Criminal Checks

• What types of criminal record background checks are typically performed by potential employers?

  Several types of criminal background checks can be performed by potential employers, including a Department of Justice criminal background check, an FBI criminal background check and an instant crimin...

• Can I order a criminal record check on someone other than myself?

  Yes, you can. But, to get more thorough results with your criminal record check, you may need to have the person's Social Security number and date of birth. A number of companies provide criminal re...

• How long does a criminal check take?

  ...ng, make sure you know what you're receiving. There are different criminal checks available: County Criminal, Federal Criminal, Statewide Criminal, National Wants and Warrants, and Sex Offender Regist...

• What will a criminal record show?

  Criminal records, or criminal histories, show any felony arrests and gross misdemeanors. Every time you are arrested and your fingerprints are entered into a national database, this information go...

• What information will show up from my criminal record when someone conducts a background check?

  That depends upon the scope of the criminal background check but generally speaking, criminal records include arrests, incarcerations, convictions and sex offender records. What criminal information ...

• Can I access my own criminal and employment records that would show up on a background check?

  ... same information from a background check that an employer or anyone else would be able to obtain. Criminal records can be obtained through various governmental agencies as well as private sources, a...

• What are the most common jobs where background checks are required?

  Traditionally, the most common employments where background checks are required involve jobs where federal or state law mandates background checks. For example, most states now require a criminal back...

• Do non-citizens have U.S. criminal records I can view with a background check?

  ...of criminal records you may need to search in order to get a comprehensive background check report. Criminal records include: state and county, state and federal inmate databases, misdemeanor and felo...

• Can employers run a criminal records check?

  Yes, anyone can run a basic criminal records check, provided that they have information such as the birthdate, name, address, and Social Security number of the person they want to check out. Many emp...

• Why do employers perform background checks and what do they check for?

  Employers have various reasons for performing complete background checks, including complying with the law, ensuring the accuracy of a resume, assessing competence, preventing criminal activity in the...

• Why aren't all criminal records available in a nation-wide search?

  The reason why all criminal records are not available in a nationwide search is that not every court system submits their criminal records to the databases that accumulate these types of records and m...

• When employers conduct a background check does my criminal record contain all arrests or only convictions?

  Employers who hire background check services to conduct background checks are restricted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) on the information they are allowed to receive in consumer credit repor...

• Who conducts background checks when an employer or individual requests one?

  The person who conducts a background check depends on the employer or individual making the request, the type of background check requested, and the circumstances for requesting the background check. ...

• Are background checks always 100% accurate?

  No, background checks are not always 100% inaccurate. In many cases, they can be inaccurate. Background reports maintained by government agencies, such as driving records and criminal records, tend ...

• What if I know someone has a criminal record but their background check states "no records found"?

  There can be various reasons that a criminal history background check might return results that state “no records found.” One reason could be that the record has been expunged or sealed. I...

• What laws protect my privacy regarding background checks?

  Privacy laws regarding background checks vary from state to state. Federal law on background check privacy is outlined in The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which covers how a background check can ...

• Does a criminal record contain speeding tickets and accidents from a driving record?

  Criminal and Driving Records No, a criminal record does not generally contain speeding tickets and accidents from a driving record. However, a criminal record will contain any driving-related convi...

• What is the process employers undergo when conducting background checks?

  The process employers undergo when conducting background checks varies by employer. Generally speaking, employers must gather information about a prospective employee, obtain permission from the pros...

• Do criminal record reports tell you about someone’s driving record too?

  Two Different Records Criminal record reports contain driving-related criminal convictions that also appear on your driving record, but criminal records and driving records are two separate records m...

• What are the most common types of background checks?

  The type of background check often depends on the job you’re applying for, yet the most common types of background checks include criminal records, credit reports, and driving records. Most ...