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Last post 13 months ago by rfenst. 15 replies replies.
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8trackdisco Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 6:28 AM EST
Joined: 11-06-2004
Posts: 60,096
Being wondering. Is there a trusted place John Q. Citizen can go to see information, kind of like a scorecard on what charges a person has against them and the action the District Attorney decided to take?

Person A gets arrested on Saturday night at a street take over and arrested for smashing windows.
Person B for DWI, with a bac of .10 in a .08 state.
Person C fleeing or attempting to allude an officer.

Where was I find that information for my city, state or county?

Seems the only time we hear about decisions DA’s make is on commercials running up to an election.
drglnc Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 7:14 AM EST
Joined: 04-01-2019
Posts: 715
most states treat arrests as public information, some have online access but most seem to only provide the information upon request. Here in Md it you can look at the records for up to 2 hours for free, then they start to charge a fee. and its like $1 if you want to copy something. no online database that i am aware of though.

some websites have this info available mostly used by private detectives, lawyers, bounty hunters and such and they charge for access. ive never used one but know some people that have (my dad was a licensed PI and many of his friends were bounty hunters).

Aside from a local papers "police beat" type of situation i am not sure what you are looking for exists. Additionally, they will not explain WHY charges would be dropped, why the DA may choose not to prosecute or whatever. Could be lack of evidence, could be the person turned witness or informant, could be lots of reasons.



Mr. Jones Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 7:57 AM EST
Joined: 06-12-2005
Posts: 19,445
Police LOG
Mr. Jones Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 7:58 AM EST
Joined: 06-12-2005
Posts: 19,445
Orrrrrrr

Just ask YO' MAMA !!!
RiverRatRuss Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 8:04 AM EST
Joined: 09-02-2022
Posts: 1,035
8trackdisco wrote:
Being wondering. Is there a trusted place John Q. Citizen can go to see information, kind of like a scorecard on what charges a person has against them and the action the District Attorney decided to take?

Person A gets arrested on Saturday night at a street take over and arrested for smashing windows.
Person B for DWI, with a bac of .10 in a .08 state.
Person C fleeing or attempting to allude an officer.

Where was I find that information for my city, state or county?

Seems the only time we hear about decisions DA’s make is on commercials running up to an election.


8, not sure exactly what your looking for? but here in Illinois there's this link that covers County Court records. Springfield (Sangamon County) has their own system for court records...
on the link below you select the participating county, and then select "Last Name" of who your wanting to see records on?

https://judici.com/
BuckyB93 Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 8:20 AM EST
Joined: 07-16-2004
Posts: 14,227
On the advice of my lawyer, I invoke my 5th Amendment right to not answer your question.
DrafterX Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 8:47 AM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,564
Ask Ram... Mellow
ZRX1200 Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 9:39 AM EST
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,628
NYT editorials.
Ram27 Offline
#9 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 10:03 AM EST
Joined: 04-30-2005
Posts: 49,056
DrafterX wrote:
Ask Ram... Mellow



Shame on you
HockeyDad Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 10:15 AM EST
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,164
8trackdisco wrote:
Being wondering. Is there a trusted place John Q. Citizen can go to see information, kind of like a scorecard on what charges a person has against them and the action the District Attorney decided to take?

Person A gets arrested on Saturday night at a street take over and arrested for smashing windows.
Person B for DWI, with a bac of .10 in a .08 state.
Person C fleeing or attempting to allude an officer.

Where was I find that information for my city, state or county?

Seems the only time we hear about decisions DA’s make is on commercials running up to an election.



You need to just trust your government officials and stop asking questions.
Stogie1020 Offline
#11 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 10:55 AM EST
Joined: 12-19-2019
Posts: 5,375
It will need to be researched on a county by county basis. This is why background check forms often request your addresses going back 5 or 10 years.

For each county the person has lived in, yo w ill need to find the website for the county court system and then search it. Some counties may still require inquiries be "in writing" so you may have to send a letter or two.

Arrests with no eventual charges may be difficult to track down, but I would still check, as there may be some documentation. If you know the LE agency that would have been the arresting agency, you can try to get records from them as well.
Gene363 Offline
#12 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 11:56 AM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,844
Consult the dating guide for the adventurous, The Jail Report or your local equivalent.

https://thejailreport.com
8trackdisco Offline
#13 Posted: Fri, Apr 21 2023, 2:21 PM EST
Joined: 11-06-2004
Posts: 60,096
Appreciate the information.

Purely for accountability reasons, access to a database of name, charges, pursued action\inaction, trial result, and sentencing would go a long way to slowing our society's gradual slide into a hellscape.

Example is these street take overs. Of the cops witnessed and arrested 10 people for smashing windshields, prosecutors would let less people walk if the public knew the results of the prosecution or non prosecution.


Burner02 Offline
#14 Posted: Sat, Apr 22 2023, 11:13 AM EST
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,884
It has been a few years since I had to check criminal records, but back then you went to the records unless it was coming from the feds or state. Misdemeanor records were maintained in the District Clerk’s office, and felony records were maintained in the Circuit Clerk’s office. Then in some cases there were city records to deal with depending on the county and city size. City records will/can include traffic violations as well as misdemeanor criminal charges. And that may vary from location to location.

As far as accessing on the web, I don’t have a clue.
rfenst Offline
#15 Posted: Sat, Apr 22 2023, 12:49 PM EST
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,368
8trackdisco wrote:
Being wondering. Is there a trusted place John Q. Citizen can go to see information, kind of like a scorecard on what charges a person has against them and the action the District Attorney decided to take?

Person A gets arrested on Saturday night at a street take over and arrested for smashing windows.
Person B for DWI, with a bac of .10 in a .08 state.
Person C fleeing or attempting to allude an officer.

Where was I find that information for my city, state or county?

Seems the only time we hear about decisions DA’s make is on commercials running up to an election.


PM me if you want my phone number to tell me exactly what you are seeking and/or the records of named individuals. Happy to help out.
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