What do they look for in a background check?

With the legalization of marijuana across many states, cities such as San Francisco have implemented conviction expunging policies (Proposition 64) which remove misdemeanors and non-violent charges related to marijuana. Policies like these aim to get previous convictions reduced or reclassified to lesser offenses, with some convictions being dismissed altogether. This means that charges that are expunged will not appear on background checks. Employers need to implement a comprehensive background check process that will navigate individual state and city regulations. When employers use cheaper instant background checks, information can be incorrect or outdated, which could lead to potential lawsuits or liability in the workplace.

In addition, employers should consider services, such as social security number validity, criminal history for federal, county, and state, employment verification, etc., to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information.

A criminal history check reveals detailed information regarding an individual’s county, state, and federal criminal history. Each record varies by the type of information it searches for and the results that are returned.

1) County background checks, or county criminal history search results, include information about criminal cases filed only in the county ordered.

2) State background checks, or statewide criminal history search results, include information as reported to a state by counties within the state. Results may include case number, offense type, date of offense, disposition date/specifics, and confirmation of the current disposition.

3) Federal background checks, or federal criminal history search results, include criminal court record information that can be accessed via one or more of the 94 U.S. Federal District courts across the United States.

Background screenings can vary depending on certain positions, industry standards, and state laws. Background products can include,

•    Criminal History Checks (Federal, State, and County)

•    Civil Searches (Federal and County)

•    SSN Validity Checks

•    Employment Verifications

•    Education Verifications

•    I-9 and E-Verify

•    State Driving Records

•    Professional Licenses and Credentials

•    Credit Reports

•    Adverse Action Notices

•    Personal Reference Verifications

•    Government Sanctions Lists

•    Sex Offender Searches

•    DOT Testing History

•    Criminal Investigative Services