Texas Criminal Background Check

Running a Background Check in Texas

Texas Background checks are commonly used to help individuals, employers and landlords identify individuals who may be associated with criminal activity. Other Texas criminal background checks are window’s to a person’s past that might be useful information if you’re trying to verify the credibility of a friend, co-worker or anyone else you may associate with in United States. A Texas background check can tell you if a person is credible or dangerous. It is also possible to run a Texas criminal background check anonymously online. There are a multitude of online resources to chose from to perform this service, the first step is to identify the reason you want to run this check and then you can locate the right service for you.

There are official purposes that many people want to run a Texas background check for. Most of which include employment hiring and tenant screening. These screenings allow you a person make informed decisions about whether an applicant is worth the risk to hire, date, or even generally associate with. Background checks are run as a measure of protection from the liability of hiring people with criminal records or renting a home to someone that is untrustworthy. These Texas background check services are FCRA certified and may need the consent of the applicant as well as a SSN to perform.

Another reason a person may be required to obtain a Texas background check is to obtain a firearm. This process also aims to ensure public safety by enforcing civil and criminal laws by identifying people who are prohibited from possessing firearms. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers this program for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

A very common third reason a person might want to run a background record search on a person in Texas is for personal reasons, and not official reasons as mentioned above. There are a multitude of reasons a person would want to run a background check. Some of these reasons include; knowing your co-workers better, people that engage with your kids, dating screening, seeing what’s on your background record. The list goes on, and there are a multitude of online public record websites that offer Texas background check services. The great part about using a service like this is most all of your searches are anonymous, so no one will know you’re looking them up. These types of services however, are not FCRA certified and cannot be used for official purposes.

What Is A Texas Criminal Background Check?

A Texas criminal background check is a report that provides some insight into who you are and what you have done in the past.

These reports can include information such as:

• Texas Criminal History
• Arrests
• Convictions
• Incarcerations
• Driving Records
• DUIs/DWIs
• Court Records

However, these searches can be conducted by employers, government agencies, landlords, schools, hospitals, retailers, other private companies and even individuals. Criminal background checks can be used to verify someone’s identity, provide criminal information for law enforcement, and determine eligibility for future employment.

There are two types of checks:

1. State checks
2. County checks

The state checks will only examine the records in the State where they were requested. In contrast, the County-wide queries will look at records in all counties within Texas.

What Shows Up On A Texas Criminal Background Check?

Many people are curious about what shows up on a Texas criminal background check. If you are considering hiring someone or renting out an apartment, it may be essential to know what this person has been convicted of in the past.

A Texas criminal background check generally includes all active and inactive charges and convictions in the individual history, including felony and misdemeanor convictions. Many types of offenses also show up on a Texas criminal background check which would not appear on a nationwide or state-run background check, such as:

• Charges that were dismissed
• Charges that were deferred
• Charges that resulted in probation instead of jail time
• Juvenile records
• Military Records

Here’s a breakdown of what shows up on a Texas criminal background check. This includes:

• Felonies
• Misdemeanors
• Infractions
• Court Records
• Sentencing Records
• Incarcerations
• Arrests
• Active Warrants

Essentially, if you have not been convicted of a crime, this does not mean that your background check will come up clean. Charges can be dropped or dismissed before they go to trial. If this happens, the charge may still show up on your criminal background check.

Over the last decade, Texas has seen a significant uptick in crime rates. Whether it is theft, murder, or sex offenders, these crimes impact families and communities across the state.

One of the most important things to do before making a hiring decision or leasing an apartment is to check for criminal background. If there is evidence that the tenant may be violent or unreliable, then it may not be worth renting it out.

How To Run A Texas Criminal Background Check Online

In the state of Texas, background checks are required for a variety of purposes, including hiring, housing, and gun ownership. With the prevalence of online databases, it is easier than ever to complete a background check on any individual using the internet and a few simple steps.

The first step is to visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website and create an account.

*Note: You would be required to purchase credit for every search you perform.

Before running criminal background checks on the TxDPS website, you are required to provide the following:

• Personal information (first name and last name, date of birth)
• Complete date of birth (month, day & year, however, this is not compulsory)
• Partial-Birth Date (month, day, or year, not compulsory)

It’s worthy to note that providing the full date of birth and maiden name will help you narrow the search and save yourself the hassle of searching through the database of individuals with similar details.

Unfortunately, most of these records are only accessible to authorized law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, courts, correctional agencies, and probation departments.

However, some of the public records are easier to locate in Texas; these records include:

• Criminal histories
• Court records
• Vital records
• Property records and many more.

While these records may be searchable online, accessing physical records like certified marriage certificates requires a formal request. However, the office of the Texas Attorney General advises using the USPS for submitting all applications.

*Note: Keeping proof of your receipt would be very necessary.

How Far Back Does A Texas Criminal Background Check Go?

If an employer generates the check, the Texas criminal background check can go as far back as seven years. The check will cover the applicant’s past criminal history and personal information.

However, there are some exceptions to this directive. If the applicant is applying for a job that pays over $75,000 per annum, then the employer is permitted to assess the prospect records from the time they turned 18.

Ultimately, a Texas criminal background check is a reliable way to find out information on an individual. The benefits of conducting an online search can range from protecting yourself, your family, or your business from potential harm to helping others learn more about themselves and their families.

Suppose you are concerned about your personal safety and want to know if a potential criminal is in the neighborhood. Run a search on SearchQuarry.com to see if anyone with a similar name or address was arrested, convicted, or incarcerated for crimes such as assault, burglary, DUI, drugs, homicide, and theft.