a criminal record. If you have a subject that has lived in multiple states or you are not sure where they have lived in the past I would recommend using a paid service.  They charge a fee for the effort they put fourth gathering records nationally and providing them to you in one database.  It is one of the best and cost effective ways of being through when searching for criminal records.