| For the past few years, almost all state and | | | | |
| country governments have started making | | | | While the majority of jurisdictions have |
| criminal records available to the public | | | | computerized their criminal records, most of |
| online via the Internet. Now, the Internet | | | | them now do not allow off-site access of |
| has become an open source of information that | | | | criminal records. However, in many online |
| offers manifold avenues for searching | | | | criminal records the only information |
| information. So any private citizen or any | | | | available is the name of defendant, case |
| organization can avail of the criminal | | | | number, and date. Sometimes the penal code |
| records online whatever they want, usually | | | | violations and disposition may not be listed |
| within two to ten business days. | | | | in the online records for the purpose of |
| | | | providing privacy and protection to the |
| The Pacific Information Resources site has a | | | | witnesses involved. When compared to other |
| list of online criminal records. Some of | | | | off-line sources of retrieving information |
| these sites like the Oklahoma site provide | | | | about criminal records, online search is the |
| information about criminal records free of | | | | somewhat a least cost effective way. However, |
| charge. However some of these sites charge | | | | these results can be retrieved more quickly |
| for providing the accessibility of the | | | | than those of other sources. |
| records. Most government agencies now make | | | | |
| their records available online as they think | | | | There is some risk involving in the online |
| that they can make money by selling the | | | | accessibility of criminal records. Almost all |
| records. The charges of websites vary from | | | | types of people are using Internet for |
| one another depending on the level and amount | | | | browsing information. In such a context, if |
| of information and the kind of information. | | | | any errors are there in the online criminal |
| So one has to shop around for deciding the | | | | records, they will seriously effect the |
| best site that suits ones requirements and | | | | reputation of the person involved. |
| capability to pay the charges. | | | | |