A Primer on County Criminal Background Checks

A county background check is one of the most reliable ways to verify an applicant’s criminal history. Since many criminal offenses are prosecuted at the county level, these searches provide direct access to court records, revealing felonies, misdemeanors, pending cases, and other legal matters tied to a candidate.

However, county criminal background checks are only one piece of the puzzle. They don’t include records from other counties, states, or federal courts, making it essential for employers to layer screenings, including statewide and national database searches, to ensure a comprehensive view of a candidate’s background.

To make informed hiring decisions, understanding how county background checks work, what they include, and when to use them is essential.

Why It Matters

Since many criminal cases are handled at the county level, county criminal background checks often provide highly detailed and up-to-date records by pulling information directly from local court systems. However, depending on the state, some statewide searches can offer similar accuracy, especially when they pull real-time data directly from county courts.

Many employers begin with a county search in the applicant’s current place of residence to review local records. However, for a more complete picture, screening companies recommend expanding the search to include additional counties where the candidate has lived or worked. Additionally, you might add statewide or federal searches—depending on the role, jurisdiction, and specific screening requirements.

Which Records Are Included in a County Criminal Check?

A county criminal background check looks at local court records to find past or ongoing criminal cases linked to a candidate. Since most crimes are handled at the county level, this type of check often offers the most accurate and up-to-date details about a person’s criminal history. Because it pulls records directly from county courthouses, employers get reliable, real-time information they can trust.

What shows up on a county criminal records search?

Each court provides different information. A country criminal records search might provide:

• Defendant’s Name – Legal name associated with the case
• Case Number – Unique identifier assigned to the criminal case
• Case Type – Classification of the case (for example: felony or misdemeanor)
• Offense Severity – Differentiates between minor and serious crimes
• Disposition – Case outcome (for example: convicted, acquitted, or dismissed)
• Disposition Date – The date the court case was resolved
• Sentence Information – Details on fines, probation, or jail time
• Pending Cases – Charges that are filed but not yet resolved
• Warrants – Active or outstanding arrest warrants

The types of criminal cases found on a county-level search can vary. Depending on the county, a county criminal background search may not include:

• Traffic Violations – These may appear on a county search, but not always. Consider adding a motor vehicle records (MVR) check if traffic offenses are important to your hiring criteria.
• Federal Criminal Offenses – Select crimes, such as embezzlement, tax fraud, or identity theft, may require a federal criminal background check.
• Juvenile Records – Most juvenile offenses are sealed.
• Sealed or Expunged Records – Expunged cases are erased, while sealed records are not publicly accessible.
• Civil Cases – Divorces, lawsuits, and other non-criminal disputes are not included. Employers can order a civil records search if these cases are relevant to their hiring criteria.

Since county court record checks are limited to a single jurisdiction, many employers combine them with statewide criminal background checks, federal criminal record searches, and national criminal database searches for broader coverage.

• Ensure Compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Employers must obtain applicant consent before conducting a background check.
• Identify the Applicant’s County of Residence: Employers use an SSN Trace or address history search to determine which county court records to search.
• Conduct a County Criminal Records Search: A background check provider retrieves criminal information from district courts or public access databases, either electronically or through manual courthouse searches.
• Verify Criminal Case Details: The search returns case numbers, case types, convictions, pending cases, and active warrants to provide a complete criminal history review.
• Review and Use in the Hiring Process: After screening companies apply compliance filters, employers assess findings to determine if the criminal offenses affect job eligibility.

Certain factors can delay a county background check, including:

• Manual record retrieval – Some counties lack digital databases, requiring court clerks to manually retrieve case files.
• Court processing times – High case volumes in busy county courthouses can slow down background check turnaround times.
• Rural jurisdictions – Court researchers visit smaller courthouses less frequently (or sometimes are understaffed), so there can be delays.
• State law restrictions – Some states limit access to criminal justice information, requiring additional verification steps.

Since county background checks cover only one jurisdiction, employers often combine them with statewide, federal, and national checks for a more complete screening.

County Criminal Checks: Why They’re Often the Best Source

County-level background checks give employers a closer look at what’s happening right at the source—in the local courts where most cases are filed and processed. Because of this, county searches are often one of the most detailed ways to review someone’s criminal history.

That said, accuracy isn’t always just about going straight to the county. Some statewide systems pull real-time updates directly from county courts, offering the same level of detail but covering a wider area. Your chosen background screening vendor can help you decide which search is right for your hiring needs.

Here are a few reasons you may choose a county criminal records search:

National database searches offer a broader sweep but can miss the local context. That’s why they’re best used in combination with county and statewide searches.

For employers seeking accurate and legally reliable screening, county-level checks provide real-time, detailed records straight from the source. They’re a valuable tool for reviewing specific local jurisdictions.

While statewide and national searches offer broader coverage, accuracy depends on how records are reported and maintained.

To stay accurate and FCRA-compliant, partnering with a trusted screening provider like InfoMart ensures a thorough and reliable background check process.

County vs. Statewide, Federal, & National Criminal

Each type of criminal background check offers unique coverage and value—there’s no one-size-fits-all. While county background checks are great for detailed local records, combining them with statewide, federal, and national searches gives employers a more complete picture of an applicant’s history. The right mix depends on the role, industry, and where the candidate has lived or worked.

Employers typically combine these searches for a well-rounded screening process. County checks are useful for local detail, while statewide and federal searches expand coverage.

How Employers Can Conduct a County Background Check

To conduct a county-level criminal background check effectively—and legally—employers must follow key compliance steps. County searches are highly accurate, but only when executed through a compliant process that considers where a candidate has lived and worked. Here’s how to do it:

InfoMart simplifies this entire process with secure, FCRA-compliant background screening solutions. Our team helps employers access accurate county-level data while maintaining full compliance and reducing legal risk.

The InfoMart Advantage: Smarter Hiring, Safer Workplaces

With 35+ years of experience, InfoMart helps businesses make smarter hiring decisions by providing accurate, compliant, and efficient criminal background check solutions. Our PBSA-accredited, WBENC-certified team ensures that employers get the whole story before bringing a candidate on board.

Why Employers Rely on InfoMart

A county criminal background check is a valuable tool for verifying an applicant’s criminal record, especially when reviewing local jurisdictions where most cases are filed and processed. The most effective screening strategy often combines county, statewide, federal, and national searches based on the role, industry, and where the candidate has lived or worked.

Our team works with you to build the right screening package, helping ensure compliance, reduce hiring risks, and provide the insights you need to make informed decisions.

Background checks shouldn’t slow you down—they should empower your hiring decisions. InfoMart makes it easy.

Learn More About Our Background Screening Services

About Tammy Cohen

Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record.

About InfoMart

InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.