sure...just because you have a broken screen doesn't mean the phone doesn't work...I get broken screen phones all the time. when you use the USB adapter (the one you charge with...without the little box on the end that plug into the wall)...you plug it into the your computer after opening itunes (same as if you were going to back up said phone). Power the phone on and you will hear it be recognized by itunes (you might need to plug it in for awhile to charge it if it is dead of course. It should give you things like IMEI (certain models do not have it on the back of the phone casing). Once you have the imei, you can call the cell carrier and get them to check it against their lost/stolen/blocked list. There is at least one website online that can tell you the carrier by the serial. Once it it recognized by itunes you can reset the phone (ERASE IT), which you should do ALWAYS. If it is icloud locked and you do not have the icloud password OR you cannot get the person you bought it from to take the phone off their icloud account, it is a brick...useable only for parts. No, APPLE will NOT reset this....it is a security measure.
Once you reset the phone it is ready to be sold. Now, if you can unlock the phone, once you get that done through the carrier is was through originally, then you reset again through itunes and it will show as unlocked ....unlocking is different for each carrier and they must do it per a fairly new law if certain terms are met (this is for US phones BTW in case you are an international member).
I will try to remember to video me doing one the next time I do one and put it on youtube for everyone.
When buying phones, you need to be CAREFUL. Always check the phone by manually resetting it IN FRONT of the person BEFORE buying it...see if it asked for an icloud password...if it does and hey don't know the password DO NOT BUY IT. If they haven't reset it, I always turn it off before I reset it in case they can't remember the password. I also call the carrier to check the lists I mentioned above...ALL of this BEFORE handing over money. I also make them sign a receipt in case they do something stupid like call it in as stolen AFTER they get your money.

you can also ask to see ID when they sign to be extra sure...pawn shops do it, so fair is fair....plus it keeps you out of jail.....iphones are many times greater than $500 and therefore a felony if you are in possession of stolen property.
Good money in them, you just have to know what you are doing.
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