County Criminal.

Capture Misdemeanor and Felony Convictions

Want to know if your candidate has a shoplifting habit they "forgot" to mention? County criminal searches are the gold standard for discovering misdemeanors and felonies that candidates hoped would stay buried in local courthouse files. While national searches give you the 30,000-foot view, county searches dig into the trenches where the real hiring surprises hide.

What County Searches Actually Catch

• Felony Convictions: The big stuff like assault, robbery, and murder that should disqualify candidates from most positions
• Misdemeanor Revelations: "Minor" crimes like theft, drug possession, and shoplifting that reveal character issues
• Local Court Records: Direct access to county courthouse files where most criminal activity gets processed (typically 7-10 years of history)
• Complete Conviction Details: Charges, dispositions, and sentencing information that paints the full picture

Fast Results When You Need Them: CIChecked delivers county criminal results in 1-3 business days, letting you move qualified candidates through your pipeline quickly while maintaining thorough due diligence.

Why County Beats State (Most of the Time)

While some states maintain decent criminal databases, most don't. County courts are where the action happens—they retain both misdemeanor and felony information that state databases often miss or delay reporting. Our investigators go straight to the source instead of relying on potentially outdated state compilations.

Reading the Red Flags

Not all criminal records are created equal. Violent felonies, financial crimes, and repeat offenses typically disqualify candidates, while single misdemeanors from years ago might warrant individual assessment depending on the role. Theft-related convictions matter more for financial positions, while DUIs are critical for driving roles.

The New York Exception (Because Nothing's Simple)

Here's where things get weird: New York county courts only handle felonies, while misdemeanors get processed at town, city, and village levels. That means a standard county search in New York will miss the DUI, shoplifting, or assault charges that could be deal-breakers. This is why CIChecked developed our proprietary Cursory Indicator New York™ search—to catch what county searches miss.

Bottom Line: County criminal searches are your best bet for uncovering the local courthouse drama that candidates prefer to keep quiet. Just remember—in New York, you need our specialized approach to get the complete picture.