It's true that we live in a very scary world today. It is no longer safe to let your children ride their bikes up the sidewalk alone, even if you live in one of the safest neighbourhoods. Today, children disappear in the blink of an eye and people who seem completely safe turn out to be extremely toxic if not deadly to our children. The only good news is that parents do have a way of reducing the risk of harm to their children: public court records and arrest records.

You may know already that arrest records and public court records can be obtained for free, but have you ever thought of using these records as a parenting tool? If not, then it's time to realize what a valuable resource public court records and arrest records can be.

Think of everyone that you trust around your children. Maybe there is a nanny or babysitter that has access to them every single day, but there are many others. If you made a list of everyone who came in contact with them on any given day of the week it might actually shock you.

Think about the lunch crew serving them at school, all of the teachers, janitors, and other personnel. Add in other parents who may be volunteering at the school and you are already making a nice list, right?

Thinking through the rest of their day and people they may see and talk to at dance classes, football practice, or while spending the night with a friend makes the list even more daunting.

Of course, you cannot reasonably check the arrest records and public court records on every single one of these people, but you do need to be checking into as many as possible, especially those who drive them around or keep them for extended periods of time.

Arrest records will tell you whether the person has ever been arrested, even if they were not officially charged. Complete criminal records can also be checked if you want to determine if they have spent time in prison or have been officially convicted of any criminal charges.

For other parents your children may be spending the night with, babysitters who spend a lot of time alone with them, or anyone else who is in your home around your kids on a regular basis, you should go the extra mile and run their arrest records as well as public court records. This will tell you additional information, including any civil court cases that may have been filed against the person.

public court records also deliver information such as tax liens under their name.

If you feel a little nosey digging into the public court records and arrest records of people you may not know very well, you have to consider the reason you are doing it. Parenting is a very difficult job and protecting children in our world today is even harder than ever before.

You are not being nosey just for the sake of getting into someone else's business. Checking their public court records and arrest records reduces the risk of sending your children with someone unsafe. public court records and arrest records are the best tool you have as a parent!