No Background Check

03/06/07

“There is no such thing as a reliable, nationwide criminal background check using data from one computerized, central source,” says Mike Coffey of Coffey Consulting in Fort Worth, Texas. “Anyone who suggests that he can provide such a report is a conartist.”

According to Coffey, at least 95 percent of criminal convictions are at the county leveland many counties don’t even have computerized records. In addition, very few actually resell the data in bulk. “Criminal history repositories in most states are notoriously incomplete,” says Coffey. “Even the FBI’s National Crime Information Center is of relatively poor quality.”

That’s why you should beware of any company marketing a “nationwide federal background check.” Those that do often check just federal court databases of criminal convictions. But federal convictions make up less than 5 percent of total criminal convictions.

Check Their Home Towns
Coffey suggests employers who want to run a background check on an employee or potential employee should identify as many places that the individual has lived, worked, attended school, and so forth, that they can. Then check each of those jurisdictions’ county, state (where available), and federal criminal records. “This is as thorough a check,” he says, “as you can reasonably expect to do.”

The cost of such a check can run from $50 to $200, depending on how many places the individual has lived and worked.

Get Permission First
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) applies to any background check conducted by a third party, even when no credit report is ordered. It requires you to get permission from the applicant before you do the check, and you must share the report with the person if you decide not to hire based on the information in it.

Note: A few companies have the ability to do nationwide checks with results delivered right to your computer but investigators still research county level records in person, as Coffey suggests.