Your Facebook friends aren't always who you think they are

Picture it.

You're sitting on Facebook, like you always do, like we all always do, and you get a friend request from someone you don't know.

So, naturally, you creep on anything this potential new friend doesn't have blocked.

You check to see if you have any mutual friends.

You may even ask the mutual friends about this person.

You follow all of the standard precautions, but you still aren't sure if you should accept them as a friend and let them enter your wonderful world of Facebook or not.

Imagine if you had an app on your phone that would let you search for any crime this person has ever committed, at least in Pennsylvania.

Would you be willing to pay $2.99 for that app?

Well then get on your iPhone or Android and search the market for Docket in Your Pocket.

Docket in Your Pocket, created by a lawyer in Iowa, Matt Haindfield, was released to the Pennsylvania population on Oct. 24.

According to a press release, Haindfield said he chose Pennsylvania to launch the app because there's an existing database of criminal records, as well as a large population of smartphone users. Planning is underway to expand the app to include all 50 states.

Docket in Your Pocket will search through 32.5 million criminal records in Pennsylvania dating back to 2000 and show you every speeding ticket, underage citation, murder charge and everything in between.

So let's go back to that new friend request you just got on Facebook. Search their name on Docket in Your Pocket and see what comes up. Then make an informed decision.

Several of our staff members have already downloaded the app, and we plan to use it not only for our personal curiosities, but also professionally.

While this app is great for nosey reporters like us, it can be useful in several other situations that extend further than Facebook.

Let's say you just got a new room assignment. You have no idea who this new roommate is that Residence Life has stuck you with next year. It might be a good idea to look them up and see if they've ever assaulted anyone.

But let's think outside of college.

Let's say someday you grow up and get a job. A real job. And you're the boss, looking to hire someone new. Chances are you'll scour their Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. And we're sure you'll be smart enough to do a background check. But those can take some time. Maybe you're meeting this potential employee in an hour. Just whip out your phone and dive into their criminal record.

Let's say you join eHarmony or some other dating site. It might be wise to do a quick check of Docket in Your Pocket before agreeing to any blind dates.

Let's say you finally get hitched and pop out a baby. Now you want to go out with the love of your life, so you need a babysitter. You should probably make sure the babysitter you hired doesn't have a history of battery charges on their record.

While the advantages of the Docket in Your Pocket app are evident, there has been some concern about whether everyone should have such easy access to criminal records. What about privacy?

In Pennsylvania at least, the law is very kind to nosey people like us. All of these records are public. There is no law, at least not yet, prohibiting the sharing of criminal records. In the eyes of the law, the public is entitled to know.

So break out those phones every chance you get and check the records of the people around you. Don't judge them, but in some cases, it's good to be aware of what you're dealing with.

Be safe out there, SRU. It's a scary world.