Sample Criminal Report
Review report details clearly.
See how a tenant criminal report can help landlords review criminal and public-record search results, sanctions checks, applicant details, and reportable-record status before making a consistent screening decision.
SmartScreen format: Built to match the Sample Credit Report page with a right-side hero image, sticky Page Guide, sample report preview, and larger pop-up report view.
Overview
A tenant criminal report helps landlords review criminal and public-record search results as part of a complete tenant screening process. It should be read with the applicant’s full file, written screening criteria, and fair, individualized decision process.
TL;DR: Review applicant details, search scope, result status, sanctions results, and the full screening file before making a rental decision.
Key Takeaways
- A criminal report helps landlords review criminal and public-record search results as part of a complete tenant screening process.
- Search scope matters. Review which locations, registries, and public-record sources were searched.
- “No reportable records” is not the same as no records anywhere. It means the report did not return reportable records within the searched scope.
- Use consistent written criteria and evaluate criminal history in a fair, individualized, and legally compliant way.
- Pair criminal screening with credit, eviction, income, and rental history for a complete applicant review.
Sample Criminal Report
This sample report image shows applicant details, criminal and public-record search results, and sanctions-search status.
- Applicant details: name, address, report number, order date, and completion date.
- Criminal and public records: searched locations, completion dates, and search strategies.
- Sanctions: reviewed separately from criminal-history results.
- Result status: a clear “No Reportable Records” result when applicable.
What a Tenant Criminal Report Shows
A tenant criminal report may show applicant-identifying information, report number, order and completion dates, searched locations, search strategy, criminal and public-record results, sex offender registry search status, expanded national search status, and sanctions search results.
The sample criminal report on this page shows a “No Reportable Records” result for criminal and public records and sanctions, along with the locations and search strategies reviewed.
How to Read a Criminal Report
1. Confirm the applicant details
Review the applicant name, address, report number, order date, completion date, and package details before reading the result sections.
2. Review the search scope
Look at the searched locations and search strategies. A report is only as useful as the scope of records searched and the available data sources.
3. Read the result status
If the report shows no reportable records, document that result. If reportable records appear, review the record type, date, jurisdiction, disposition, and relevance to your written policy.
4. Review sanctions separately
Sanctions results are separate from criminal-history results and should be reviewed as their own section.
5. Compare with the full screening file
A criminal report should be reviewed alongside the applicant’s tenant credit report, ResidentScore, eviction report, income information, and rental history.
Using the Report in a Consistent Decision Process
Before screening applicants, landlords should establish written criteria for how criminal-history information will be reviewed. Criteria should consider the nature and severity of any offense, how long ago it occurred, whether it is relevant to rental safety or property risk, and whether the applicant provides mitigating context.
If a criminal report contributes to an adverse decision, landlords should follow applicable Fair Credit Reporting Act adverse-action requirements and any state or local rules that apply to criminal-background screening.
Best practice: document the specific report section reviewed, the written criteria applied, and the reason for the final decision.
Start Screening with SmartScreen
Review criminal, eviction, credit, ResidentScore, and income-related screening information in one workflow.
Related SmartScreen Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a tenant criminal report show?
It may show applicant details, searched locations, search strategy, criminal and public-record results, sex offender registry search status, expanded national search status, and sanctions search results.
What does “No Reportable Records” mean?
It means the report did not return reportable records within the searched scope. It does not mean no records exist anywhere or outside the report’s search sources.
Should landlords use criminal reports by themselves?
No. A criminal report should be reviewed with the full screening file, including credit, eviction history, income verification, rental history, and written screening criteria.
What should landlords document?
Landlords should document the search result, the written criteria applied, any individualized review, and the final reason for the decision.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Landlords should follow the FCRA, fair housing laws, and applicable state or local rules when using criminal-background information in rental decisions.
Ready to review criminal reports online?
SmartScreen helps landlords review criminal, eviction, credit, ResidentScore, and income-related screening information in one workflow.