What Is a Nationwide Criminal Database Search?

Among employers and the public, there is some confusion about what a nationwide criminal database search is. Some believe that this type of criminal background check is a comprehensive search of all criminal records in the United States. As such, many employers think that tapping into a single national criminal database search will be sufficient to vet any job candidate. The truth is more complicated and demands more planning from employers (and others running background checks) to structure an ideal criminal history screening policy.

Do You Need a Full Name to Run a Criminal Background Check?

How much information do you need to run an effective criminal background check? This question tends to get asked by everyone from employers to individuals seeking to learn more about their neighbors. The simplest answer is that the more information you have about a person, the better your odds are of finding accurate information about his or her background.

Can Background Checks See Pending Charges

In many states, employers are not allowed to consider arrest record information when making hiring decisions. The idea is that convictions offer proof of guilt while arrests offer no such concrete evidence. As a result, laws often bar hiring managers from considering arrests or dismissed charges when deciding whether to hire a candidate. When happens when a candidate has pending charges on his or her record? Do those charges show up on a background check report, or are they considered arrest information and consequently unusable in many hiring situations?