Free Background Checks in Maine for Looking Up Public Records: The Best ME Criminal and Arrest Records Search Engines Online

Wed, Oct 06, 2021 15:00 CET

An official background check in Maine is useful for employers and government agencies to determine a candidate’s fitness. Official background checks look at criminal records stored in Maine. Maine regulates who can access background checks and what information they can receive. Unofficial background checks cannot be used for official purposes, but can be useful in finding out about:

Neighbors.
Co-Workers.
Friends.
Enemies.
Romantic Interests.
Political Activists.

Unofficial background checks are done by accessing public records through government agencies in Maine. Individuals looking for information about a Maine resident can get quite a few records for free but must know where and how to access the documents. Maine has laws in place to ensure members of the public can access government records.

1. TruthFinder - Overall Best Background Check Service

Searches through both private and public records
Impressive criminal background check tools
Free dark web monitoring with a subscription
Can be used over Android mobile application
Performs social media searches too

We have ranked TruthFinder the best background check site overall for several reasons. Not only does this service provide comprehensive background reports, but it can also access both public records and private databases to provide you with an unmatched amount of information.

TruthFinder will search for county and state criminal records, employment history, social media profiles, previous addresses, phone numbers, and much more to verify the individual’s identity.

When looking into things like employment verification, however, it’s important to abide by the laws. GoodHire does a good job to explain what the information cannot be used for, from a legal perspective.

This background check service can be used by anyone – from small businesses to large corporations to nonprofit organizations – and remain FCRA-compliant.

2. Intelius - Best Service For Criminal Background Checks

User-friendly website
Responsive customer support
Great at revealing hidden details
Great for employment and tenant screening
FCRA-compliant in their practices

Intelius is an excellent service for reverse phone number lookups. If some unknown phone number keeps calling or texting you, a site like Intelius can tell you where that call is coming from.

For those who continue to have someone from their past reach out or constantly get spam calls from scammers, this is one of the best background check sites for you. All searches are confidential, in-depth, and accurate.

The Intelius background checks are also pretty impressive, providing information regarding a person’s criminal history, financial background, educational history, discreet social media accounts, credit checks, etc.

3. Instant Checkmate - Fastest Background Check Service

Easy-to-use user interface and great for beginners
Both subscription and single-report options are available
Identity theft protection is available
Customer service available round the clock
Search with a facial recognition function

Instant CheckMate is a great resource to run a background check on a new neighbor, date, or simply to verify whether an individual is who they claim to be. It’s worth noting that the name “Instant CheckMate” indicates the results are instant, which they are not. It could take several minutes to get a background.

Still, there’s a lot to like about this company. Their background checks could find information on the person’s social media, criminal record, location history, education history, possible family members, previous phone numbers, and more.

4. Spokeo – Excellent for one-time background checks

Extensive public record search
Mobile app available
Several people search options
Excellent to check on potential employees

Spokeo does a great job with reverse email lookups, which can come in handy for various situations. For example, if you have someone harassing you and trying to scam you via email, Spokeo.com can reveal the sender’s identity.

Spokeo is also ideal for locating long-lost family members and friends. Its background search tool can find specific contact details, including a phone number and location history, social media profiles, and other important information.

You can search for an individual by name, phone number, residential address, or email. Every search is confidential and could provide valuable information on friends and family members, acquaintances, possible roommates, old classmates, etc.

4. Infotracer - Best Social-media Background Check Service

NAPBS-accredited
Drug screenings available
Search templates are customizable

Infotracer is a highly reputable online background check company that uses public records to uncover valuable information on someone. They also take their services offline, with the court runner service and unclaimed property search.

The court runner service will send one of their customer support employees to a courthouse to ensure the data obtained online is correct. Collecting data points from multiple sources makes their background checks extremely thorough and accurate.

Free Background Check

Alright so what tools does Maine offer?

In Maine, the state and county public records are accessible. One of the many benefits of working with direct state data sources is that they are the original source. The information is only sourced from one state, however you may be missing out on potential records that originated in another.

A background check for a local search may suffice. If you want to see a more comprehensive background check that incorporates records from several states and departments, you'll need a countrywide check. A basic scan of Truthfinder is available for free nearly immediately.

Maine Laws Regarding Public Records.

The public's right to information about the government's actions is at the heart of a democratic regime. The Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) gives residents of this state broad access to public records while also safeguarding important governmental interests and individual citizens' privacy rights.- https://www.maine.gov/foaa/faq/index.shtml

Genuine Maine Public Records Databases.

Maine Court Records: The procedures for requesting records from the District Court, Superior Courts, and Violations Bureau are as follows:- http://www.courts.maine.gov/fees_forms/forms/pdf_forms/misc/records.shtml

Maine Public Records: SEARCH HISTORY, STATISTICS, & RECORDS Search state archives records, obtain birth/death certificates, search health statistics, and more.- https://www.maine.gov/portal/online_services/categories/history.html

Maine Arrest Records: This record research will provide you with all of the conviction and adjudication information for adult and juvenile offenses committed in Maine as well as pending instances less than a year old that the Bureau of Identification now has on record.- https://www5.informe.org/online/pcr/

Maine Criminal Records: This service allows you to search for information on adult prisoners/probationers in the Maine Department of Corrections system, and it is free and easy to use. The search tool is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Search results are refreshed on a daily basis.- https://www1.maine.gov/online/mdoc/search-and-deposit/index.htm

Maine Vital Records: Vital Records offers vital registration and technical assistance to the general public, health care professionals, funeral directors, hospitals, state agencies, court officials, and municipal clerks in the collection of vital records that are used for statistical purposes.- https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/

Free Background Check Maine FAQs

What does a background check include?

A basic background check should include the following information:

Criminal records and criminal history
Email address/ phone number
Social media accounts
Possible friends and family members
Employment history
Identity verification
Any other important public record information

Where does the information for background check reports come from?

Background check reports are based on public records, such as court documents, criminal records, social media posts, and even dark web data.

If you reveal your email address or birth date on Facebook or another social media site, the background investigation will detect it and include it in the report.

Essentially, these background reports should include any information that is available within the public realm.

Information may be found quickly through these specialist services, which can sort through huge amounts of data and locate it fast.

This is particularly essential if you have a criminal record. There are obvious reasons for this.

What are the best background check services?

The finest background check services will give you with a thorough analysis of the individual.

Whether you're suspicious of someone's intentions or want to rekindle past friendships, a background check service will collect public records from all available sources to create an accurate report.

Other benefits of the best background check services include:

Responsive customer support
Free trial period available
Friendly user interface
Unlimited background reports with a monthly subscription
Fair Credit Reporting Act approved
Accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners
A+ rated platform with the Better Business Bureau

How long do background checks take?

A private investigator may take 30 days to complete a background check. However, when using internet-based background check services, the procedure can be completed in as little as 10 minutes.

How far back do background checks go?

This all depends on the digitally uploaded public records that are now accessible via a variety of internet databases.

You can also be confident that the finest background check providers will search online for any information on the person being searched

How do I run a criminal background check in Maine?

The Maine State Bureau of Identification offers a public Criminal History Record Search that may be used to obtain criminal history record information on any person in the database 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Here’s the key information individuals should know about the search:

There is a fee for the service, which costs $31 per request and can be paid using any major credit or debit card. (InforME subscribers only have to pay $21 for each request)
The database includes records of adult convictions and juvenile felonies, as well as information about crimes.
The fee is not refundable.
Background checks are accessible for thirty days after the request is completed.
The subject's complete name and birth date are used to conduct searches.
Notarized reports are also available for an additional $10 if needed.
You can monitor your transaction by entering the Transaction ID at the bottom of this page once you've paid for access.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Maine Criminal History Record search or the information it provides, you can reach out to the Maine State Bureau of Identification at (207) 624-7240, or email info@informe.org.

Fingerprint checks are also offered for the same price, but they must be completed in person or by mail.

Contact the SBI for more information on how to proceed.

What can I do if my Maine criminal history record has incomplete or inaccurate information?

If the information in your Maine arrest record or criminal record is incorrect or incomplete, you can appeal it to the Maine State Bureau of Identification.

Contact the SBI at (207) 624-7240, explain the problem, and ask for instructions on how to make the correction.

Mail a written challenge request, with a copy of the criminal history document with the mistake highlighted, and any supporting paperwork to:

State Bureau of Identification

State House Station #42

Augusta, ME 04333-0042

How do I search Maine court records?

Unfortunately, the Maine Judicial Branch does not provide an online court records search, as it does for other legal documents. However, any District Court, Superior Court, or Violations Bureau Records can be searched by following a specific procedure.

In Maine, here's how to submit a court record request:

Fill out a Record Search Request Form completely and sign it. Describe the record(s) you're looking for as specifically as possible.
Prepare a check or money order to “Treasurer, State of Maine” for the total amount owed. In the Court Locations section of Search Parameters, there's a $20 fee for each name or box checked. Alternatively, you may pay by credit or debit card by providing your card information on the form, although there is a 2.39% convenience fee for card payments.
To: Send the form, payment, and self-addressed, stamped return envelope to:

Judicial Branch Service Center

PO Box 266

Lewiston, ME 04243

Where can I find Maine driving records online?

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers the public online access to any individual's non-certified driving record. A three-year history costs $7, whereas a ten-year history costs $12.

To order a driving record online, you'll need the following things:

If the subject's driver's license number or name and date of birth are known, quote it.
To pay the fee, you must have a working debit or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover).
A printer

Click here to order a copy of your driving record from the Maine Department of Motor Vehicles. Call the Maine BMV at 207-624-9000 if you require a certified driving record.

How do I look up Maine vital records such as birth cetificates and marriage licenses?

Vital records are documents kept by government agencies that document significant life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.

Vital records are not public records that may be viewed by anybody, but the person(s) mentioned in the record and authorized family members can view them personally or request copies through a variety of methods. Furthermore, one or more vital documents may be needed to do a background check.

The Maine Department of Health & Human Services hires Vital Chek, a third-party vendor, to enable customers to obtain vital records online. The government-endorsed service provides vital documents from 50 US states and territories.

Available vital records include:

birth certificates
death certificates
marriage records
divorce records.

Contact the Maine Vital Records Office at 1-888-664-9491 for additional information.

How do I search for a person’s sex offender status in Maine

In Maine, individuals convicted of sex-related offenses or certain crimes against children are required by law to register as sex offenders. In addition, registrants who do not notify law enforcement promptly of a physical address change or email address change will be labeled "non-compliant."

The Maine State Police has made the Maine Sex Offender Registry available to the public online in order to enhance public safety. Users can search by name, city, region, or email address/internet name. Some low-risk offenders, on the other hand, may not be viewable on the internet database.

To access the Maine Sex Offender Registry, click here. It's critical to stay up to date on potential dangers in your area so you can take appropriate measures.

How do I perform a credit history background check in Maine?

In Maine, performing a credit check is the same as in other jurisdictions. Every American is entitled to one free annual credit report from each of the three main credit bureaus under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Equifax
Experian
TransUnion

In order to obtain a free credit report from one of these three agencies, you must provide the following information:

Full name
Address
Date of birth
Social security number

Final thoughts: Free Background Check Maine

More people than ever before are performing background checks these days. Background checks aren't only done by detectives and huge enterprises these days. Many individuals utilize such reports to learn more about their prospective partners, roommates, or simply reconnect with old friends. Any of the aforementioned services would suffice; however, you must select one that is appropriate for your needs.

Truthfinder, Intelius, and Instant Checkmate are the major players. Once again, your unique requirements will determine the winner. Do you know anything about background check companies? In your comment, tell us what you know about it.