Learn More About Federal Records
Most criminal records exist on a local level. From parking infractions to divorce proceedings and parole violations, local records are an important part of the record-keeping process. So then what are federal records?
Millions of Reference Requests and Documents
The Federal Records Centers service literally millions of reference requests every year. That’s a big part of why these government records are so important; millions of people rely on the Federal Records Centers to obtain important information. That includes both civilians and government agencies, both of which utilize records from the Federal Records Centers regularly.
With so many reference requests and documents available, it’s astonishing that these employees can run the Federal Records Centers as efficiently as they can. According to the Federal Records Centers, its mission is to provide “ready access to essential evidence,” and it does that every single day.
Digitized and Non-Digitized Records
The Federal Records Centers hold both digitized and non-digitized records. You can even see many of the digitized records on the agency’s website. Especially when it comes to modern records, these digitized documents are incredibly important — government records pile up, and digitization allows for easier access to the records in question.
However, that doesn’t mean the Federal Records Centers have digitized everything. In fact, the Federal Records Centers hold upwards of 27 million cubic feet of federal records, all things considered. That’s a truly astonishing number that just cements the incredible usefulness of these federal records, both to average civilians and government agencies.
Accessible to the Public
Though these are federal agencies that sometimes hold top secret documents, many of the documents the Federal Records Centers process are accessible to the public. Some of them are free to all, although there are certain Federal Records Centers requests that require administrative fees just like your local courthouse or sheriff’s office.
Some of the most interesting records at the Federal Records Centers actually involve history. The agency maintains the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights, all of which are extremely important documents to U.S. citizens and federal employees alike. Although many people utilize other records at the Federal Records Centers, these amazing records captivate many people even today.
What Type of Records Are Kept at the Federal Level?
So, if many civil and criminal records are kept in local courthouses and sheriff’s offices, what records specifically do the Federal Records Centers deal in? These government records are what make up the bulk of federal records.
Military Records
The Federal Records Centers offer a variety of veterans’ service records, which can give you insight into your family military history or military history of other people that you know. Some of these records are available online, but most of the holdings at the Federal Records Centers aren’t digitized. That’s partially due to privacy concerns and partially due to the sheer number of records the Federal Records Centers handle.
Still, there are a variety of ways you can research veteran records and other military records. Although some of these require more time and effort than others, it may be worth it, especially if you’re attempting to create a family tree or other important tracing of your ancestral history.
Ancestry Records
Many people utilize the extensive records system at the Federal Records Centers to build family trees. That’s largely because ancestry tracing can be very difficult, and the variety of records at the Federal Records Centers are among some of the most extensive available in the nation. Although you may be able to find useful private collections across the country, the Federal Records Centers house these documents for the nation.
If you’re trying to build a family tree, ancestry records are extremely important. The Federal Records Centers has a variety of censuses, immigration logs, and other genealogy information that can be useful for people trying to build a better picture of a family tree.
General Interest
On top of the ancestry records, historical records, and veteran records, there are a variety of other government records that appeal to the general interest as well. That encompasses a lot of topics, but essentially it’s anything that the Federal Records Centers doesn’t have a way to categorize otherwise. That includes criminal records.
The Federal Records Centers doesn’t have most of these available online, but if you want to make a visit to the closest location, you may be able to find the records you’re looking for. Just prepare yourself to pay some administrative fees, and make sure you have the most detailed information possible so you can avoid paying more than you have to.
Can I Access Federal Records?
Many of the government records at the Federal Records Centers are technically public records. But can you actually access them?
The Online National Archives
At the Online National Archives, you can access as many records as the Federal Records Centers have digitized and made available on the website. Although this does include a huge number of records, the sheer number of records that the Federal Records Centers have available means that a significant portion of them are actually only available in person. Because that does encompass so many records, you should prepare for the administrative fees and wait times that go along with these requests.
You can use the Online National Archives to do a lot of investigating. But for the most part, this doesn’t include investigating veteran records and criminal records. If you want to get information about any federal criminal records that you may find important or interesting, the Online National Archives isn’t the place to do it.
PeopleFinders Online Search
The best way for you to find criminal records for friends and family isn’t to utilize the Federal Records Centers or Online National Archives; it’s to do an online search at PeopleFinders. Plus, PeopleFinders isn’t just about criminal records. You can use it alongside the Online National Archives to build your family tree, discover more about your ancestors, and understand more about where you came from.
It’s true that the Federal Records Centers have a vast number of records, but PeopleFinders has an equally impressive number — over 120 billion records for millions of American adults across the country. You can get information about almost any American adult, including things that are more difficult for people to find, like contact information and addresses. With so many records that even the Federal Records Centers can’t help you with online, PeopleFinders is a natural first choice.
Combining Different Record Types
A great way to effectively use PeopleFinders is to combine different types of searches into one master search that you can use to find the best information about people. That’s because PeopleFinders has so many different ways to find people and so many different types of records. If you’re able to utilize them especially well, you can piece together your family history, criminal records for your friends, and even information about your current neighborhood.
For example, if you’re trying to determine whether your neighborhood is safe, you can use an address lookup to find the names of people living near you. Perform a people search to find the neighbors in question and ensure that you have the right people. Then, use a criminal records search to hone in on whether those people are dangerous. It’s surprisingly easy, especially once you learn the best ways to use PeopleFinders. With federal records, civil records, and local criminal records, PeopleFinders is truly one of the best ways to build information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find federal records on peoplefinders.com?
If a person has any court, jail or other records at the federal level available, you can look for them at PeopleFinders.
Can I find federal records for free on peoplefinders.com?
No, sorry. Being as that we have put in lots of time and resources to gather these records together, we need to charge for access to them.
How do I look up federal records?
You can lookup federal records here as part of a general public records search. Otherwise, you can directly contact the federal agency of record to find and/or obtain copies.
What are federal records?
Federal records are simply records (in our case, public records) obtained at the federal level. There are also state records and county records.
What is a federal criminal record?
A federal criminal record includes cases/crimes governed by federal law, crimes that cross state lines, and those committed on federal property.
How do I find federal court records?
On PeopleFinders, you may find federal court records as they relate to a specific person. And there are a few government websites that allow access to federal court case documents.
How do I find federal prison records?
If a person was held in a federal prison, you can find record of that online. Otherwise, you can contact the prison directly to check on the availability of inmate records.