How do I order a criminal background check, and what comes back?

Criminal background checks are a standalone product, separate from business search and person search, ordered with POST /criminal_checks.

The request takes the person’s first and last name and date of birth, plus a check_type: instant_criminal for a national criminal records search, or sex_offender_registry for a registry check. Optional fields improve matching: middle name, SSN, phone number, a primary address and additional addresses, and a list of states to restrict records to. A reference_id is echoed back so you can tie the result to your own record.

The response returns the matched person as recorded and a list of records. Each record includes the source, such as the county or state court, the case number, type, status, and filing date, the charges with offense dates and legal codes, dispositions with dates, and sentences where present. Dates carry a precision indicator, since some sources record only a month or year.

Each check is billed as its own request. Access requires the criminal checks permission on your API key, which your account team enables; if you receive a permission error, ask them to turn it on.