It may become necessary to look up a person’s past, especially if you are hiring for a job or looking into any legal documents that pertain to your family members. While the search can seem daunting if you are not an attorney or a paralegal, the search can be done if you want to know about someone’s criminal history. If you are worried a friend, family member, or new acquaintance has had criminal charges brought against them, there are ways to determine where they are being held and even what they have been charged with. Arrests can often happen quickly and most of the time without anyone knowing. The United States judicial system is split into state and federal court systems. Both civil and criminal case starts within the trial courts. A federal court will examine cases involving the Constitution, bankruptcy, or public ministers. At the same time, a state court will look into minor civil cases, probate, contracts, and family law cases.
What is the difference between a criminal case and a civil case?
The American legal system addresses the transgressions that people commit with two different types: civil cases and criminal cases. Firstly, it depends on what crime the person in question has been arrested for. There is a difference between criminal and civil cases regarding what the accuser claims and the punishment. A civil case usually involves a private dispute between two persons or a company. These cases are adjudicated through civil lawsuits.
On the other hand, a criminal case tends to apply to an action considered d serious crime against society. This is why these acts are considered offenses. They may be prosecuted under state law or by the federal government, depending on the felony or misdemeanor the criminal defendants are claimed to have committed.
Mug Shot Search
They are usually easy to find if you want to become a detective and search for someone’s mug shot. An easy way to find out if someone has been arrested is to call the city or county jail. When starting your mugshot search, you can start with sites like Go Look Up. It may also pay off to find the specific police department’s website where the person has been arrested since most arresting officers take the offender to the closest jail. You can also try to look at any local papers for the person’s crime since many police blotters are printed weekly.
Some people who have been arrested like to use an alias, so it is harder to find their criminal records from people who decide to search. Again, a quick Google image search can help you use an up-to-date media picture that will usually match a mugshot online. If a white-collar crime happened to have been committed, you could try a federal inmate search since this is public information. If you know that the person was arrested or had a mugshot taken, check out the inmate search on the jail’s website. You may also be able to find what their sentence is. Thanks to our laws, you can also file a Freedom of Information Act request, which will help you contact the law enforcement agency in charge of the arrest.
Getting arrested is usually not something that a person tends to want. No matter which case you or a loved one falls under, it is important to seek proper legal representation. You never want to fly blind into charges, and having guidance can make or break your case. Having an attorney by your side will be beneficial for you to understand your full legal rights. An attorney will also be able to determine the statute of limitations for your particular case.
