County Criminal Searches. How They Are Conducted And What Information is Provided?

With thousands of counties across the country and no standardized online reporting system of criminal records that unites them how are county criminal background checks conducted efficiently and accurately? How will you learn about a candidate’s potential criminal background when no online information is available?

This article will provide information on how county criminal searches are conducted – online and in person – and the best way to obtain accurate information about potential job candidates while saving you time and money in the process.

There are over 3,100 counties within the United States.  Procuring county court information for a background check can be a time consuming hassle since access to information varies from county to county.  In addition, some databases are searchable online, while others require hands on searching at the courthouse.

Our trained professionals conduct efficient and comprehensive county criminal searches on your behalf both online and, when necessary, in person through a network of over 1,000 individuals who will visit county court record facilities and manually search records and report their findings.  We ensure candidate match accuracy by using identifying data such as the name, date of birth, and social security number of the applicant.

Next, we look through the records to find any felonies, misdemeanors, or infractions. If no records are discovered, we provide a report that indicates no records match in the county searched.

In the event records are located, the next step is to determine if they are reportable under FCRA, federal, and state regulations.  Determining whether a record is reportable requires an analysis of the level of offense, disposition, and time frame between the offense and the search.   Reportable records are provided in a comprehensive report that includes: the charge, date of offense, conviction date, disposition and sentence.  Our search, retrieval, and analysis method is considered to be the “Best Practices” approach to a county criminal background check.

Hiring Practices Compliance

Timely, accurate job applicant background checks are critical to the well-being of your business.   Yet, there are other hiring practices that are also a top priority for employers seeking to avoid costly litigation and potentially millions of dollars in statutory penalties. Take a step to protect your future – check out our free guide: 5 Tips for Safe Hiring Practices for up-to-date advice and information on how to keep your hiring practices in compliance with current employment law.

If you have any concerns or questions about your hiring practices being in compliance let us perform a free analysis of your hiring practices. Our professionals will provide you with crucial, free review of your job applications, credit screening, I-9 compliance and more.  Use this valuable information to correct deficiencies and keep your business safe from litigation and hefty fines.