⚖ US District Court Criminal Records
Federal Criminal Search: Verified US District Court Records in 24–48 Hours
Our federal criminal search uncovers federal crimes that county and state searches never reveal. Additionally, our researchers verify every match by hand. Therefore, you receive accurate, FCRA-compliant results you can act on.
What Is a Federal Criminal Search?
A federal criminal search checks the records of the United States District Courts (USDC) for criminal cases. These courts handle violations of federal law, such as wire fraud, drug trafficking, and tax evasion.
County and state courts do not keep these records. Consequently, a county criminal search alone can miss serious federal convictions. The federal court system contains 94 judicial districts. Larger states contain several districts, whereas smaller states usually contain one. For example, Texas has four federal districts, while Vermont has only one. Therefore, at your request – you can have us search each district where your applicant has lived or worked.
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Transparent Pricing
$17 per federal jurisdiction searched.
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Fast Turnaround
Most federal searches finish within 24 hours. However, common names may take 48 hours.
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Human Verification
Our researchers meticously research every possible name match. As a result, you avoid false positives.
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FCRA Compliant
Every report follows the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
🏛 Why Federal Crimes Never Appear in County Searches
Federal prosecutors file cases in US District Courts, not county courthouses. Consequently, county and statewide searches cannot see them. Nationwide criminal databases rarely include federal court data. Thus, a person can look clean in every county yet hold a federal conviction.
Federal courts prosecute the following offenses, among others:
- 💳 Bank fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud
- 💊 Drug trafficking and distribution
- 💻 Computer fraud and internet crimes
- 💵 Money laundering and tax evasion
- 🏥 Health care fraud and Medicare fraud
- 📈 Securities fraud and embezzlement
- 🔒 Identity theft and counterfeiting
- ✈ Kidnapping and crimes across state lines
- 🛡 Racketeering, extortion, and espionage
- 🔔 Firearms offenses and bank robbery
⚠ In short, white-collar crime lives in federal court. Hence, MSBs, Fintech, finance, healthcare, and executive hires need this search most.
How Our Federal Criminal Records Search Works
Many providers simply dump raw PACER results into a report. In contrast, we research every case before it reaches you.
- Submit the applicant. Enter the full name, date of birth, and address history in your secure account. Additionally, include a middle name whenever possible.
- We query PACER in each district. Our team searches the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system for every district you select.
- We verify identity. Federal records redact most identifiers. Therefore, our researchers pull case documents and match details by hand.
- You receive a verified report. Results post to your account, usually within 24 hours. Consequently, you can make a decision quickly.
Federal Criminal Search Is an Art, Not a Science
Federal court privacy rules require redaction of personal identifiers. Specifically, Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 49.1 limits Social Security numbers to the last four digits. Likewise, an average of 10% of court filings show only the year of birth and the city of residence. In fact, roughly 98% of federal cases in PACER contain no full date of birth.
As a result, a name-only PACER search produces many false matches. Our researchers, however, examine complaints, indictments, plea agreements, garnishments, sentencing and judgments to confirm each identity.
Meanwhile, some companies rely on the Federal Inmate Locator (BOP) instead. Unfortunately, that tool only lists people who served prison time. Many federal offenders receive probation and never enter a federal prison. Therefore, a true federal criminal search must query the courts directly.
Federal vs. County vs. State vs. National Criminal Search
Each criminal search covers a different court system. Consequently, a complete background check combines several searches.
| Search Type | Court Source | Finds | Misses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Criminal Search | US District Courts (PACER) | Federal felonies and misdemeanors | State and county crimes |
| County Criminal Court Search | County courthouses | Most state felonies and misdemeanors | Federal crimes; other counties |
| Statewide Criminal Search | State repository or AOC | Reported county cases in one state | Federal crimes; unreported counties |
| National Criminal Database | Aggregated database | Pointers to possible records | Federal crimes; current case status |
Overall, we recommend pairing a federal search with a county search. Together, both searches close the biggest gaps in employment screening.
What a Federal Criminal Search Report Includes
Each federal criminal record shows the case number, court, charges, and disposition. Additionally, the report lists the sentence and case dates.
| Court | US District Court, Southern District of Georgia |
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| Case Number | 10:12-cr-01349-ITF-FLS-1 |
| Case Title | USA v. Jones |
| Defendant | John Jones — Year of birth 1979 |
| Filing Date | 08/14/2012 |
| Charge | 18 U.S.C. § 1343 — Wire Fraud (Felony) |
| Disposition | Pleaded guilty — 03/22/2013 |
| Sentence | 36 months probation; $12,400 restitution |
| Identity Verified | Yes — name, birth year, and address history matched |
Sample data shown for illustration only, we provide full docket text not included here. Names and case details are fictitious.
Who Should Order a Federal Criminal Background Check?
Any employer can benefit from a federal search. However, certain roles carry higher risk and demand one.
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Finance & Accounting
Bank fraud, embezzlement, and securities fraud are federal crimes. Therefore, screen anyone who handles money.
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Healthcare
Health care fraud cases run through federal court. Additionally, pair this search with a healthcare background check.
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Executives & Officers
C-level hires face white-collar exposure. Consequently, most boards require a federal search.
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IT & Data Access
Computer fraud and identity theft are federal offenses. Hence, screen staff with system access.
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Transportation & Logistics
Interstate trafficking cases land in federal court. Similarly, screen drivers and warehouse leads.
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Government Contractors
Federal contracts often require a federal search. Likewise, many grants demand one.
Furthermore, landlords use federal searches for a complete tenant background check. Fraud convictions matter when someone signs a lease.
💵 Federal Criminal Search Pricing and Turnaround
$17
per federal district searched
- ✔ Search any of the 94 US District Courts
- ✔ Human identity verification included
- ✔ No setup fees, no minimums, no contracts
Doing it yourself costs more than you think. Additionally, each district requires its own search. Therefore, a three-district check can consume hours of your staff time.
Instead, order the search in your account and move on. Most results post within 24 hours, although common names may take 48 hours.
Supplying a middle name and full address history speeds up the process.
FCRA Rules and Legal Limits for Federal Criminal Records
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs every federal criminal search we run. Specifically, it limits what a report can show.
- First, we report non-conviction records, such as arrests and dismissed cases, for only seven years. Federal law places no time limit on convictions, however.
- Second, several states restrict conviction reporting to seven years. For example, California, Massachusetts, and New York apply their own limits.
- Third, employers must follow the FCRA adverse action process. Before you deny a job, send a pre-adverse action notice, a copy of the report, and the Summary of Rights.
- Finally, the EEOC recommends an individualized assessment of any conviction. In other words, consider the offense, its age, and its relevance to the job.
- Many states and cities enforce ban-the-box laws. These laws delay criminal inquiries until after a conditional offer.
Our compliance forms page provides sample disclosure and authorization documents as a starting point to adapt to your own criteria.
Secure Client Accounts With Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF)
- Criminal records contain sensitive personal data. Therefore, we protect every client account with Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF).
- MAF requires a second verification step at login. As a result, a stolen password alone cannot open your account.
- Additionally, you control user permissions for your whole team. Each user receives their own credentials and their own MAF setup.
Existing clients can order a federal criminal search from the client login page. New clients can open an account in minutes.
Federal Criminal Search FAQs
How do I search for federal criminal records?
You can search federal criminal records at any US District Court clerk’s office. Alternatively, you can search electronically through the PACER system. However, PACER results rarely include a date of birth. Therefore, most employers order a verified federal criminal search from a screening company.
What does a federal criminal search show?
A federal criminal search shows federal felony and misdemeanor cases filed in US District Courts. Each record lists the case number, charges, filing date, disposition, and sentence. Additionally, it shows pending federal cases.
How much does a federal criminal search cost?
Our federal criminal search costs $17 per federal district. Consequently, a search of two districts costs $34. There are no setup fees, minimums, or contracts.
How long does a federal criminal search take?
Most federal criminal searches finish within 24 hours. However, common names can take up to 48 hours because our researchers verify each possible match. Supplying a middle name speeds up the search.
What is the PACER system?
PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It is the federal judiciary’s online system for federal court case information. PACER charges $0.10 per page, and every search generates billable pages.
Why are identifiers redacted in federal criminal records?
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 49.1 requires courts to redact personal identifiers. Specifically, filings show only the last four digits of a Social Security number and the year of birth. As a result, identity verification requires research beyond a name search.
Are federal criminal records included in a nationwide criminal database search?
No, nationwide criminal database searches generally do not include federal court records. Similarly, county and statewide searches never include them. Therefore, you must order a separate federal criminal search.
What is the difference between a federal and a county criminal search?
A federal criminal search covers cases in US District Courts, such as wire fraud or drug trafficking. In contrast, a county criminal search covers state crimes filed in a county courthouse, such as assault or theft. Together, both searches provide a complete criminal history.
How far back does a federal criminal search go?
Under the FCRA, we report non-conviction records for seven years. Federal law places no limit on convictions. However, some states restrict conviction reporting to seven years.
What types of crimes appear in federal criminal court?
Federal courts handle drug trafficking, wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, and computer fraud. They also prosecute money laundering, tax evasion, health care fraud, securities fraud, and counterfeiting. Additionally, extortion, racketeering, kidnapping, espionage, and bank robbery are federal offenses. In short, most white-collar crimes fall under federal jurisdiction.
What is an indictment?
A federal grand jury issues an indictment as a formal charge. It states that a defendant committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. However, an indictment is not a conviction.
Which federal districts should I search?
Search every federal district where the applicant has lived or worked during the past seven years. Additionally, consider the district where your business operates. Our team can help you choose the right districts.
🚀 Order a Federal Criminal Search Today
Open an account in minutes and run your first federal criminal search today. Additionally, every account includes Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) security at no extra cost.
Questions? Call (800) 661-0278 or email support@usabackground.com.