What makes a county search better then a statewide search?
A. The vast majority of crimes in the U.S. are processed and tried at the county level. All actions (charges, pleas, verdicts, sentences, etc.) involved in these cases are recorded directly into the file that is available to researchers. This makes the information regarding these actions available immediately when searched at the county level. Statewide repositories depend on county clerks to report the information to them after it is recorded. There are routinely time delays and the opportunity for miscommunication when the information is transferred. There may also be various level courts (township, area, district, etc.) that may not transmit information to the state repository. In theory, a statewide check may seem to be a better option but, in practicality, they are not as accurate or up-to-date as a search at the county level.
Related Questions
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