Criminal Background Checks: Getting Them Right

There’s a myth of “nationwide criminal background check databases”
that report criminal records from every jurisdiction in the United
States. No such background check exists. Many companies offer database
searches that cover many jurisdictions in the majority of states, but
they are all incomplete.

The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division manages the
National Crime Information Center, a nationwide criminal background
check system. It is the most complete source of records, yet even it is
not perfect. Most misdemeanors are not included in the database and
many county and state records never make their way to the FBI. En route
to the FBI from counties and states there are breakdowns in the
process. Still, the NCIC database is the most complete national
criminal database, and more comprehensive than the any of the
commercially available national criminal databases. Generally, the NCIC
database is not available for non-governmental use. There are a few
exceptions.

So, with no perfect source or method for checking criminal records how do you get it right?

Here’s a formula to consider:

- Verify identifiers, social security number, date of birth and aliases.
- Locate address history.
- Check an online criminal records database for broad coverage. Some of
these cover jurisdictions in 40+ states. Be sure to check on
jurisdictions the database includes. Does it cover your state? All of
your state? What are the reporting sources? Is the coverage sufficient
or does it need to be supplemented?
- Supplement the database search with county courthouse criminal
records searches for counties of residence during the past 7-years.

A practical example:

The subject of your criminal records check is a Texas resident. What
does criminal records sources report into the BackgroundNow.com “Basic” criminal records database report? It so happens that Texas reporting is thorough and includes Texas Department of Corrections, The Department of Public Safety, Sex Offender Records and 40 Texas counties, including Harris County (Houston), Dallas County and Bexar County
(San Antonio). So, really thorough coverage. Then why add county
courthouse searches? The most reliable reports come from the records
source.

Also, let’s say that our subject has lived in Louisiana for a year
or two. The database includes the state’s Department of Corrections
records dating back to 2004, Sex Offender Records and four Parish
courts. Not really sufficient, so add onsite searches of Parish
criminal records.

Get the idea? Getting criminal background checks done right is a
collaboration between your company and your background check provider.