Criminal Record Searches
A Two-Tier Approach Is Comprehensive And Cost-Effective
Conducting a comprehensive search of a candidate’s criminal history can be a complicated piece of the due diligence process within a background screening program There are over 12,000 criminal court jurisdictions in the United States, including local/municipal courts, county criminal courts, federal courts, and state repositories that maintain criminal records. The best way to capture a complete criminal history to insure a safe and secure workplace 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.
Before a search begins, employers need to have a full understanding of the true identity of their subject: where they have lived; where they have worked; where they attended school; and even if they have spent time abroad for long periods of time. Gathering additional information such as full name, other names known by, and key identifiers such as date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), and passport number, along with previous and current address history will provide the important information needed to conduct an appropriate criminal record. Always consult your legal counsel when gathering candidate information to be sure you are asking the right questions and are within legal guidelines.
EBI begins the criminal search process with a SSN Trace to confirm the accuracy of the address history and other information supplied by your candidate. This initial step allows us to uncover anything that may have been unintentionally undisclosed, or even concealed by the subject.
Based on the information provided by the candidate and the results from the SSN Trace, you now have a more accurate picture of the true identity and residential history of your candidate. The most complete and up-to-date criminal records information will always be located at the jurisdiction of where a potential criminal offense is first recorded, and is typically where a final disposition is located for most misdemeanor and felony records. A thorough search within these courts, and where the candidate has spent the most time, will yield the best results. EBI will review the candidate information, and then deploy one, or several, of our highly qualified researchers to conduct searches at all court levels. Depending on the position you expect the potential candidate to fill, the specific candidate being screened, and the industry where the subject may be employed, EBI typically encounters an average of 5% - 35% criminal record hit rates utilizing the processes described above.
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. EBI’s electronic database, National Criminal Research Database (NCRD), expands your search parameters by accessing 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. EBI can even monitor on-going criminal activity through our proprietary CrimScan product that provides monthly monitoring of potential criminal activity for a low yearly subscription fee.
EBI uses electronic record resources as a research tool only. Each record is verified to confirm its accuracy at the original reporting jurisdiction of record to ensure FCRA compliance. EBI is a proud member of Concerned CRAs, and uses electronic data in a responsible manner to protect the best interests of our clients potential employees by following a strict process to verify data accuracy. Employers should never use instant online resources for criminal records as a final decision-making tool. EBI will guide you on the proper resources and techniques to optimize your search while keeping you compliant.
EBI can design a comprehensive and cost-effective criminal records search program to help any employer meet their due diligence obligations. EBI’s proprietary electronic database, NCRD, houses over 370 million records from a variety of county, state and federal jurisdictions, government agencies, and international terrorist watch lists. EBI can help keep your screening program comprehensive, your due diligence process compliant, and your workplace safe.
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All information contained herein is provided by Employment Background Investigations solely for the convenience of its clients. EBI is not providing legal advice or counsel and nothing provided on this document should be deemed as legal guidance or advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel to determine their legal responsibilities or if they have questions on any information provided by EBI.