English
EspañolHow can I find out if the abuser has been convicted of a crime?
If you know which courthouse the abuser’s case was in, you can go there and ask the clerk to access the conviction records.
Misdemeanor and felony records are usually open to the public. However, they are not always easy to access.
Some criminal records are also kept in the government’s national background check system. Federal laws forbid anyone who was convicted of a felony or a domestic violence misdemeanor from having a gun. So, the government keeps records of these crimes in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). However, only law enforcement and licensed gun sellers can search the NICS. Your local police department may be willing to search the NICS for you if you ask, but they don’t have to.
To read more about the NICS and background checks for gun buyers, see What will happen if the abuser tries to purchase a gun?
