well one way you can check is my lexis-nexis search...if you have name , ss# , address, birthday... you can run a l/n search that will give you access to all public records available out there thats been writtten down either newspapers, periodicals, etc.
or get a friend that is a cop and get him to run a NCIC from his computer in his car.
A better way is to kill someone and frame it on the person who you want to background check. That way you get all the information from the press when he goes to trial - for free!