Criminal Records in Riverside County

Being the 4th largest county in California, Riverside County has a big population and a relatively high crime rate in many of it's cities. The criminal justice system here is hard at work with tens of thousands arrested and locked up every year. The arrests lead to a multitude of various criminal convictions, all of which are publicly accessible for anyone to lookup. In this article, we'll go over how to access and understand the various criminal records in Riverside County, as well as where to access these records online.

How to Run a Criminal Records Search in Riverside County

Running a Riverside County criminal records search involves a few key steps, depending on which resource you choose to use. First, you need to gather the necessary information, such as the full name of the person of interest and their date of birth. If you don't know their birthdate that's fine, it's just one way to verify you have the correct record for the right person. Next, you need to decide on the method of search. Here are your options.

Criminal Courts: The County Superior Court's website is a good starting point to lookup specific criminal court convictions. While you won't be able to access a person's complete criminal history this way, this resource can be used to find specific criminal records such as misdemeanors, DUIs and felony convictions.

Riverside County Sheriff: The Sheriff Department has a department called the Information Services Bureau that can be used to access a person's local criminal history information. You will nee to contact them in person, or over the phone to inquire about running a criminal history check on someone.

CA DOJ: The California Department of Justice offer a comprehensive criminal history check available for anyone that want to run an official criminal records search on themselves. These are official criminal history reports, that include fingerprinting, that can be used for employment applications, security clearances, and other official uses. To run one of these checks, you will need to visit a fingerprinting service to verify your identity.

Public Record Sites: A very convenient way to run a comprehensive criminal background check on someone is to use a public records site. While these resources are intended for reference only, they offer an easy solution to find someone's complete criminal history. With just a first and last name users can view a person's conviction history, arrest reports, criminal court records, sentencings, incarcerations, active warrants, parole and probation orders.

Most Common Criminal Offenses in Riverside County

While there are a wide range of offenses that people get arrested for in Riverside, some are more common than others. One of the most common types is a DUI, which is related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Other common criminal arrest charges include petty theft, grand theft, and burglary. The most common violent criminal offenses range from simple assault to aggravated assault. Lastly, drug-related offenses are prevalent in this community. These include possession, trafficking, and manufacturing of illegal substances.

The Impact of Criminal Convictions on Daily Life

Criminal convictions can have a significant impact on daily life, as they can affect employment opportunities, housing applications, and more. Employers often conduct background checks, and having a criminal conviction can influence their hiring decisions, especially if it is a felony conviction. Similarly, landlords may check someone's criminal history. This can also affect your ability to secure housing, as it is a flag to many people as being a risk factor. A misdemeanor or felony conviction can also impact other areas such as child custody cases and visa applications. However, there are some positive options, such as being able to expunge or seal a criminal record. This is possible with many conviction records, which means you can potentially have them removed from your record if you are eligible.

How to Expunge a Riverside County Criminal Record

Expungement is another important aspect of the legal process that can clear certain convictions from a record. Most misdemeanors and some felonies are eligible for this. To expunge a criminal record you will first need to find out if you are eligible. The next step is to make certain that you have fulfilled your obligations with the court, including completing probation or restitution orders. Then you can officially petition to the courts to have your criminal record wiped clean. Once your record is expunged, that record will no longer be publicly viewable and will drop off of your criminal history.

How Do I Lookup Someone's Riverside Criminal Record?

A quick and easy way to find out if someone has a criminal past is to use a public records site. These resources offer anonymous searching and quick results. All you need to do is enter the full name of the person you want to research into the search fields, and see what shows up. These are convenient solutions to find out the truth about someone's past.