Utilizing public record databases to find criminal, civil, or traffic violations in South Florida became a little easier on Friday with the release of an updated and semi-comprehensive list of online resources.

Locating and identifying criminal history, civil litigation or traffic infraction history is but a click away. Access to resources relating to inmates, those on probation, parole or community control, sex offenders or missing children, in addition to stolen property or vehicles, is readily available as well.

“Comprehensive background checks are a necessity in today’s society,” Rico Petrocelli of Petrocelli & Associates in Plantation told South Florida Reporter. “A background check is basically a report on an individual. It typically includes criminal history, financial history, education history, public records, or any combination of reports.”

While far from exhaustive – but a start – suggested below are some of the free or low-cost options available when conducting background research in South Florida.

Basic background checks

Sex offenders

Florida Offender Alert System – Sign up to receive an email alert when a sex offender moves into your neighborhood.

– Sign up to receive an email alert when a sex offender moves into your neighborhood. Florida Sex Offender Registry – Locate registered sex offenders by name, city, address or zip code.

– Locate registered sex offenders by name, city, address or zip code. Sex offender screen names – Check a computer screen name or email address to determine whether it’s linked to a registered sex offender in Florida.

– Check a computer screen name or email address to determine whether it’s linked to a registered sex offender in Florida. National and other state sex offender registries– Search the national database, or select a state to view a particular registry.

Jail and state prison inmates

Wanted and missing persons

Stolen property

Florida Crime Information Center – Search for information on whether a vehicle, vehicle parts, boats, license plates, decals, guns and other items were reported lost or stolen in Florida.

– Search for information on whether a vehicle, vehicle parts, boats, license plates, decals, guns and other items were reported lost or stolen in Florida. VINCheck– Search the National Insurance Crime Bureau database to see if a vehicle has been reported stolen.

“Pre-employment background checks are an important part of our hiring process,” Bob Simon of Pines Auto LLC in Davie, told South Florida Reporter. “We recently learned that one of our potential hires had several liens and a bankruptcy, along with an outstanding warrant for domestic violence. Obviously, we didn’t hire this individual.”