How does a criminal background work?

How Do Criminal Background Checks Work?

• Answer:

  Who Does Them and How They Get Started A criminal background check is a useful tool in developing a portrait of the character of an individual who may have applied for a job with your company or wants to participate in social activities that need volunteers. The process is usually handled by companies that specialize in the background check business, or by private investigators, depending on what's available in your area. The first step in conducting a criminal background check is to receive the important information about the subject. This information includes the subject's full name, date of birth, current or past addresses and social security number. This information is used to find and certify the accuracy of any reports available. The Process The next step is for the person conducting the check to search public records to see if the subject is included in the records of the local justice system. The investigator can go to the local courthouse or justice center and look through records himself. An adult's criminal record is a public file that is made accessible to anyone with a reason to have the information. Many areas now have their public records in databases that can be accessed online. This is generally free and cuts down on the time needed to check for the background because you can limit your searches to one piece of information, such as the social security number, to cut away any other records. Once the investigation is complete, there are two paths that can be followed by the client who requested the information. If the background check shows no criminal history, the information is used by the client in his decision to hire or not hire the applicant. If the background check shows that the applicant has a criminal conviction in his background, the client can then go over the information to decide the applicant's honesty and employability. The criminal background check is also used in the recruiting of volunteers for public service volunteer services, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and other agencies--especially those dealing directly with children. The concept is essentially the same as it is for hiring an employee, but with more emphasis on Sex Offender Registry searches and checks for any criminal conviction of a sexual or domestic nature. Conclusion The criminal background check can be a very important tool in the decision-making process in a great many industries. The information is legal and open to the public, so the process is not hampered by excessive fees or time delays.