HOW TO CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK?by Joe Hoover |
 What is Included in a Complete Background Check
In the not-too-distant past, people were raised and spent their lives in small
towns or localized city neighborhoods, often living among the same neighbors for
all or most of their lives. Everyone knew his or her neighbors, and that
personal intimacy lasted a lifetime. Today's world however, is highly mobile.
Few people live in the same locale for very long, and so many of our
interpersonal relationships grow out of cyberspace where a person can become
anyone they wish to be. In such a transient society, trust is no longer a matter
of faith, but often must be verified, especially in matters of the workplace,
business relationships and property rental.
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Background investigations are performed for business or personal reasons,
and the depth and breadth of information available can often make the difference
between success and failure in a variety of relationships. The reality of 21st
century interpersonal relationships requires informed decisions to enable the
protection of companies, employees, families, property or investments.
Business background checks are most often performed when hiring employees,
managing rental property, conducting business with other companies, investing in
a business venture or attempting to collect on a business debt. Personal
background checks are essential when an individual is going to be given access
to one's home or property as a result of performing a service or being hired as
an employee.
The unprecedented access to technology enables people to either steal or
manufacture identities with great ease. Therefore it is essential to utilize
background checks, gleaning as much information as possible to confirm an
individual's identity before becoming involved with them. The old expression "it
is better to err on the side of caution" has more meaning today than ever in the
past.
The steps shown below provide the procedural basis for conducting background
checks, whether for business or personal use. However, keep in mind that when
conducting a business background check, most often there is a signed application
permission form that enables access to certain specific data that otherwise
cannot be accessed.
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immediately go to work for you, to quickly return, meaningful results.
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Background Checks
STEP 1 - GATHER INFORMATION - POSITIVE ID
The first goal of any background check is to obtain a positive
identification of the subject in question. The important preliminary information
needed includes full name, date of birth, social security number and a current
or past address.
Date of birth is a very important identifier and necessary to search
criminal history. Current and past addresses are also good identifiers, because
to conduct a thorough criminal records search, you must ascertain subject's
states of residence.
When dealing with female subjects, remember to learn if the individual is
married or single. Ask for all last names used, both past and present. This can
be an important factor when checking both general and criminal records.
Public records are most often indexed by name alone, or by name and date of
birth. Learn all about
public records - See all
states public
records.
Proprietary databases - not available to the public - are often indexed by
social security number.
Other useful information needed to begin an investigation include names of
relatives, driver's license number and phone numbers. A few pertinent
questions to be asked when initially interviewing the subject include, "Where
are you from?", "Where did you go to school?", and "When is your birthday?"
Ask for and make a copy of the subject's driver's license, which will
accompany the application.
In the interview, the technique called "the erroneous conclusion" might be
employed to elicit important information. You might say, "I'll bet you're
from California." Your subject might answer, "You're
right,"' or,
"No, I was born and raised in Utah . . ."
STEP 2- CONFIRM - ADDRESS HISTORY SEARCH
Once having gathered as much information as possible, confirm the
information. Confirmation is critical. A three credit bureau Address History
Search will reveal past addresses, plus others who are currently living
at, or who have lived at, the same address. This might also reveal aliases used,
plus "also known as" (aka) information - or variations of names used. If
none of the data returned matches the information provided by or about your
subject, this should raise the proverbial red flag.
Much information can be gleaned from simple data such as lists of relatives,
roommates and associates. Further red flags might be raised if the address
search reveals present or past residents of the same age but with different last
names - not including the subject's. Likewise, if the same last name
appears, but with different first names, further investigation is clearly
required.
Information possibly returned from an Address History Report includes:
- Address History w/Phone Numbers
- Age/Date of Birth
- Alias/Maiden Names
- Neighbors
- Relatives/Roommates living at same address
- Dates of Residence
Once you have determined that the subject is who they say they are, the
other
mandatory parts of a thorough background check are the General and the
Criminal Records Search.
STEP 3 - GENERAL RECORDS SEARCHES
Information providers offer a great variety of data; however, it is
important to ascertain the accuracy and timeliness of the data being searched.
Search Vital Records, include births, marriages, divorces and deaths - all
of which are public record. Vital statistics data are often available
online: however these records are often restricted by the state that supplies
them to the parties involved (ex-spouses, child, etc.)
Financial Searches often indicate financial standing and responsibility. A
Property Search will reveal real estate ownership and a Vehicles Search will
return automobiles owned by the subject.
Court documents contain data pertaining to Federal & Civil Judgments,
Federal & State Bankruptcies, Tax liens and Evictions can be examined at the
county or federal courthouse where the incident was adjudicated, or researched
and retrieved by an information provider. Locate
all courts.
The Secretary of State maintains corporate, partnership and professional
licensing information open for examination and usually available online.
A Driver History search is an important addition to a records search, as it
will reflect traffic citations and DUI's and DWI's, both of which can indicate
poor driving habits. These records are restricted by some states, requiring a
signed release and a permissible purpose for access.
STEP 4 -- CRIMINAL RECORDS SEARCHES
A thorough criminal background check includes searches of Local and County
Criminal Records, State Criminal Courts, National Department of Corrections and
Sex Offenders databases, and the OFAC Patriot Act Search. Records can be
obtained at the various courthouses or online by information providers. Read:
How To
Search Criminal Records or run a
National Criminal Records Search..
Local and County Checks - Results from local or county jurisdiction criminal
history searches will include only the crimes committed within those immediate
jurisdictions. If checking only the counties where the subject says he or
she lived over the past 3-5 years, the search is relying on the individual to be
truthful about their past residences. This search may miss offenses
committed in
other jurisdictions. Therefore, conduct a complete address history
(three credit bureau Address History Report) prior to conducting a
Criminal Records Search. More on
Local Information and
County Records.
Statewide Criminal Courts data are obtained through a state agency and
include only the crimes committed within that state. Search costs and
response times vary widely from state to state. Some state checks include
arrests, but in most instances only those arrests leading to convictions
are cited. Note: Database Background checks are generally name-based and often
only access convictions, but not arrests.
Data for Sale - Information providers and brokers buy their criminal data
from the states. Many states have strong privacy laws and some do not sell
any criminal data obtained for a personal or business background check.
Some states sell a portion of their data, but not the full conviction or arrest
files. The data is not uniform between states. You must know the level of
accuracy of the data being purchased by understanding what the state in question
has provided. More Info on
Databases.
AVAILABLE RECORDS
Municipal Criminal
County Criminal
Statewide Criminal Courts (MOST States))
Statewide Criminal Check for Felonies, Misdemeanors & Sex Offenses
State Department of Corrections (47 of 50 states)
National Arrest & Court Warrants
National Department of Corrections
OFAC Patriot Act Search
FBI Most Wanted
FBI Most Wanted Terrorists
Interpol Most Wanted
Sex Offender Records
INFORMATION PROVIDERS
When contracting an Information Provider, determine what data are being
accessed. Some background checks are national in scope while others are
actually "multi-state." The costs, response times and quality of these
checks vary widely from company to company.
Consider having a check done on yourself if you are concerned about
incorrect information, or what potential employers might find.
More Background Checks Articles
For more information regarding the various types of background checks available,
please read the in-depth articles from the following links:
Employee Background Checks,
Tenant Screening,
Business Background Checks,
Asset Searches and
Criminal History.
Article provided by: Investigative Professionals LLC, '2012 Information
Providers.
ORDER A BACKGROUND CHECK Our experienced database search specialists will
immediately go to work for you, to quickly return, meaningful results.
More Information on all background checks> |
See Sample Reports> | All
Background Checks
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Background investigations are performed for business or personal reasons. The
depth and breadth of information returned will often make the difference between
success and failure in a variety of relationships. Investigative
Professionals offers free consultation by phone and by email. All Reports
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