The best way to capture a complete criminal history on your candidate is to implement a two tier approach: one tier involves an in-depth look into specific jurisdictions; the other tier is to cast a wider net utilizing electronic databases and resources.

The electronic information age has changed the way government agencies and the background screening industry stores, maintains, and disseminates criminal record information, and has made this information more obtainable. Expand your search parameters by using electronic databases to access millions of records from courts, state agencies, the Department of Corrections, The Public Safety Administration, Sex Offender Repositories, government maintained “Most Wanted Lists” and international terrorist watch lists. Finding a criminal offense committed on a business trip, locating a transient sex offender record, or discovering a driving under the influence conviction in another state is now easily retrievable at a low cost.

Employment Background Investigation’s (EBI) proprietary electronic database, National Criminal Records Database (NCRD), houses over 370 million records from a variety of county, state and federal jurisdictions, government agencies and international terrorist watch lists. EBI uses electronic record resources for background screening as a research tool only. Each record is verified to confirm its accuracy at the original report jurisdiction of record to ensure FCRA compliance.

Employers should never use instant online resources for criminal records as a final decision making tool. A viable Credit Reporting Agency (CRA), such as EBI, can guide you on the proper resources and techniques to optimize your criminal history search while keeping you compliant. Implementing a proper tiered approach to criminal record searches can help keep your screening program comprehensive, your due diligence process compliant, and your workplace safe.