Naturally, trusting someone you just met comes with its doubts. The good news is that with today’s technological advancements, people have access to a plethora of online resources that can reveal a lot of information about the people you interact with. From social media accounts to Springfield mugshots, it’s all accessible with a few clicks. Those seeking such information can also find contact numbers, arrest records, police records, and perform a background check all in the comfort of their own home.
Missouri law makes mugshots an open record for the first 30 days after an arrest, but then it’s closed unless a prosecutor files charges. So, if you happen to live in Missouri, then mugshots for people who were convicted are considered public record, which makes them easy to find and legal to access online. There are many instances in which it is beneficial to access this information. The following are three particular instances in which knowing if a person has a mugshot would be valuable.
Find out if a partner is lying
Everyone hopes that all romantic relationships are full of trust and love, but according to the Institute for Family Studies, a general social survey taken between 2010 and 2016 showed that 20 percent of men and 13 percent of women have been unfaithful to their partners and to their marriage.
It isn’t just infidelity that can cause harm. With the rise of dating apps and online dating services, it can be hard to determine whether someone you are interested in meeting will be dangerous or not, as most people may not choose to disclose the fact that they have a criminal record on their dating profile.
By performing a mugshot check, you can learn whether your partner or someone you are interested in has been open and honest with you or if they are hiding key facts about their past. A complete background check will give insight as to whether a current or potential partner is hiding things like a second cell phone number, an alias, a criminal record, or even a second address.
Do a background check on a new hire
Whether it’s for your business or to hire a babysitter for your children, performing a mugshot check is always a good idea before trusting someone new with your children and home. By running mugshot checks on all applicants you are interested in, you can speed up the process of eliminating those with suspicious backgrounds from consideration. Instead, you can move forward with those who have no mugshots or criminal records of any sort.
Find out where sex offenders are living
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “On a given day, about 234,000 offenders convicted of rape or sexual assault are under the care, custody, or control of corrections agencies.” They also note that roughly 60 percent of these offenders are under, “conditional supervision in the community.” It’s extremely important to provide children with a safe neighborhood to live and play in. By entering your zip code into sites that offer these background checks, you can find out if sex offenders live near you. If so, be sure to inform your children to stay away from those locations. According to local data, there are 765 registered sex offenders in Springfield, Missouri alone.
Whether it be for the protection of your children, in the event of a new hire, to build trust in a relationship, or to ensure your neighborhood is safe, running a mugshot background check can prove to be invaluable. By using the available resources, people can take proper steps in seeking information that can help them make informed decisions about their lives and the lives of those they care about.