The most affordable national criminal background check for nonprofits.
Search Federal, state, and county courts — 650M+ records — plus sex offender registries, FBI Most Wanted, OFAC sanctions, and all 50 state databases, for $5 per report. Every potential hit is reviewed by a real person under FCRA. No monthly fees. No contracts.
Why it matters
The case for National Criminal Check
County, state, and federal courts — all in one check
Most budget providers search state repositories only. We search county-level court records, state criminal databases, federal courts, and national sex offender registries across all 50 states in a single report.
Sex offender registries from every state
Every check automatically includes a search against the national sex offender registry and all 50 state registries — a non-negotiable for any organization working with children or vulnerable populations.
FBI Most Wanted and OFAC sanctions included
We cross-reference every applicant against the FBI Most Wanted list, OFAC sanctions lists, and global watchlists at no extra charge. Other providers sell this as an add-on.
A real person reviews every potential hit — not just an algorithm
When a search surfaces a possible record, a trained reviewer verifies it against FCRA standards before it ever reaches you — confirming identity, recency, and reportability — so you get an accurate, defensible report instead of a pile of false matches.
FCRA-compliant adverse action guidance built in
When a record is found, we walk you through exactly what to do. We generate the pre-adverse and final adverse action notices required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act — reviewed by you, sent by you, always compliant.
Refund guarantee on unverifiable records
If county records exist but cannot be verified under FCRA guidelines, we refund your credit. If we can't give you a clean, actionable report, you don't pay.
How it works
Three steps. Start to result.
FAQ
Common questions about National Criminal Check.
What databases does VolunteerBadge search?
County court records, state criminal repositories, federal court records, national sex offender registry (all 50 states), FBI Most Wanted, OFAC sanctions lists, and global watchlists.
Is $5 really the total cost?
Yes. One credit = one full national criminal check. Address history verification, FCRA authorization forms, adverse action notice generation, and API access are all included at no additional cost.
How does FCRA compliance work?
We embed FCRA-required disclosure language in the authorization form, guide you through the adverse action process if a record is found, and store a complete audit trail for every check you run.
How long do results take?
Most checks return results in up to 72 hours. Some county court searches take slightly longer due to courthouse response times.
Start using National Criminal Check today.
Free account. No credit card required. Your first background check is $5.