There’s that feeling, that little lingering doubt in the back of your mind. Maybe it comes from a daughter’s somewhat creepy new boyfriend or the contractor who stars too long. On the other hand, there may not be any bad feelings, but that is not an indication of safety. Whether out of that lingering suspicion or simply as a precaution, the solution is a criminal background check.
It is not unreasonable to acknowledge that at least a few people have a criminal record. Almost 10% of men and 2% of women have served time in prison; many more have spent time in jail, probation, or community service. Most of the time, a person’s story is their own, but there are situations where there has to be more certainty and protection than a “second chance.” Knowledge gives more protection when someone is going to be in a position of trust, and there are several common times when getting that knowledge is responsible and decent:
o A new business partner who shares thousands of dollars and much of your future dreams
o A contractor or worker who spends weeks in your home
o A volunteer for a charitable or civic group that works with children, money or property
There is a perception that criminal background checks have to be very expensive or go through official government channels, such as fingerprinting or checking with the FBI. That is not really the case. Now, running a criminal background check is as simple as filling out a form on a website.
Professional public records search companies provide these criminal background checks based on state and national public databases. The starting point is very simple, requiring only general information (full name, city of residence, approximate age). Criminal background checks are also inexpensive and quick to do (from snapshots to 24-hour results), making them an easy answer for many situations.
A general criminal background check search looks for felonies, state-recognized misdemeanors, and any federal crimes, up to seven years in the past. The criminal history search report generally includes:
o Case numbers and charges for each conviction
o The crime and arrest file, to know all the details of the incident.
o The disposition and sentence of the case
o Dates of arrest, disposition and release
The criminal history report often contains other useful information about the person’s history:
o The person’s current address and full address history (going back as far as there are records)
o Known aliases or alternate names, such as maiden names or nicknames
o Known relatives, neighbors, and friends or roommates.
A basic criminal history search is the least expensive (about $25) and fastest (within a few seconds typically, no more than 24 hours), but that’s not the only criminal history option. The length of the search report depends on why the search is necessary. Professional search firms offer many different reporting options, which can be tailored to the specific type and closeness of the relationship being established:
o If more details are required, some search companies may conduct in-person county criminal history surveys for the last counties where the person lived.
o Another alternative is a sex offender search targeted at that specific individual, which returns known aliases, addresses, charges and convictions, and sentences, going back more than seven years for a typical criminal history search.
o Contractor assessments, which are regulated by the FCRA, provide a little more information relevant to workers, including verification of professional licenses and disclosure of civil cases, such as bankruptcies, liens, or judgments.
o For business partners, investors, or investment prospects, the search should be broader than just criminal records. Comprehensive background reports include criminal history information, civil judgments, and address history, plus marriage, divorce, and birth records, comprehensive asset and property reports, home and property values, and criminal and civil record searches in the place.
It is a great world that unites us more. With so much mobility, it’s hard to develop a reliable long-term familiarity before starting a business, let alone finding a volunteer for a youth soccer team. Criminal background checks or more extensive searches establish social and personal knowledge in the same way that neighbors and community rumors once did. Armed with that knowledge, you can make better decisions and hopefully trust the right people.
