Certified Background Check Process Explained in Detail

A certified background check is a thorough investigation into an individual's past, typically conducted by a third-party agency. This process is designed to verify the accuracy of information provided by the individual.

The first step in a certified background check is to gather information from various sources, including public records and databases. This can include court records, arrest records, and employment history.

A certified background check can take anywhere from a few hours to several days to complete, depending on the complexity of the case. In some cases, it may take longer if additional information is required.

To ensure the accuracy of the results, a certified background check involves multiple levels of verification, including manual review and automated checks. This ensures that any discrepancies are caught and addressed.

A background check is a comprehensive screening process that goes beyond a simple criminal background check. It may include multiple screenings such as driving record checks, employment verification, and credit history.

Employers may choose to include various screenings depending on their organization's background check policy and the relevancy to the positions they're hiring for. A background check can be tailored to meet specific needs.

A comprehensive background check is often part of a pre-employment screening process. It's not just about looking for red flags, but also about verifying a candidate's qualifications and work history.

Employers may select which screenings to include based on laws and regulations, their organization's policy, and the job requirements. This ensures a fair and thorough assessment of a candidate's background.

A background check only shows information about a candidate's past, it doesn't predict their future behavior. It's a tool to help employers make informed hiring decisions, not a guarantee of a candidate's character.

A certified background check can include a primary search that queries over 900 million public records to identify reportable county records.

This search option provides fast and accurate results, helping you hire with confidence.

State criminal record databases can be searched in tandem with county records to ensure full coverage and case information.

County records from any state can be searched for the most comprehensive criminal history, which is often where most criminal prosecutions happen.

PACER searches can be conducted to access federal convictions at the district level in federal courts.

Ongoing criminal searches can be run in real-time to get notified of reportable changes within your active workforce, reducing risk.

Domestic and international government watchlists can be searched for regulatory and industry bans, such as healthcare and finance, and "most wanted" criminal lists.

All public registries nationwide, from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and tribal territories, can be searched.

The Fraud Abuse Control Information System (FACIS) can be searched for exclusions, debarments, sanctions, and disciplinary actions against workers and entities in the healthcare field.

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You can get a criminal background check through two main methods: searching records on your own or partnering with a reputable background check company.

Partnering with a company like GoodHire can save you time and streamline the process, offering pre-bundled packages that can be customized to fit your needs.

GoodHire offers criminal background checks for both employers and individuals, providing comprehensive coverage that includes SSN Traces, sex offender registry checks, global watchlist searches, and national criminal records searches.

As an employer, you can customize their pre-bundled packages with add-ons for more extensive screenings, such as driving records or drug testing.

Individuals can also run a background check on themselves, which includes an SSN Trace, sex offender registry, global watchlist, and national criminal records searches.

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Dynamic workflows help enable compliance wherever you hire, so you can align with federal, state, and local regulations and adverse action requirements.

This means you can trust that your certified background check processes are in line with the law, giving you peace of mind.

You can align with federal, state, and local regulations and adverse action requirements, which helps you avoid costly fines and reputational damage.

This is especially important if you're hiring in multiple locations, as regulations can vary greatly from one area to another.

By using dynamic workflows, you can automate many compliance tasks, freeing up your time to focus on more important things.

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Background check results can be complex, but understanding what they show can help you make informed decisions. A criminal record will typically show information including felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions, pending criminal cases, and federal criminal records.

The record may also reveal the disposition of the case, which can include conviction, acquittal, case dismissal, or case diversion. You can expect to see past incarceration, active warrants, and infractions or violations reported in a criminal record check.

Here's a breakdown of what you might see in a criminal record check:

Keep in mind that juvenile offenses are usually not reported in a criminal record check, and in some jurisdictions, juvenile records can be sealed or expunged when the individual turns 18.

A criminal background check can reveal a lot of information about a person's past. A felony criminal conviction can show up, including serious crimes like murder, manslaughter, rape, and kidnapping.

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Employers may also see misdemeanor convictions, such as vandalism, trespassing, and public intoxication. Infractions or violations, like jaywalking or littering, can also be reported.

Some background checks may include a history of incarceration as an adult, pending criminal cases, and active warrants. Depending on the scope of the search, domestic and global watchlists may be included, which show industry bans and healthcare sanctions.

Here are some examples of records that may appear on a background check:

Arrests that didn't lead to a conviction within the last seven years may appear in some background checks. Petty offenses, punishable by fines but not jail time, may not be considered criminal offenses in all jurisdictions.

Employers using a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) to run a criminal history record check have important responsibilities to ensure a fair and respectful process for the candidate.

The results of a criminal records search must be reviewed carefully to make informed decisions.

Federal law requires employers to follow specific adverse action steps if the results prompt a decision to deny employment.

Employers should conduct individualized assessments to make fair decisions, following the EEOC's recommended guidelines.

State, county, and city laws may require employers to move the criminal history inquiry until later in the hiring process, depending on the employer's and candidate's locations.

A criminal background check can reveal a wide range of information about a person's history.

Felony and misdemeanor convictions, as well as pending criminal cases, may show up on a criminal background check. Infractions or violations, such as jaywalking or littering, may also be reported.

Depending on the scope of the search, a background check may include domestic and global watchlists, which show industry bans, such as healthcare sanctions. Sex offender registry checks may also be included, which show the offender's date of registration and current status.

Some offenses that may show up on a criminal record check include felony criminal convictions, such as murder, manslaughter, rape, kidnapping, arson, and theft (values larger than $500). Misdemeanor criminal convictions may include vandalism, trespassing, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, prostitution, and theft (values less than $500).

Here are some examples of what may show up on a criminal record check:

Past incarceration, active warrants, and juvenile offenses are generally not reported on a criminal background check. However, some states may allow the reporting of non-convictions, such as arrests that didn't lead to a conviction within the last seven years.

You can get a criminal background check through a background check company like GoodHire, which can save you time and streamline the process.

GoodHire offers pre-bundled criminal background check packages for employers that can be customized with add-ons for more comprehensive coverage.

There are two main options for getting a background check: searching records on your own or partnering with a company like GoodHire.

Individuals can also run a background check on themselves, which includes an SSN Trace and national criminal records searches.

GoodHire's packages can be customized with add-ons for driving records or drug testing, in addition to criminal history coverage.

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A criminal record is a record of contact an individual has had with the criminal justice system, and it's generally public record.

This means that anyone can search for your criminal history in federal, state, and county courts or law enforcement agencies.

A criminal record can include arrests that didn't lead to prosecution, charges of which you were acquitted, and charges that were dismissed.

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Court records are open to the public, so employers can search them themselves, but it's a time-consuming process that can be especially complex when hiring large groups of employees from different locations.

Different states and local jurisdictions have varying laws governing the use of criminal records, making it essential to follow federal and local reporting laws to ensure compliance.

Employers can use a FCRA-compliant CRA to conduct criminal background screenings, which can help gather accurate information and save time.

Experienced CRAs, like Checkr, have professional relationships with courts that can speed up even non-digitized court records.

A record is simply a collection of information about a person's interactions with the criminal justice system, and it's generally public record.

Having a record doesn't necessarily mean a person was convicted of a crime, as it can also include arrests that didn't lead to prosecution.

A record can be found by searching the records of federal, state, and county courts or law enforcement agencies.

Arrests, charges that were dismissed, and charges of which an individual was acquitted (found innocent) may all appear on a record.

In Virginia, you can obtain a criminal record check through the Virginia Department of State Police.

The Virginia Department of State Police requires a notarized form, SP-167, which must be signed and notarized in Section 1 for yourself or the applicant.

You can use the SP-167 form to request a Virginia criminal history record check.

NotaryCam is an available service for those who need access to an online notary for Virginia name search background checks, but it's not viable for fingerprint-based searches.

The SP-167 form requires notarization to ensure the authenticity of the information provided.

Anyone can use the SP-167 form, but if you want another individual or agency to receive your completed background check results, they must sign Section 2 and have their signature notarized as well.

A background check can take anywhere from minutes to several business days to complete, depending on the scope of the search and the type of database used. Typically, a background check for criminal records takes one to three business days.

Database searches, such as Social Security number traces, national background checks, and sex offender registry searches, often return results within minutes. This is because these searches rely on digitized records that are easily accessible.

If you're planning to conduct a background check, you may want to consider partnering with a consumer reporting agency (CRA) like GoodHire, which can complete 89% of all criminal history check searches within one hour.

In Virginia, you can request a Criminal History Records Check using the SP-167 form, which can be mailed to the Virginia State Police. This form can be used by individuals, private companies, and out-of-state agencies.

To use the SP-167 form, you'll need to create a request to be printed and mailed. The Virginia State Police will then search for any relevant records and provide the results.

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If you're an employer or prospective employer in Virginia, you can use the SP-230 form to request a criminal history record check. This form can be used to search for Virginia conviction data only.

Here are some examples of entities that are eligible to use the SP-230 form:

These entities can use the SP-230 form to receive Virginia conviction data only. However, some entities are entitled to receive complete criminal record information from the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CARE). These entities include: