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      Get Started
      Illustration showing a criminal background check

      Criminal Background Check

      Criminal Background Check For Employment

      Criminal background checks help you make informed decisions and build a trustworthy team.

      Get Started
      Get A Quote

      Trust & Safety

      Why National Criminal Background Checks Are Important

      A comprehensive criminal background check helps you build a team you can trust, while also mitigating risk and protecting your company’s reputation. Using criminal record background checks during your hiring process helps you:

      • Minimize risk and create a safe, secure workplace
      • Safeguard assets, employees, and customers
      • Protect your organization against liability claims
      • Maintain your organization’s reputation and trust within the community
      • Make fair decisions for fair chance hiring
      • Comply with federal, state, local, and industry regulations
      • Develop public safety and security
      Get Started

      7 YEARS

      is the standard scope, but older records are reported if they are readily accessible and legally reportable.

      Results

      What You’ll Learn From Criminal
      Background Checks

      A criminal history record helps you make an informed decision about your candidate and assess any risks associated with bringing someone with a criminal record onboard. Searching national, federal, state, and county databases in the United States can reveal a candidate’s criminal history information, including any:

      • Felony criminal convictions, including murder, rape, kidnapping, arson, theft (values larger than $500), and aggravated assault
      • Misdemeanor criminal convictions, such as vandalism, trespassing, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, prostitution, and theft (values less than $500)
      • Pending criminal cases

      A criminal record check may also report history of incarceration as an adult, arrests pending prosecution, active warrants, and infractions.

      Illustration of a candidates criminal record check

      Search Options

      GoodHire’s Suite of Criminal Background Checks

      GoodHire offers several types of national criminal background checks. Our intelligent technology platform links candidate records using aliases, Department of Corrections records, dates of birth, and other identifiers to create more complete profiles. This approach enables us to deliver more accurate and comprehensive candidate results. The following table shows the criminal records searches we offer, what they’re best used for, and different search options.


      Nationwide Criminal Databases Records Search*

      SEARCHES

      Thousands of jurisdictions for state and local crimes.

      BEST USED

      Identify criminal jurisdictions. Good first step.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      Add aliases used.
      Monthly Ongoing Alerts.*

      * Ongoing Alerts: For extra reassurance, GoodHire offers monthly continuous monitoring through the Nationwide Criminal Databases Search so you can be alerted to relevant changes in your employees’ records and stay informed.


      Federal Criminal Court Records Search

      SEARCHES

      U.S. district and appellate courts for federal crimes.

      BEST USED

      Financial or sensitive information handling jobs.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      Add aliases used.


      County Criminal Court Records Search

      SEARCHES

      County courts for cases with their charge, disposition and sentence.

      BEST USED

      Most comprehensive, accurate check.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      7 or 10 year history.
      Select which counties to search. Add aliases used.


      Statewide Criminal Records Search

      SEARCHES

      State courts, police & law enforcement records.

      BEST USED

      Complements county searches. Required by some industries.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      Add aliases used.
      Select which states to search.


      Sex Offender Registry Searches

      SEARCHES

      Multi-state registry.

      BEST USED

      Especially when working with vulnerable populations.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      Add aliases used.


      Watch List Search

      SEARCHES

      Domestic (and international) government sanctions and watch lists.

      BEST USED

      Public sector, security, sensitive information positions.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      Domestic or Global.


      International Criminal Records Search

      SEARCHES

      Records in any of 223 countries.

      BEST USED

      US workers with foreign backgrounds.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      Country lived or worked.


      RCMP Criminal Records Check
      (Contact Sales)

      SEARCHES

      RCMP’s Canadian Police Information Centre

      BEST USED

      Canadian residents.

      SEARCH OPTIONS

      Verifies accuracy of disclosed convictions.


      Resources

      More Information About Criminal Background Checks

      A guide to federal background checks

      Federal Background Checks: A Complete Guide

      Before bringing aboard a new employee, particularly someone in a position where they’re handling finances, you may want to conduct a federal criminal background check.
      Read Now

      What Shows Up On A Sex Offender Background Check

      Using information to make hiring decisions based on information from sex offender registries can be complicated. Find out how to make informed, compliant decisions.
      Read Now
      Illustration of scales of justice weighing Felony and Misdemeanors

      Felonies vs. Misdemeanors vs. Infractions On A Criminal Background Check

      When reviewing a criminal background check, it’s important to understand how offenses are categorized by relative severity, class or level.
      Read Now
      A woman sitting at her desk thinking about how to read a background check

      How To Read A Background Check: A Guide For Employers

      What terms appear on a criminal background check, and how should employers read them? Learn how to read and understand them in a few simple steps.
      Read Now
      A judge gavel and person writing a disposition vs sentencing

      Disposition vs. Sentencing: What Is The Difference?

      Disposition and sentencing relate to the outcome of a legal case, but each term refers to a different aspect of the process. Find out what these terms mean on a background check.
      Read Now
      A guide to state background checks

      State Background Checks: A Complete Guide

      A state criminal background check provides valuable insight into a candidate’s criminal history to enable employers to make better hiring decisions.
      Read Now

      Compliance

      What You Need To Know When
      Reviewing Criminal Search Results

      Employers using a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), like GoodHire, to run a criminal history record check to assess candidates during the hiring process have important responsibilities to ensure a fair and respectful process for the candidate, and to comply with various laws and regulations that govern employment screening. Find out how GoodHire’s built-in tools and workflows help you stay compliant.

      Federal Fair Credit
      Reporting Act (FCRA)

      When the results of a criminal records search prompts a decision to deny employment, the FCRA requires employers to follow specific adverse action steps.

      Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) & Title VII

      The EEOC offers recommended guidelines to conduct individualized assessments so employers can make fair, informed decisions.

      Ban The Box & Fair Hiring Laws

      A patchwork of state, county, and city laws move the criminal history inquiry until later in the hiring process. These laws may apply based on both the employers’ and candidates’ locations. Further, some local laws may also have specific requirements for the adverse action process.

      Your Organization’s Hiring Policy

      If your business is conducting background checks, your hiring and screening policies should be consistent and compliant to prevent discrimination and avoid litigation and enforcement from federal agencies.

      Interested in learning more about criminal records checks? Download “All About Criminal Records” and dig into the details.
      Learn everything you need to know about the FCRA, EEOC, and ban-the-box in our compliance guide.

      Types of Searches

      Common Types Of Criminal Record Searches

      Nationwide Criminal
      Databases Search

      Searches 850 million records from thousands of jurisdictions in the United States to report crimes prosecuted in state and local courts, including Department of Corrections, Administrative Office of Courts and state, county and township courts.

      Federal Criminal Court Search

      Searches the U.S. Federal Government’s PACER criminal record system, a national index for U.S. district, and appellate courts, to report crimes that are prosecuted under federal criminal law in federal courts such as tax evasion, fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, interstate trafficking, and kidnapping.

      County Criminal Court Search

      Searches county courthouses to find any convictions and pending cases including DUI, DWI, assault, theft and burglary. Searches are available for all 3,200 county courthouses in all 50 states. Since many counties have not digitized their court records, professional court runners search these county court records.

      Statewide Criminal Records Search

      Searches state level criminal records from sources including State Judicial Court System, State Police, State Department of Law Enforcement, Administrative Office of the Courts for infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Since some states don’t include complete county history, county-specific searches are recommended to ensure thorough results.

      Sex Offender Registry Search

      Searches registries across all states to uncover where a candidate may be currently registered as a sex offender.

      Domestic Watch List Search

      Searches U.S. government sanction and watch lists, including the FBI’s Most Wanted and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Learn about our sources.

      Global Watch List Search

      Searches international sanction and watch lists, including INTERPOL Most Wanted list and the European Union terrorism list. Learn about our sources.

      International Criminal Records Search

      Searches a foreign country’s criminal records for candidates with international backgrounds who are working in the U.S. Each of 223 countries has its own application checklist detailing required information, forms and turnaround times.

      Using criminal background checks
      during your hiring process is
      a smart move.

      Get Started

      Criminal Background Checks: What You Need To Know

      Employers and volunteer organizations may use a criminal background check service to assess whether a candidate is honest, trustworthy, or may potentially pose a threat to others. Screening may also help protect company assets, mitigate risk, and avoid potential negligent hiring lawsuits.

      Introduction

      A criminal history check is generally included in a pre-employment or employment background check—a legal investigation into a person’s past that helps inform decisions about whether to hire, promote, contract with, or use a person’s services. Depending on the type of criminal background check selected, a criminal record check may search national, federal, state, and county databases to provide information about a candidate’s criminal history.

      In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what you need to know about criminal history check information.

      What Is A Criminal Background Check?

      A criminal background check may search national, federal, state, and/or county criminal court databases to report information about a candidate’s criminal history, such as felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions, and any pending criminal cases.

      Different types of criminal record checks may reveal different offenses, depending on the court record that is searched. For example, a search of one state’s criminal records database will only report criminal activity in that selected state’s criminal court system. However, employers may choose to search multiple states and counties based on where the candidate has lived, or if a nationwide search reveals criminal activity in more than one state.

      What Criminal Record Information Will Employers Check?

      Employers have different screening goals depending on the nature of the work and positions they’re filling. Many organizations check criminal records to learn about any misdemeanors or felonies in a candidate’s background, such as assault, theft, burglary, or DUIs.

      Following are different types of criminal record checks that may be included in a pre-employment background check, and what jurisdictions are checked:

      Type of Criminal Record SearchWhat It Checks
      National Criminal DatabaseSearches thousands of jurisdictions for state and local crimes
      Federal Criminal CourtSearches U.S. district and appellate courts for federal crimes
      County Criminal CourtSearches county courts for cases; includes the charge and disposition
      Statewide Criminal RecordsSearches state courts, police and/or law enforcement records

      What Shows Up On A Criminal Background Check?

      The information that shows up on a criminal background check can include felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions, and any pending criminal cases. Criminal background checks may also report history of incarceration as an adult, active warrants, and infractions. Infractions may only be reported if they are within the last seven years.

      An arrest that did not lead to convictions may appear in some background checks as long as they are within the last seven years; GoodHire excludes them in its screenings to conform to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines.

      Criminal background checks may also include a Sex Offender Registry check, which searches registries across all states to report where a candidate may be currently registered as a sex offender.

      Some time limitations, based on state and federal laws, determine what can be reported legally on an employment background check. Learn more about how far back background checks go.

      It’s important to understand how to read a background check, and what the different terms and abbreviations mean. A criminal history report includes the name of the crime, disposition (conviction, non-conviction, or pending), and disposition date. GoodHire does not report non-convictions.

      Following are examples of the types of records that may show up on a criminal history check:

      Type of RecordExamples
      Felony Criminal ConvictionsMurder, manslaughter, rape, kidnapping, arson, theft (values larger than $500), and aggravated assault
      Misdemeanor Criminal ConvictionsVandalism, trespassing, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, prostitution, and theft (values less than $500)
      Infractions or Violations* Jaywalking, littering, drinking in public, disturbing the peace, boating violations, building permit violations

      Petty offenses that are typically punishable by fines but not jail time, and are not considered criminal offenses. Depending on the jurisdiction, infractions may or may not show up on a criminal history record, but under federal law they may only be reported if they are within the last seven years.

      There are many different types of background checks, each of which uncovers somewhat different personal background information. It’s important for both employers and job candidates to understand what kind of information is included in each type of background check, and how that information can be used.

      How Long Does A Criminal Background Check Take?

      Some criminal history record results may be returned within a few hours, such as a national criminal database search, while other types of screenings may take between 1 to 3 days or longer.

      Criminal background checks that look for a criminal history record at the county level may take several days—especially in counties where the records aren’t digitized or that require the assistance of a court employee.

      How Do Criminal Record Checks Work?

      If the employer is using a CRA, the applicant will be asked to provide their name, date of birth, and Social Security number, as well as give consent, as required by the FCRA. The CRA uses an individual’s personal identifying information to search public record criminal databases at the county, state, national or federal level to find any criminal records associated with the individual in the criminal justice system. If a match is found, the CRA takes additional steps to ensure maximum possible accuracy before the candidate’s report is delivered to the employer who ordered it. 

      Typically, after a conditional offer is extended to a job candidate, it is the hiring manager’s responsibility to order a criminal record check as part of a comprehensive pre-employment check. The hiring company’s human resources department will outline in a company background check policy which searches are required for each position type, which may vary depending on the industry they’re in. 

      A fingerprint background check, or Identity History Summary, is often used as part of the pre-employment screening process and is mandatory for government-run institutions such as public schools, airports, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and fire departments. 

      An employer can run a candidate’s fingerprint against the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to get an accurate read of a person’s criminal history from authorized criminal justice agencies, including arrests and disposition reports. If a fingerprint background check is required, applicants will visit an authorized local fingerprint business or government organization to have their fingerprints scanned (or inked) and submitted.

      For an $18 fee and a fingerprint card, the FBI can provide a person with a copy of their own Identity History Summary check. This summary can include information related to a person’s:

      • Criminal history
      • Federal employment
      • Naturalization
      • Military service

      How Do I Get Started With Criminal Background Checks?

      If you’re ready to conduct a background check on one or more employees, you’re in good company—95% of employers use employment background screening as part of their hiring process.

      GoodHire makes employment screening easy. Our user-friendly dashboard, intuitive workflows, and built-in compliance tools help simplify the background screening process. Let us know how many checks you need, provide some information about your company, then select the pre-bundled package that fits for your needs. 

      All of our pre-bundled packages include a Nationwide Criminal Databases search and Sex Offender Registry search. We also offer options to customize your background checks with add-on searches, such as Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) checks, Education Verification, and Employment Verification, for a more complete background check.

      Employers that use a background check company, such as GoodHire, to run a pre-employment background check must follow federal, state, and even local laws that regulate employment screening. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets out requirements for consumer reporting agencies (employment screeners like GoodHire), as well as rules that the employers who use the reports must follow.

      GoodHire’s background check platform is flexible and easy to use. We offer criminal background checks, driving record checks, employment verifications, and much more.
      Get Started
      Disclaimer

      The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We advise you to consult your own counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.

      GoodHire provides simply better employment screening for you and your candidates.


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