Merced County, California Criminal Records

A background check is an extensive and comprehensive examination of a person’s publicly available records in an attempt to glean information about that person’s professionalism, honesty, and character. A thorough background check can cover many bases, and includes a multitude of details about the individual in question. Background checks can encompass military records, criminal records, and credit history. Some background checks will even examine a person’s medical history, their past drug tests, and whether they have ever had a bankruptcy. Employers nowadays almost always conduct a pre-employment screening of their applicants, and the screening process may involve the employer may delve deeply into candidates personal background. Particularly when applying for work in a position that places an applicant in a position of high standards of integrity and trust, a complete and accurate background check is essential. Employers are liable in lawsuits of negligence, and have to thoroughly vet job candidates to reduce the possibility of any future liability.

Court Records

Public records such as criminal histories and court records are the backbone on which most basic background checks are based upon. If you wish to obtain information about case files and court records in Merced County, California, you will need to get them by going through the Merced County Superior Court. If you are going to the courthouse in person, the address is 2260 N Street, Merced, California 95340. To contact the court by telephone, call 209—725-4113, or you can fax the court at 209-725-4114. The Merced Main Courthouse maintains standard hours of 7:45am – 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. There is additional information about the Superior Court online at the following county webpage: http://www.mercedcourt.org/index.shtml.

Public Record

When you undertake the process of doing a background check on a county individual, you will want to check with the sheriff’s office of the same county to see if that individual has local criminal records. To get in contact with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, you can visit them at their physical address: 700 W 22nd St. Merced, CA 95340. The sheriff’s telephone number is 209-385-7444, and the fax number is 209-385-7659. You can also find a plethora of information at the sheriff’s county webpage, including sex offender, most wanted, and jail records. Click here to visit the site: http://www.co.merced.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=87.

Online Records

Most past or present criminal offenders living in the state of California will have information on file with the California Department of Corrections. This includes parole absconders. Web users can use the search tool for DOC offenders by clicking the following link: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/Inmate_Locator.html.

To obtain a recent, up to date copy of your own personal background check, you have the option of using the web tools setup by the California Department of Justice. All you will need to do is visit the website, located here, http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/security.php, and follow the instructions. Note: Be prepared to submit a fee of $25.00 by credit card to use this service.

The California DOJ also does official background checks for individual users on behalf of their company or organization. Click this link to go to the DOJ webpage: http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/.

To weed out local sex offenders, you can run their names through the Megan’s Law sex offender database located here: http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/