Criminal Law Review

Criminal searches is getting popular nowadays due to the fact that the crime rate is rising fast in our country each year. Though it might have prevented some crimes if it was that easy to perform.

For safety reasons and to protect our kids and our business from bad elements, making a criminal records search is a must and a practical way before we trust anyone. like they said better to be safe than sorry.

If you want to take a quick check on criminal records you can find hundreds of websites that offers criminal records check just by doing a simple google search, some sites are even free which most people search for.

Things to be aware of in your criminal record searches:

1 - Pay per report. Private agencies that charges five bucks per use, but with hundreds of people of the same name, paying for five bucks until you get the right report on a person is not the right way to find criminal records.

2 - Monthly membership sites. There are a few sites out there that will charge you a monthly fee to access their database. It’s irresistibly affordable but what if you won’t use their service next month. They will still charge you whether you made your Criminal Searches or not.

3 - Free records access. Time wasting websites that offers a free access, yes! but to criminal court records back in 1800’s and encourages you to click on their sponsored ads. Funny but true and they are still out there.

4 - Pay for Quality. If you need it why not pay for it. Luckily there are few legitimate sites left that lets the Public perform criminal searches the whole year round for just a small fee. A Good deal and a practical choice for people like me who needs to check on someone anytime.

As an ordinary person, you have the right to perform a criminal check before trusting your family and business with any stranger. Check out the links below to visit the most legitimate sites on criminal searches.

Criminal Searches  - whether you want to check on someone suspicious or check on their records, just enter name here.

Are you trying to find a way to do a criminal background check on someone you have a suspicion on? Or are you just concern for the safety of your children? Whatever your reason may be, most people will always go for the free method first.

There are a few tips that you should take into consideration when you are thinking of doing your own free criminal background check.

Tip #1 - When you are going for the free method, by using a search engine, be sure to clear of your schedule for the rest of the day. This is because doing your own background check can be time consuming.

Tip #2 - If you are getting irrelevant result from your search using any search engine, try typing the person’s name around quotation marks. For example, John Doe, you should type in “John Doe”.

Tip #3 - If you still can’t get any information, try a different format of the name, for example: Doe, John

Tip #4 - If somehow, you are still unable to acquire any information regarding the person’s criminal record, try using another search engine.

Tip #5 - If somehow you did everything, use every search engine available, spending days doing research and still found nothing, NEVER assume that the person is safe to be with. The only thing that your effort proves is that the person’s criminal record cannot be accessed via the free method.

Tip number 5 is probably the best tip ever. Why? Think about it logically, if you can’t get any information doing the free method, can you really be sure that the person is safe to be with? This is the main problem that most people overlooked; the free method is not 100% reliable.

You can never be sure if it’s accurate or not. The only thing that is 100% accurate and reliable is using a paid website that specialized in this kind of service. With this website you are guaranteed with the information you are getting. You do not even need to pay 50 bucks to use this service, not even 40 bucks. With this little investment you are guaranteed to have a peace of mind.

The term “computer crimes” is not one often heard in criminal news. Most people don’t even realize it exists. Nevertheless, it is specifically addressed by most states’ legislatures. In New York, it is codified in Section 156 of New York Penal Code. This article, provides a short glimpse into what is considered a New York computer crime.

The most common offense is Unauthorized use of a computer. You may be guilty of this crime if you knowingly use a machine or a system without authorization and the computer or system you use is protected by password or another security feature. This offense is s a class A misdemeanor.

Another common charge is Computer Trespass, which means knowingly using a computer without authorization with an intent to commit or attempt to commit any felony or, alternatively, the person knowingly gains access to computer material. This is a class E felony offense.

Next in line is Computer tampering. This offense may be in several degrees depending on circumstances. You may be guilty of this tampering in the fourth degree for using a computer (even with permission) and intentionally altering or destroying data or a program of another person without permission to do so. Computer tampering in the fourth degree is a class A misdemeanor.

If, in addition to this, the person has an intent to commit any felony or if the person has been previously convicted of cyber crime or theft of services crime, or the act of deleting computer material was deliberate or with the intent to cause damages for more than $1000 dollars, the person may be guilty in computer tampering in the third degree, which is a class E felony.

New York computer tampering in the second degree involves committing the crime of computer tampering in the fourth degree plus intentionally altering or destroying data or a program so as to cause damages for more than three thousand dollars. Computer tampering in the second degree is a class D felony. Finally, if an act causes more than $50,000 in damages, the person could be guilty of computer tampering in the first degree, a class C felony.

Tampering aside, another line of statutes deals with illegal copying of computer related material. Under NY Penal Law 156.30, a person may be guilty of unlawful duplication of computer related material when they illegally copy or duplicate software or any program data causing owners economic damages in the amount of more than $2,500 or copying these materials with an intent to commit felony. Unlawful duplication of computer related material is a class E felony.

You don’t have to illegally duplicate software to violate the statute. Simple possession of stolen data may be a felony, too. For example, under Section 156.35, a person is guilty of criminal possession of computer related material when having no right to do so, he knowingly possesses, a copy, reproduction or duplicate of any data or program which was copied, reproduced or duplicated in violation of section 156.30 with intent to benefit himself or a person other than an owner. Criminal possession of computer related material is a class E felony.

New York law allows for some defenses in cyber crimes cases. Some of them include a defense that the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe that he had authorization to do all the proscribed activities.

There are hundreds of online background check companies out there seemingly doing the same thing. Most online background check services provide assistance in criminal record checks, credit worthiness, as well as past employment. But how do you choose one services out of the hundred out there? When it comes to hiring a live-in caregiver, it is especially important to do a comprehensive background check, which includes nationwide criminal records checks, credit reports, past employment, and civil records. Nationwide criminal reports do exist but you will need your potential caregiver’s fingerprints and will have to run it through the FBI’s service. You also need the consent of the person you are running the online background check on. The FBI background check service is the one required by many school districts, healthcare professionals, and government workers. You can often start by checking your state and county websites because they will have links to criminal databases.

Otherwise, it is important to obtain a criminal record check in every state that your caregiver has ever resided in. Most civil record checks will include birth records, bankruptcies, and legal judgments. Services such as Lexis-Nexis, Intelius, and the Government Registry provide comprehensive services that scour public records for past infractions. If money is not an issue, you may want to hire a private investigator since they are allowed into more databases than your typical online background check service. Another option is to have your potential employee bring in a police report or run a police report yourself on your employee. A good strategy to use is to have the potential employee fill out applications in front of you, so that there is less of a chance at forgery.

There are a few places you can start:

1) State Government Website

2) The attorney generals office

3) Sex Offender Registries

4) The Department of Crime Control and Public Safety

5) The Secretary of State’s Site which includes business and corporate records, including tax liens

6) Department of Vital Records- includes birth, death, marriage, and divorce records