The Freedom of Information Act and State Public Record Laws make it possible to obtain records on a person, some of which had previously not been available to the public.
Getting these now-public records usually requires a written request. Further, different states may limit who can and cannot access certain records or information, even though the State Public Records Law may say otherwise.
Records that have been or are now public can be obtained by visiting the appropriate office or agency. These include driver’s license, criminal records, credit records, military records, marriage/divorce/ death records, and personal contact information (address, phone number).
Driver’s license information can be obtained from a state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (also called Driver’s License Division). Criminal records can now be obtained from City, County, or State Law Enforcement agencies, as well as (college or university) campus law enforcement or security agencies.
Credit reports can be obtained from one or all three of the credit reporting agencies (CRAs)–Transunion, Experian, and Equifax.
Marriage and divorce records are usually available through a County’s Probate Court. Death records can often be obtained from a County Health Department. The Bureau of Vital Statistics for any State will have all three records.
Military records are obtained from the particular branch of service Records Office.
Personal contact information can be obtained from local phone directories, city and/or street address directories, and other publications. In addition, Internet searches can be made utilizing many of the online “look-up” services available.
Some states do have limitations on who can request driver’s license and criminal records, and may even require that both the requestor and the person whose record is being requested live in that particular state. Requests for Federal criminal records must be made, in writing, to the U. S. Department of Justice.
Concerning credit records, anyone other than the individual seeking credit report information must obtain permission (in writing) from the person whose credit report is being requested. Once that permission is obtained, then the three CRAs are contacted.
The availability of public records can have both positive and negative effects.
Information that was once completely unknown, or known only to a few people, is now “out there”, making it accessible to anyone who knows who to contact to make the request.
Knowing where public records are located and how to obtain them can be very beneficial for both individuals and professionals alike. Because the information in these records is usually gotten from local, state, or federal governmental agencies, or from professional reporting agencies, it is almost for certain that the information will be current and correct.
The agency to which a request is being made will need as much information on the person who the request concerns in order assure that the correct information on the right person is given. Also, agencies do not necessarily have a “time frame” in which to respond; however, most do try to provide the information as soon as possible. The information received should, of course, be protected against unauthorized dissemination.
