What Criminal Background Check Do Most Employers Use?
Trust is everything when it is a matter of hiring new employees. Employers want to make sure that they include the right people in their teams. Performing a criminal background check is an essential part of that process. But what type do most employers actually use? Let’s find out.
Why Employers Run Criminal Background Checks
Employers have the responsibility to protect their business, employees, and customers. Criminal background checks enable them to see if any past behaviour of a potential employee could pose a threat eventually. For many, it’s more about brand reputation as well as safety. It’s not just about safety for many companies — it’s also about protecting their brand reputation.
Also, different industries have different needs. For example, a retail store will have stricter checks than a school.
The Most Common Types of Criminal Background Checks
Employers do not just pick out one of the mentioned background check types arbitrarily. It depends on the particular role of the analyst and the industry that they are working in for the company. There are a number of criminal record checks and verifications that are currently in use, but the following are the commonest ones being used:
- National Criminal Database Search:
This search can cover many states since this is a database of records of a rather large size. It is a convenient way to identify any potential problems.
- County Criminal Court Search:
There are several records, such as the county records, which the employers often scrutinise to find where the applicant has lived or worked. It is the most suitable search type since it provides the best and closest details and figures.
- Federal Criminal Records Search:
This search is basically used for crimes that span across the states, for example, fraud, embezzlement, etc.
- Sex Offender Registry Check:
A lot of employers also ask whether a person is on a sex offender registry list.
In some industries, making global searches becomes imperative where the candidate has worked in a foreign country.
While performing these checks, many companies engage the services of professional service providers in this line of service. These experts know how and where to look for reliable information.
How Far Back Do Employers Look?0
It depends on the laws of the country where the business is located, as well as the organisation’s internal policy measures. In general, the majority of background checks include a seven-year search. However, some checks may be traced back to a previous year, particularly when it comes to other senior or sensitive positions.
However, what an employee needs to understand is that some states have certain rules which prohibit an employer from going back to a certain extent. Some of them give employers the freedom to view the full history as a result of the duties of a job.
What Information Do Employers See?
Criminal background checks usually reveal:
- Convictions for felonies and misdemeanours
- Pending criminal cases
- Court records, including arrests
- Warrants, in some cases
For instance, one may fail to come across minor offences or old arrests without conviction records. Furthermore, some charges can either be sealed or expunged depending on the laws that govern a given state or country.
Every organisation tends to hire competent staff to facilitate its business operations. Conducting criminal background checks is advantageous because they aid them in making informed decisions. Understanding what checks are typical would allow candidates to prepare for them and perform to the best of their abilities.
Background checks involve criminal background checks as well, but it does not have to be a horrifying experience. It is always beneficial to be as open and upfront as possible when speaking to potential employers.
