Court Databases
Court databases can provide you with information such as dates of hearings, which will provide some context for you to work with, such as when your arraignment happened through adjudication, but nothing more. Typically, these records are accompanied by the court's disposition. The things that you will not find are court transcripts or anything that can reveal mitigating circumstances of the case, concrete reasons for dismissal (typically indicated as "with prejudice" or "without prejudice"), or circumstances surrounding arrest. That, my friend, remains up to you to articulate.
Police Records
It's up to the discretion of each individual department as to how long arrest records and police reports remain on file. This important to note because these records are where you are going to draw your context from. However, once these records are entered they go into the public domain. Other online databases "capture" these because they are in the public domain. Consequently, and to your benefit, when the police department frees up space and trashes their old records, these records can remain on file in the databases that "captured" them. Some Record Check sites will "capture" holistic files, which include police reports, while others only capture the date of arrest and what the original charges were, precluding actual charges. Actual charges are charges that have been filed by a prosecutor. Most likely, the actual charge is of the lesser kind.
Simple Do's and Don'ts of Criminal Background Checks
Do conduct one: Whether by perusing a public database or subscribing to a private one--always err on the side of checking. If you've ever been charged with any civil violation or crime, or if you've ever been arrested, chances are better than not that the record exists somewhere.
Do search multiple databases: Again, the length of time a record remains on file is up to each institution's discretion. Some jurisdictions have mandatory "cut off" times (it's 10 years in the City of Seattle, for instance), but some do not. Check with your jurisdiction's Court Clerk before coming to any conclusions on your own.
Do search private databases regardless of what the public institution says. You may have to pay a small fee to access a private service, but it's worth it to err on the side of responsibility (and peace of mind) than not.
Don't assume anything: That even means assuming that expunged records have been magically erased from private databases. The court only has the power to seal public records; which follows, if your record was captured prior to receiving this special distinction, it can remain in a private database unless a court issues a separate order extricating the information.
Don't ignore your past: Let's face it. We are a flawed species, and everyone is hiding something. But the one thing you should not hide is the fact that you've had a run-in with the law. Articulating what you learned from your experience can go a long way in someone's determination of your overall fitness. Arrest does not automatically preclude you from your civil rights, or law school for that matter. But dishonesty can be grounds for action, which will not bode well for you.
If you have anything in your past, or if you need to find out about someone else's, always begin by perusing the public record. But for more refined information, a private database might provide the best answers.
