What Is a Background Check?
Self-Serve Online Criminal Records
and Background Checks
and Background Checks
PublicRecordsChecks 2010 Edition All-in-One Public Criminal Records Search
What is a Background Check?
A
background check is the process of looking up official and commercial
records about a person. Traditionally done by the police, now often
carried out by private businesses, background checks usually include
the individual's past employment information, financial status, and
criminal history. Background checks allow for better-informed and more
objective evaluations to be made about a person and prevent improper
and illegal discrimination, identity theft, and violation of privacy.
United States Screening
Laws
Due
to the sensitivity of the information enclosed in consumer reports and
certain records, there is an array of important laws regulating the
distribution and legal use of this information. Remarkably, the Fair
Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates the use of consumer reports
(which it defines as information gathered and reported by third party
agencies) as it relates to undesirable decisions, notification to the
consumer, and destruction and safekeeping of records. If a consumer
report is used as a reason in a hiring decision, the consumer must be
presented with a “Pre-adverse action disclosure,” a copy of the FCRA
summary of rights, and a “notification of adverse action letter.”
Consumers have the right to know the source of any information used
against them including a credit reporting company.
Types of Checks
Potential
employers can use different types of investigative searches in order to
obtain one’s background information. Many commercial sites offer
specific searches to employers for a fee. Theses services are the ones
that perform the checks, supply the company with adverse action
letters, and ensure compliance all over the process. It is important to
be careful when selecting a pre-employment screening agency. A
legitimate agency will be more than happy to explain the background
checking process to you.
Numerous
employers prefer to search for the most common records such as criminal
records, driving records, and education verification. Other searches
such as sex offender registry, credential authentication, reference
checks, credit reports and Patriot Act searches are becoming more and
more common. Employers ought to take the position in question into
account when deciding which types of searches to perform, and should
always use the same searches for every applicant for the same position.
Reasons
Background
checks are usually carried out in order to confirm information found on
an employment application or résumé/curriculum vitae. Background checks
are also often conducted, as a way to further distinguish between
potential employees and pick the one the employer feels is the most
appropriate for the position. In the United States, the Brady Bill
requires criminal checks for those wishing to procure handguns from
licensed firearms dealers. Restricted firearms (like machine guns),
suppressors, explosives or large quantities of precursor chemicals, and
concealed weapons permits also require criminal checks. Checks are also
necessary for those working in positions with special security
concerns, such as trucking, ports of entry, and airline transportation.
Other laws prohibit individuals who do not pass a criminal check to
work in careers involving the elderly, disabled, or children.
Possible Information Included
The
information included on a check depends to a large extent on the reason
for which it is conducted - e.g., somebody looking for employment at a
minimum wage job would be subject to far less requirements than
somebody applying to work for the FBI.
Litigation records
Employers
may want to identify potential employees who regularly file
discrimination lawsuits. It has also been supposed that in the U.S.,
employers that work for the government do not like to hire stool
pigeons that have a history of filing qui tam suits.
Driving and vehicle records
Employers
in the transportation sector look for drivers with clean driving
records--i.e., those without a history of accidents or traffic tickets.
Drug tests
Employers
might use them for an assortment of reasons--corporate ethics,
assessing potential employee performance, and keeping the workers'
compensation premiums down.
Education records
These
are used chiefly to see if the potential employee really possesses a
college degree, graduate degree, or some other recognized university
degree. Employers are also known to be requesting SAT score reports.
Employment records
These
typically vary from simple verbal confirmations of past employment and
time frame, to conversations about performance, activities and
achievements, and relations with others.
Financial information
Credit scores, liens, civil verdicts, or bankruptcy are commonly included in the report.
Licensing records
Government
authorities that have oversight over the professional behavior of its
licensees usually keep records regarding the licensee, such as personal
information, education, complaints, investigations, and disciplinary
actions.
Military records
Though
not as common today as it was in the past fifty years, employers
regularly request the details of one's military discharge.
Social Security Number
(or
the non US equivalent). A fake SSN may indicate about identity theft,
inadequate citizenship, or concealment of a "past life".
Other interpersonal interviews
Employers
will typically wish to speak with the potential employees' references
in order to decide whether to hire or not. More rigorous checks can
involve interviews with anybody that know or formerly knew the
applicant--such as teachers, friends, coworkers, bosses and family
members.
Above information courtesy of wikipedia.org
