Also, and this is the less-detailed route, you can usually find someone's police/court records online unless they have been sealed or altered by a judge. Google for your state court records. The results will show anything from a traffic violation to major offenses.
Re: Background checks for caregivers
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)