How our editors check arrest-record guidance against official sources, distinguish factual claims, and handle uncertainty.
Independent information: We are not a government agency, and an arrest is not proof of guilt.
Verification starts with the claim
Editors isolate checkable statements: agency responsibilities, search steps, online access, fees, eligibility, request forms, restrictions, contact paths and public record definitions. Each material claim should match an accessible authoritative source or be qualified as uncertain.
Cross-check jurisdiction and scope
A county jail roster, an arrest log, a state criminal-history repository and a court docket are not interchangeable. Reviewers compare the source’s own description with the purpose of the article to avoid incorrectly calling any one of these a complete arrest history.
Link inspection
We check that a link resolves to the intended agency, not just a similar name or an advertisement; that menus and search fields still exist where described; and that the linked service actually covers the advertised jurisdiction. Dynamic websites can change without notice.
Dates and changing rules
When a government rule or procedure could change, the article should describe the current context and direct readers to official updates. Publication and modification dates should reflect actual editorial events, not automatic cosmetic changes.
Evidence and editorial records
Editors can document the official URL, page heading, access date and the specific claim checked in internal notes. Screenshots or archived references may help reproduce an issue but should not override current authoritative sources.
When confirmation is impossible
We should say the information is unavailable or unverified, narrow the language, or remove an unsupported claim. Uncertainty is preferable to a fabricated fee, telephone number, processing time or eligibility rule.
Reader corrections
Specific and well-supported reports receive evaluation. We review the cited material, compare against the existing page and revise misleading wording when justified.