What is a background check?
A background check is an investigation into an individual’s criminal record, employment history, driving record, education, finances, or other aspects of their personal history.
Background checks are often performed by an organization or company in order to screen a subject before a significant financial or legal agreement. However, individuals regularly perform background checks on themselves to make sure that the public information on them matches their personal records.
For more general information on background checks, consult our Background Checks FAQS page.
How do I run a criminal background check in Nebraska?
Individuals can request the criminal history information of themselves or anyone in the Nebraska State Patrol central repository online for a $15.50 fee.
Visit this page to request a Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) for yourself or any person of interest.
Requesting a RAP is a four-step process:
- Fill in the requestor’s information. Submit your full name, address, and email address.
- Fill in the person of interest’s information. You are required to submit the first name, last name, date of birth, sex, and race of the person whose Record of Arrest and Prosecution you wish to view. Other information, such as SSN and driver’s license number are optional but may yield better results.
- Make a Payment. The cost is $15.50 for a single search. You can pay with a major credit or debit card.
- Receive the results. You will get one of two messages, either “Request is being searched” or “No response”. If you get the former response, the results are being reviewed and will be delivered within 3 business days.
What can I do if my Nebraska criminal history record has incomplete or inaccurate information?
If your Nebraska arrest record or criminal history record contains erroneous or incomplete information, you may challenge the information and have it corrected by contacting the Nebraska State Patrol – Criminal Identification Division and explaining the situation.
You can reach the NPS – CID at (402) 471-4545.
How do I search for Nebraska court records online?
Nebraska court records can be accessed online using JUSTICE search, a fee-based service provided by the Nebraska Judicial Branch.
Here’s some important information about JUSTICE search:
- One search costs $15, which must be paid even if the search yields no results.
- The JUSTICE database includes civil, criminal, traffic, juvenile, and probate case records from all 93 of Nebraska’s district and county courts.
- Users can access information from up to 30 cases.
- A court case document includes case detail, party listing, court cost information, payments by and to the court, and a register of actions.
Where can I find Nebraska driving records online?
The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles provides a One-Time Driver License Search Application that individuals can use to search for driving records.
Key information about the Driver License Search Application:
- One search costs $3 which can be paid with a credit or debit card.
- Required search information includes:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number OR Driver’s License Number
How do I look up Nebraska vital records such as birth certificates and marriage licenses?
Vital records are records of important life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that are kept by government agencies and accessible upon request.
Vital records are not public records that can be viewed by anyone, but the subject(s) of the record and authorized family members can view them in-person or order copies through a number of means. Additionally, one or more vital records may be required to complete a background check.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services enlists the services of the third-party vendor Vital Chek to enable individuals to order copies of vital records online. The government-endorsed service offers vital records from 50 U.S. states and territories.
Available vital records include:
- birth certificates
- death certificates
Click here to place an order with Vital Chek. For more information, contact the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services at [email protected] or 402-471-2871.
How do I search for a person’s sex offender status in Nebraska?
Those convicted of sex-related crimes or certain crimes against children in Nebraska are required by law to register as sex offenders. Additionally, offenders in the registry are required to notify law enforcement as soon as possible in the case of a physical address change or email address change, or they will be labeled “non-compliant”.
The Nebraska State Government makes the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry available online to the general public in the interest of public safety. Users may search by name, city, or region. However, certain low-risk offenders may not be viewable in the online database.
Click here to perform a search of the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry. It’s important to stay informed about potential threats in your neighborhood in order to take the necessary precautions.
How do I perform a credit history background check in Nebraska?
Performing a credit check in Nebraska follows the same process as in other states. A federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) grants every American one free annual credit report each from the three main U.S. credit bureaus:
In order to obtain your free credit report from one of these three bureaus, you must provide the following information:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social security number
