How to Find Incarceration Records in Real-Time

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

As an attorney, a powerful criminal records search software will help you stay on top of your case in a variety of different ways, and a Real-Time Incarceration Records search may generate hits even when traditional searches yield no results. Information gleaned from this hunt through thousands of criminal justice databases across the U.S. may include mugshots, charges, booking dates, whether or not the person was released, the source of the record, where the person was held, the length of incarceration, physical descriptions and identifying information, medical alerts, gang membership, education level and years, DNA samples taken, warning cautions, residency status, parole class, transfers, source and address history, and other relevant case information. 

Used in conjunction with traditional searches, the Real-Time Incarceration Records search is an excellent criminal records lookup tool that will help remedy possible gaps in coverage of the subject’s history. Make this a regular part of your investigative technique to avoid being blindsided at the worst possible moment. 

Lying to investigators, whether deliberately or by omission, is sadly normal behavior to many people, especially if they are in trouble, are trying to come out on top in a divorce settlement, or have secrets from their past when seeking employment. Even highly effective liars will lose their manipulative power when you have the facts to counteract dissembling and confront deception.

Find Trouble Spots In The History Of A Potential Witness 

Has your witness been arrested? Had run-ins with the law? Have any sketchy issues skirting the edges of legality? Fill in potential blank spaces in the history of your witness by adding the Real-Time Incarceration Records search to your background check repertoire. Your opponent will be digging for chinks in your case to damage the credibility of your witness – beat them to the punch by finding the landmines first and getting ahead of the situation. Always know the answers to the questions you and opposing counsel will ask your witness before you step into the courtroom.

Locate A Defendant Who Did Not Appear For Court 

If your defendant is incarcerated, they will obviously not be able to appear. Stay aware of their movements in and out of the legal system to help prevent them from vanishing. Make certain you have this knowledge ahead of time, while you can still take remedial action – don’t be stuck in court with a no-show defendant. Stay in touch by tracking your defendant with a Real-Time Incarceration Records search that Tracers provides. We’re currently working on a Real-Time Incarceration Watch — once this search goes live, Tracers will alert you to the movements of subjects on your watch list. 

Study The Past And Present Actions Of An Elusive Suspect

The Real-Time Incarceration Records search presents current and historical data that you can use to extrapolate the most likely next move of your subject. It shows you where that subject has been, so you can find people who may have knowledge of the subject’s current location and activities. It reveals patterns of behavior that can guide you to intercept the subject’s future plans. Keep abreast of changes in the suspect’s behavior and new developments in the suspect’s criminal activities.

Help Determine Custodial Arrangements

Clearly, it is better for children to be with the most responsible parent. A good legal research software will allow you to carefully comb through the history of both parents to ensure you are helping place the children with the most reliable parent when deciding custody cases. Use the Real-Time Incarceration Records search to take a close look at prior track records to keep the kids safe, healthy, and happy. Child welfare is the paramount consideration here, and when marriages disintegrate, it is essential to have historical facts and concrete records to sift through the snarl of emotions and manipulations that will manifest during the settlement conflict. The pointer data provided will help you leave no stone unturned.

Verify That Candidates For Employment Don’t Have A Shady Past 

Use the pointer data in the Real-Time Incarceration Records search to help discover if there are areas in the candidate’s past that need further research. Expedite your background screening process by learning where to keep digging. No one wants surprises after an employee has been brought on board and given access to company resources, assets, and proprietary data. Coworkers need to know they can rely upon each other to fulfill the corporate mission. Avoid bringing new hires with questionable histories into the fold – the trouble that may ensue is not worth the stress and aggravation, and is readily avoided with the right tools.

Not only does the Real-Time Incarceration Records search return amazing data, but you don’t have to set foot in a courthouse to obtain records. If you can access the Internet, you can use your Tracers investigative data software account to dig up the facts virtually and remotely. Bring investigations in-house with this convenient pathway to thousands of records and streamline inquiries by working online.

Once you have utilized the Real-Time Incarceration Records search to pinpoint where to continue your research, use Tracers’ delayed records searches to access actual courthouse records. Tracers offers the capacity to send a researcher to the courthouse to handle the legwork for you. This will save you the necessity of hiring an investigator to travel to out of state courthouses if the need arises in your casework. Many courthouses are beginning to re-open, and some provide online access to records. If you are not certain that the courthouse you need records from is open or not, call our customer service team. They will reach out to the researchers and keep you advised as various jurisdictions re-open.

Tracers isn’t only about databases and online records. Tracers is about people. We want you to succeed – so while the system is very user friendly, if you ever do have questions or need assistance with a search, the Tracers customer service team can help. Experienced team members collaborate to help you find answers on everything from website navigation and account questions to tips for particularly tricky searches. We want you to get results – sign up for a demo to get started.