Polk County Iowa Court Records

The location of Iowa's state capital, Des Moines, Polk County, has a population of more than 492,000. Neighboring counties include Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Story, and Warren. Major employers in Polk County include Amazon, Wells Fargo, and John Deere. 

The largest county in Iowa by population with a significant percentage of the state's residents, Polk County, has a vibrant and diverse economy anchored by a major insurance industry. Attracting workers from throughout the state and, in fact, the whole nation, companies can more readily source top talent in this region. A flood of applications may greet most open positions. While this is convenient for Polk County businesses, it also increases the level of risk tied to the hiring process.

Fostering a safe work environment and shielding your business from harm starts with a robust first line of defense: the hiring process itself. Evaluating an applicant's past through background checks is a key part of this procedure. Criminal history reports can reveal unseen facts you won't find on a CV or reinforce your decision to choose a candidate.

Background checks don't need to slow down the hiring process. With the selection of today's best digital tools, you can quickly uncover the information you need to keep the cycle going. How do you build a background check strategy that delivers the detailed results you need on a timeline that works for your hiring demands?

Think of the vetting process as a funnel – you should start with the broadest search possible, then narrow down your point of view as results demand. That means beginning by searching criminal history systems maintained by law enforcement agencies nationwide. Applicants may have left behind records in multiple locales, and this step ensures the best chance of finding them. Next, you can look for more details on any records indicated on the national report by requesting local county court records. Especially for open and pending cases, this step isn't one to skip.

Because background checks involve revealing personal information, there are numerous laws in place to govern the fairness of their use and ensure they do not become a tool for discrimination. Iowa has no statewide “ban the box” laws for public or private employers. Therefore, employers must rely on federal non-discrimination guidance from the EEOC while also reviewing their requirements under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

With compliance guardrails in place to ensure a fair process, you can start vetting candidates online. Acquire the nationwide insight you need to get started by ordering the US OneSEARCH from backgroundchecks.com. This search includes Polk County records from the Iowa Admin Office of the Courts. See all our state-level sources on our coverage map.

Does your applicant have an open case? Iowa's state-level databases may not always update in time for you to see the latest results. Order the county-level background check for the most recent records and convenient results possible.

Criminal background reports generated by backgroundchecks.com include information from the following:

• Iowa Admin Office of the Courts – Felony and misdemeanor records from 1985—present 
• Iowa State Sex Offender Registry

These reports can include the subject’s:

• Name
• Offense/Charge
• Sentence
• Disposition

Enjoy faster hiring and confidence in your vetting processes in Polk County with help from backgroundchecks.com.