Broadly speaking, a background check is a way of investigating someone’s character, background, and past, using public data sources and reports. Most background checks are generated automatically from data repositories maintained by private companies and state and federal governments.
Typically, the information included on a background check will include the person’s: Age, Aliases, Date of Birth, Relatives, crimes committed, arrests, marriage and divorce records (depending on the state), bankruptcies, civil records and judgments, track tickets, social media information, and online presence.
When people say public records, they are usually referring to civil issues such as lawsuits, track tickets, vital records (such as marriage, divorce, birth, and death), bankruptcies, and the like. When people say background check, they usually have in mind criminal records, warrant searches, arrest records, and other criminal information.
Believe it or not, almost all of this information is in the public record by law and is available to anyone who is willing to make the effort to search for it. Some jurisdictions make it incredibly simple and have dedicated web portals that allow you to search. Others are stuck in the paper age, and often require an on-site search in the county courthouse. This can be done by using a “court runner”, as well.