What Is a Criminal Background Check?
A criminal background check is a popular term that refers to the process of investigating an individual's criminal history. Organizations, including employers, landlords, and government agencies, use this process to evaluate the suitability of an individual based on their criminal history. The process involves reviewing an individual's past records, including arrests, convictions, and other criminal activities, which they may have been involved in.
In today's society, criminal background checks have become a prevalent form of verification, and they are now standard practice in most industries. Organizations use these checks to ensure that the people they hire or deal with have clean records. A criminal background check helps companies and individuals identify individuals who pose a potential risk to their safety and wellbeing. For instance, a criminal background check helps organizations avoid hiring a sex offender or violent criminal to work in positions of trust or authority.
There are several types of criminal background checks available, including state and national criminal background checks, employment background checks, and basic criminal record checks. The type of background check conducted would depend on the specific needs of the requestor or organization. Below are some examples of the different types of criminal background checks.
State and National Criminal Background Checks
State criminal background checks involve searching the criminal records databases of a particular state. Each state has its own database, which records criminal activities that have occurred within a given state. National criminal background checks, on the other hand, involve searching the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) criminal records system, which records criminal activities that have occurred within the United States. National criminal background checks are often more comprehensive than state background checks since they provide information from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Employment Background Checks
Employment background checks are commonly used by employers during the hiring process to verify an applicant's criminal history, education, and employment history. Employment background checks help employers weed out job applicants with a history of drug abuse, theft, or other criminal activities that could pose a potential risk to the workplace.
Basic Criminal Record Checks
A basic criminal record check involves searching a person's criminal history in local court records. These checks usually reveal convictions, pending criminal charges, and arrests that have yet to result in a conviction. Basic criminal record checks are often used for volunteer positions, such as youth sports coaches and church volunteers.
Why Do People Need Criminal Background Checks?
People may need criminal background checks for different reasons, depending on the circumstances. Some common reasons why people need criminal background checks include:
Employment: Employers may require job applicants to undergo criminal background checks before hiring them. This helps employers ensure that they are not hiring someone with a criminal history that could pose a risk to their business.
Volunteer Positions: People may need criminal background checks before volunteering for certain positions. For example, organizations that work with children often require volunteers to undergo criminal background checks to ensure the safety of the children.
Adoption: People who want to adopt a child may need to undergo a criminal background check as part of the adoption process.
Housing: Landlords may require potential tenants to undergo criminal background checks as part of the application process.
Immigration: People seeking to immigrate to the United States may need to undergo criminal background checks to prove that they do not have a criminal history.
How Are Criminal Background Checks Conducted?
The process of conducting a criminal background check can vary depending on the type of check being conducted. However, most criminal background checks involve searching databases and records for criminal history information. The following are the steps involved in conducting a criminal background check:
1. Gathering Information
The first step in conducting a criminal background check involves gathering information about the person being investigated. This information includes the person's full name, date of birth, and social security number.
2. Identifying the Databases to Search
The next step involves identifying the databases to search. Depending on the type of background check being conducted, the databases could include state criminal records, federal criminal records, or county court records.
3. Accessing the Databases
After identifying the databases to search, the next step involves accessing them. The records could be accessed through online databases or by contacting the relevant authorities. Some authorities may require a signed request or application form to access the records.
4. Analyzing the Results
The final step involves analyzing the results. The results of a criminal background check can reveal information about the person's criminal history, including arrests, convictions, and pending charges. After analyzing the results, organizations can use the information to make informed decisions regarding the person's suitability for employment, housing, or other purposes.
Conclusion
A criminal background check is a process of investigating an individual's criminal history to determine their suitability for a position, housing, or other purposes. Organizations, employers, and government agencies use criminal background checks to ensure the safety and security of their businesses and communities. Conducting a criminal background check involves gathering information, identifying databases to search, accessing the databases, and analyzing the results. With the increase in online databases, conducting a criminal background check has become an increasingly accessible process to obtain necessary information to make informed decisions.
