--- title: "County vs State vs Federal Criminal Search | Guide" description: "Compare county, state, and federal criminal record search scopes. Learn which jurisdictions to search and when you need all three for comprehensive coverage." lang: en json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "County vs State vs Federal Criminal Record Searches", "description": "Compare county, state, and federal criminal record search scopes. Learn which jurisdictions to search and when you need all three for comprehensive coverage.", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "1SkipTrace" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "1SkipTrace", "url": "https://1skiptrace.com" }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://1skiptrace.com/guides/compare/county-vs-state-criminal-search" } --- [ 1 SkipTrace Skip Trace Services ](/) - [](/about)About - [](/how-it-works)How It Works - Services - [](/coverage)Coverage - [](/who-we-serve)Who We Serve - [](/resources)Resources - [](/faq)FAQ - [](/contact)Contact [Order Skip Trace](/order)[(844) 791-9800](tel:844-791-9800) [Guides](/guides)Comparison # County vs State vs Federal Criminal Record Searches Compare county, state, and federal criminal record search scopes. Learn which jurisdictions to search and when you need all three for comprehensive coverage. ## Understanding Jurisdictions Criminal records are maintained at three levels: county (where most crimes are prosecuted), state (aggregated from county courts), and federal (for federal offenses). No single search covers all three — comprehensive screening requires searching the appropriate combination. Understanding what each level covers helps you make cost-effective screening decisions based on your specific needs. ## County-Level Searches County searches access records directly from the courthouse where cases were filed. They provide the most detailed information including case numbers, charges, dispositions, and sentences. However, you need to know which county to search. For subjects who have lived in multiple areas, county-by-county searching can be expensive. This is where state and federal searches add value. ## When to Search All Three For high-stakes decisions — employment in sensitive positions, tenant screening for high-value properties, or litigation due diligence — we recommend searching all three levels for comprehensive coverage. Start with a federal search and the state(s) where the subject has resided, then add county-level searches in jurisdictions where state records indicate activity or where you need the most detail. Feature County Search State Search Coverage Single county Entire state Detail Level Most detailed Summary records Cost Per county searched Single fee per state Speed 1-3 days 1-5 days Best For Known jurisdiction Broad screening ## More Comparisons [ ### Skip Trace vs People Search: What's the Difference? Compare skip tracing and people search services. Learn which service you need, h… ](/guides/compare/skip-trace-vs-people-search)[ ### Comprehensive vs Basic Skip Trace: Which Do You Need? 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