In today's society, one can never be too sure about the people they interact with. From employees to potential business partners, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the backgrounds of the individuals in question. Background checks are an excellent tool that helps unravel an individual's history, providing insight into their past conduct, criminal activities, and other relevant data that could impact the safety of others.
Background checks have become more popular in recent years due to the increasing rate of fraud and other criminal activities. In this article, we will examine the importance of background checks in today's society, how they can help prevent fraud, and the role they play in protecting public safety.
Background Checks and Their Importance
As mentioned earlier, background checks are designed to unravel an individual's background information. It helps to establish a potential employee's history, providing insight into their past work experiences, education and professional recommendations. These background checks have long become a standard procedure for most organizations, and many companies will not hire individuals unless they undergo such checks.
Additionally, a background check can help identify those with criminal records, including those with a history of violent crimes, drug abuse, or financial crimes. While not everyone with a criminal history is a risk to society, organizations and individuals must have the information necessary to make informed decisions. As a result, background checks become crucial in identifying those with potential dangerous qualities and screening them out.
Background Checks and Fraud Prevention
Another reason why background checks are vital in today's society is to prevent fraud. People often find themselves in situations where they need to trust others, whether in day-to-day life or in business dealings. However, fraudulent activities can damage one's reputation, cause substantial financial loss, or lead to legal difficulties.
In today's digital age, it is possible to create fake identities that can obscure an individual's actual identity. As a result, ensuring that potential business partners, vendors, and employees are who they claim is increasingly critical. Background checks can uncover such fraudulent activities and provide an extra layer of security in today's business environment.
Public Safety and Background Checks
Lastly, background checks play a crucial role in protecting public safety. As previously stated, background checks can help identify those with criminal records, outstanding warrants and other potential threats to the safety of others. Identifying these individuals before they could commit crimes and harm others could potentially save lives and prevent major criminal activities.
There are examples of situations where background checks have played critical roles in averting potential threats to public safety. One of them was in 2018 when Nikolas Cruz, a former student of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, open-fired at students and teachers, killing 17 and injuring several others. Following the incident, revelations were made about his troubled past.
Despite Cruz's past behaviour, he was still able to purchase the firearm which he later used to commit the atrocity. This event shed light on the importance of comprehensive background checks when it comes to purchasing firearms.
Another example is from the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA does background checks on all potential candidates for airport service positions. This includes baggage handlers, ground staff, pilots, and air traffic controllers, among others. By doing so, the TSA is ensuring that the individuals entrusted with the safety of passengers and cargo do not have criminal backgrounds or have any history of violent behaviour.
Conclusion
In conclusion, background checks have become a standard practice for many organizations in today's society due to their importance in identifying potential risks, preventing fraud, and protecting public safety. While background checks may not be foolproof, they can provide a valuable insight into an individual's history, making it an essential part of the recruitment and hiring process.
Heightened awareness of public safety and security concerns also means more deliberate and considered measures are required in today's world. Background checks, therefore, remain a vital part of preventing breach of law, ensuring transparency, and reducing fraud and deception in day-to-day affairs. The importance of being vigilant, aware, and adopting background checks in every facet of our dealings should not be understated.
