North Dakota criminal records provide a great deal of information about the criminal actions of an individual. These records do contain sensitive information related to the charges individuals experience throughout their lifetime within that state. Criminal records are initially established upon the first arrest a person experiences. If a search is performed and no records are available, this may indicate the individual does not have any record on file. However, because of the complexity of gathering this information and managing it, the only 100 percent match will happen through a fingerprint search (rather than a search conducted just using a person's name.)

In the state of North Dakota, criminal records are available to various agencies, potential employers and to the public (in most cases.) It is possible to visit county and town clerk's offices to gather information on a local level. However, the state's Attorney General manages the overall collection of this data. When an incident occurs, the local jurisdiction will add information to the state's file. The Attorney General's office does remain the central repository for all collected criminal records, though, from within the state. For crimes related to federal laws, there is no information available in state-files. Rather, this information is only available through the FBI and is not available to the public.

There are restrictions on who can access North Dakota criminal records. The state allows employers who wish to conduct a background check on an individual the ability to pull this type of information, but only with a waiver signed by the applicant giving the employer permission to access the information. Private investigators and the general public are offered only limited access to information.

To make any request for a criminal record within the state, individuals will need to contact the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. This agency recommends all criminal background checks be done through a fingerprint test. This is the most accurate option for locating records. It is possible to contact the agency to request a fingerprint kit. It is also possible to obtain a name-based search, but this will require additional information if possible, including a date of birth, Social Security number and permanent address.

In order to get a personal criminal record in the state, or another authorized search, contact the agency at the following address.

North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations

600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 125

Bismarck, North Dakota 58505

For further information or to request a fingerprint kit, call the agency at 701 328-5500. Employers may request a form from this agency to present to prospective employees providing the employer with permission to access criminal records on that individual.

Getting North Dakota criminal records is not always easy to do. However, the information contained in these records can be helpful to clear an individual's name or to verify additional information. Juvenile records and all federal records are unavailable through the state of North Dakota. It is also not possible to gather data on dropped charges or those that are restricted for other reasons.

 

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