We are landlords in WI - so we’ve always just used CCAP (free criminal records) as all of our tenants have been from WI. 

Once they apply, we will check them out on our county clerk’s website for previous criminal and eviction activity.

I am a cyber-security engineer from Connecticut trying to escape the rat race known as the 9-5 and start a career in real estate.

The Housing Authority does credit, criminal, background, etc checks for the tenants to receive assistance. 

@Darrick Lowe In addition to all the above, I suggest a proper background, credit, criminal and eviction check, by a verified company before renting to them. 

If it is a criminal issue, you can reject them for that but need to be careful because HUD recently decided that rejecting based on any criminal activity violates fair housing.

I've heard some areas have a moratorium on evictions for failure to pay rent but they are allowing evictions for other reasons like criminal activity.

If you are referring to a complaint with the law enforcement regarding non-compliance about tenants having their dogs on other people's property and not even cleaning up after that, I already did that (3 complaints for the past 3 years, which resulted in 3 citations which made them very mad and vindictive, but... not responsible tenants and dog owners; next event will be a criminal offence for them).

We know this game: shriek loud enough in hopes of getting money without actually having a case.In doing research in response to their demand letter, we uncovered a criminal background for one of the tenants that was not disclosed on application and did not come up in the original Texas criminal check. 

Associates in criminal justice and business.