Local Criminal Check

Local Police Background Check

Learn how to request a local police background check, what it includes, what it misses, and when to use a state repository or court search instead.

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Check Guide:

Your Starting Point

Request a local police background check and understand its limits.

Quick Answer

Start with the local police records request route for a city or town background check or clearance letter.
It usually covers only incidents within that department’s jurisdiction.
If you need statewide coverage, use the state criminal history repository route next.
For case details, search the court index and case-search route for the relevant court.

title

Local police records request route

best for

A local background check or clearance letter tied to one city or town.

why this is usually first

It is the agency that holds local incident and arrest records and can confirm if you have no local record.

when to move on

Move on if you need statewide or multi-city coverage, employer-required checks, or fingerprint-based results.

Check Type	Best For	What It Shows	Main Limit
local police records request route	Proof you have or do not have a local record with that department.	Local arrests, citations, incident reports, or a clearance letter limited to that jurisdiction.	Does not include records from other cities, counties, or state repositories.
state criminal history repository route	Statewide record search when allowed to the public or for personal review.	Criminal history reported to the state repository.	May omit recent or unreported cases; not a substitute for federal or other states.
court index and case-search route	Checking docket entries and case status for a specific court.	Case numbers, charges filed, dispositions, and scheduled hearings.	Not all courts are online; name matches can be uncertain without identifiers.
commercial background-check site	Quick name, address, and past-location clues to guide official searches.	Compiled public data, address history, and links to possible records.	Not an official source; may be outdated or mix in someone else’s information.

Local police checks may be called a clearance letter, letter of good conduct, or local records check.
Online requests are not universal; some departments require in-person or mail requests with ID.
If you lived in multiple places, you must request from each local agency or use a statewide repository.
Sealed, juvenile, or restricted records will not appear; traffic and ordinance data vary by department.

Find the Right Department

Identify the city police or sheriff that serves your address and locate its records or public information unit.

Submit the Local Request

Ask for a local background check or clearance letter; provide your full name, date of birth, and ID as required.

Expand if Needed

If coverage must be broader, run the state criminal history repository route and check the court index for any case details.

Sometimes. Many departments accept online or email requests, but others require in-person or mail. Check the records unit for current options.

Information held by that department, such as arrests, citations, or a no-record letter. It does not cover other jurisdictions.

Usually no for a local check. Fingerprints may be required for some state or federal identity-history requests.

Often no. Employers may require a statewide repository or fingerprint-based check. Confirm the required route before you apply.