The Best Free Links to Public Records Information

The Internet can be a wonderful tool for finding all sorts of information, including Public Records.

However, more and more sites are offering services where a user is required to pay a fee before receiving the information he or she needs. For those individuals who perhaps slept through Civics and Government classes, here’s a quick reminder. Public Records are just that – Public.

If it’s a matter of Public Record, than you generally should not have to pay to be able to view it. Yet, a quick Google search for this type of information returns thousands of pages. Many of these look like helpful search tools until a page appears where it asks for your credit card information and $19.95 to go any further. Finding the information you need should not feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

If you need access to Public Records, but have no idea where to start, the following online resources are good places to start your search without spending a dime.

Free Public Records Directory provides links to county and state level Public Records for every state and county in the United States.

Public Record Center strives to be one of the most current and complete online sources of Public Records. The site is updated hourly and is easy to navigate. Use of the site is free and it includes links to additional resources including sex offender databases, criminal records, property records, civil records, and people finders.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides several useful search tools, which include an inmate locator, a facility locator, and an address directory. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice.

To check if a person has been released from jail, VINELink is one of the quickest and easiest ways to do so.* From the website’s homepage, you first click on the state where the person is in jail. You are then directed to the individual state’s home tab. The home tab has important contact information and links to other useful sites that may provide additional resources. To search for information on a specific offender, click on the search tab, located to the right of the home tab. You will need to have the offender’s full name or identification number. Birth date and age are helpful fields but are not required. County or facility can narrow a search down if that is known. Vinelink is a service provided to the victims of crime by Appriss Incorporated. There are additional helpful links and resources available on the website homepage.

*Vinelink online is currently not available in several states and is limited in some other states.

National Sex Offender Public Website

Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website is a free search tool service provided by the United States Department of Justice. A user can search for information about sex offenders through several options that include Name, Zip code, County, City or Town, State, or National. However, users should note that options and criteria may be limited by the information that is provided by each individual state. The website advises users to seek additional information through the individual state websites when needed or when appropriate.

Generally, these starting points turn finding a needle in the haystack, into more like finding a lost car key in the grass. However, it is important to keep in mind that electronic information is only available for records that have been electronically filed. As electronic filing of documents is quickly becoming more widespread, the services of free websites such as these should continue to improve.