Criminal background checks are an important part of any business when looking to hire new employees. Not only do you need to know if a potential hire is trustworthy, but you also need to make sure the person you’re hiring is going to be a safe person around your staff. Running a criminal background check is important. In this article we’ll cover the types of criminal background checks which are used in the world, and why someone may use them.
County Criminal Record Checks
These background checks are the most basic type of criminal check you can do on someone who is looking to apply to your job opportunity. This background check allows you to see the history of a person within a specific county. Some information about this criminal check includes:
- It checks for infractions, misdemeanors and felonies.
- It’s generally used in housing applications, volunteer organizations and employment screening.
- It can check different counties where a person resides so you can get a bigger picture.
State Criminal Record Checks
State criminal record checks are designed to pull information from a centralized state database. This check can pull criminal cases from all the different counties within a state. This provides a more comprehensive look into a person’s criminal history. Some information about this check includes:
- Checking for felonies and misdemeanor convictions, pending charges, and sometimes arrests that didn’t lead to convictions.
- Mostly used for employment, professional licensing, and law enforcement purposes.
- You can use this type of check if the individual has moved around frequently within the same state.
If you’re looking to run criminal background checks on potential new employees, remember to use a professional service like Triton Canada to gain accurate results.
National Criminal Record Checks
These criminal checks are based on a national level and rely on local agencies to submit the criminal offenses. Because of this the records may not be completely up to date. Some information about national criminal record checks include:
- They check for felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions from multiple states.
- They’re commonly used for comprehensive employment screening, especially for larger companies that hire across states.
- You can supplement a national check with more localized checks for accuracy and thoroughness.
Federal Criminal Record Checks
These background checks focus on breaches which violate federal laws and are used to support those entering high level employment jobs. More information includes:
- It checks for criminal cases tried in federal courts, including white-collar crimes, drug offenses, and human trafficking.
- Its common uses are for high-level employment positions, especially in industries like finance, government, and healthcare.
- It’s important to note Federal crimes won’t show up on a state or county check, so use this for positions requiring a high degree of trust or responsibility.
International Criminal Record Checks
This background check is for those who work or live outside of the USA or other countries. Because of their complexity they need foreign agencies and government cooperation to complete. Information about this check includes:
- It checks for criminal history from countries outside the U.S.
- It’s generally used for employment for global companies, especially in sensitive industries like finance or defense.
- It’s important to allow extra time for these checks, as international cooperation can slow down the process.
Endnote
Criminal background checks can be done on potential employees at different levels. The one you choose will be determined by the job they’ve applied for, where the position is located, and what they will be doing. If you need to gain a background check on someone, always use a professional service.
