What Includes In The Background Check

What do a background check show? Considering background checks tin can reveal highly sensitive data, both employers and job candidates should understand what is included in each type of background cheque and how that data tin can legally be used.

We reply the nigh often asked questions almost what appears on different kinds of background checks, including employment background checks, criminal groundwork checks, fingerprint background checks, and Level ii groundwork checks.

A quick browse of the background cheque landscape reveals that there are many different types of groundwork checks. Each type of background cheque uncovers somewhat unlike personal background data. It's important for both employers and job candidates to sympathize what kind of information is included in each type of background check, and how that information tin be used.

Information uncovered in employment background checks is highly sensitive and subject to strict privacy-protection regulations. The use of background checks in connectedness with hiring decisions is also discipline to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and requirements specified by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The sharing and retention of this data also may be bailiwick to boosted state and local guidelines.

When conducting employment background checks, it's important to select a provider that is an accredited FCRA-compliant consumer reporting bureau (CRA), such equally GoodHire.

Illustration of GoodHires personal background check option

Many employers and job candidates want to know what information is included in a groundwork check, and then we've compiled answers to the following mutual questions:

Criminal History

Nearly all groundwork checks include a criminal-history bank check, based on information supplied by the candidate, including their Social Security number. Criminal groundwork checks volition reveal felony and misdemeanor criminal convictions, any pending criminal cases, and any history of incarceration equally an adult. Arrests pending prosecution may also be reported. Arrests that did not atomic number 82 to convictions may appear in some background checks; GoodHire excludes them in its screenings to conform to EEOC guidelines.

Records of juvenile convictions and detention that have been sealed by a courtroom typically do non announced in these searches, but all other criminal convictions may appear, unless they occurred in a country that forbids disclosure of convictions later on a sure period of fourth dimension. Disclosure of convictions more than than seven years onetime is forbidden in California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, New York and Washington. Hawaii forbids disclosure of convictions after seven years for felonies and five years for misdemeanors [updated 9/21/2020]. (Learn more about how far dorsum a background bank check goes, or see your state'southward specific background check laws.)

Pre-Employment

Pre-employment groundwork checks typically include criminal-background checks, plus verification of information on by employment, education, and professional licenses.

Depending on the nature of the job under consideration, employers may specify that pre-hiring screenings search candidates' driving records. Employers may likewise crave applicants to submit to drug testing equally role of the pre-employment screening process. Pre-employment drug screening is required for many jobs that involve functioning of motor vehicles, chancy or delicate equipment, and/or in any role entailing responsibility for the safety of the public, customers, or swain employees. Larn more in the Complete Guide to Background Checks.

State and federal laws limit some of what can be reported on employment background checks:

If a candidate is under consideration for a job that pays less than $75,000 annually, data on civil judgments, authorities sanctions, and disciplinary measures related to any professional licensesvolition notappear in groundwork check results.
Nevertheless, if the salary for an open up position is $75,000 or more, that information may appear in your results, even if information technology's older than seven years.

GoodHire's background check platform makes it easy to order reports and review results.

Fingerprint

"Fingerprint background check" is something of a catch-all term. As its proper name indicates, it involves the use of a candidate'due south fingerprints in addition to other personal information to locate historical information. The advantage of a fingerprint search is certainty that all records associated with a given gear up of prints belong to the private in question.

The precise nature of a fingerprint search tin vary, depending on the blazon of information requested by the employer and the databases used by the screening company. Typically, a fingerprint check involves using the FBI criminal-records database, simply other, smaller Automated Fingerprint Identification Arrangement (AFIS) database systems may be searched instead of, or in add-on to, the FBI system.

FBI

Oft used to screen candidates for jobs with federal government agencies and companies that work with and for them, an FBI-level background check uncovers whatever and every interaction a candidate may accept had with constabulary enforcement agencies that provide their criminal information to the FBI database. In addition to convictions, this may include arrests (even those that did not atomic number 82 to indictment or conviction), traffic violations, and even parking tickets.

Applicants must submit to fingerprinting by a recognized constabulary enforcement agency, and their prints are checked against the FBI'southward Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), a vast computerized repository of fingerprints compiled by constabulary enforcement agencies, clearing officials, and fifty-fifty past employment screenings. The IACIS database links personal data to fingerprints collected in both criminal and not-criminal matters.

Fingerprints are as well checked against the National Crime Data Center (NCIC) database, a huge compilation of criminal-history data and data on wanted criminals; and against databases of sex offenders and terrorists.

FBI background checks have come under some scrutiny in contempo years, on grounds that bureau databases are not e'er consummate, and because the records they contain may create disparate impacts in instances involving minority job applicants.

Passing an FBI background check is not the same as obtaining a security clearance. A groundwork cheque may exist a beginning step in the process, only security clearance typically involves a much more extensive research, including interviews with the subject and others who know him or her well.

What does a Level 2 groundwork check include?

A Level ii background check is a specialized type of fingerprint groundwork cheque typically performed on candidates for jobs that involve working with vulnerable persons, such every bit children, people with disabilities, and seniors. Level 2 checks are also frequently required for volunteer positions at schools, daycares, and senior centers equally well as for paid personnel. They are besides ofttimes required for adults seeking to prefer or get foster parents.

A Level 2 background screen checks applicants against databases of information on arrests, convictions, and incarceration related to violent beliefs and crimes against children and other vulnerable persons. A Level two check will even uncover relevant records that have been sealed past courts, including juvenile convictions and detention.

Table shows what shows up on different types of background checks

More Groundwork Bank check Result FAQs

Practice traffic tickets show upward on a background check?

Information technology depends. Many CRAs report traffic infractions as function of the background check. Still, GoodHire does not unless an employer specifically requests a bank check on your driving tape (as they might for jobs that require apply of motor vehicles). If they do, so speeding tickets and other driving infractions volition announced.

Do DUIs show upwards on a background check?

Driving nether the influence (DUI) is a criminal offense and volition be reported on a criminal background check. If a pre-employment background screening includes a driving record check or motor vehicle record bank check (MVR), a DUI confidence is likely to announced there every bit well.

To learn more about DUIs and background checks, see DUIs & Groundwork Checks: What It Means For Employment.

Practise misdemeanors prove up on a background check?

A criminal background check tin can include misdemeanor criminal convictions, as well as any pending cases. Misdemeanors are less serious offenses which are typically subject field to a potential prison sentence between 15 days and 1 year in a local prison house, or a sentence that doesn't include any jail time but may include fines, probation and/or community service. Examples of misdemeanors include vandalism, trespassing, public intoxication, and disorderly comport.

Do arrests show up on a groundwork check?

Arrests that did not atomic number 82 to convictions may announced in some criminal background checks as long equally the filing date of the case is inside the final vii years, as immune by federal and country police force. Nevertheless, GoodHire excludes them in its screenings to adapt to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines.

Practice criminal convictions older than seven years show upwards on a background check?

In virtually states they do. Some states, though, restrict the release of records that are more than than seven, or in some cases 10, years in the by. Some states too have restrictions based on the amount of salary the candidate volition earn. Kansas, for instance, restricts the release of records more than seven years quondam unless the candidate's bacon will be $twenty,000 or more annually.

Do warrants show up on a background check?

Open arrest warrants (issued when law enforcement gives evidence that a suspect has committed a crime) and bench warrants (issued for failure to appear for a scheduled court proceeding) generally exercise not announced as records in groundwork checks. Yet, once a warrant has been executed, it becomes part of the criminal record, and its existence may be reflected in a criminal groundwork check.

Do dismissed charges show up on a background check?

Cases resulting in dismissal may appear in some criminal groundwork checks. Sometimes, even if the court has sealed case records, the arrest that led to the case may appear in a criminal background search. Federal EEOC guidelines prevent turning down job candidates on the sole basis of arrests that don't pb to conviction. GoodHire excludes dismissed charges from its groundwork cheque results.

Do pending charges prove up on a background check?

If a criminal background check is requested, pending charges tin testify up. However, in that location are states that prohibit pending charges from showing up on background checks. Kentucky prohibits CRAs from reporting pending charges. This applies for all records that come from Kentucky, regardless of where the employer or candidate are located. In Michigan, employers cannot consider pending misdemeanors – only pending felonies.

Exercise restraining orders show up on a background check?

A restraining order (known as an lodge protection in some states) is considered a civil matter. Information technology generally will non announced in a criminal background bank check, unless included as a footnote in the sentencing portion of a criminal record, simply information technology may announced in public information databases and websites used by some pre-employment screeners. Violations of these orders are criminal matters, however, and arrests and court cases surrounding them will appear in criminal groundwork checks.

Do bankruptcies show upwardly on a background check?

Bankruptcies do non appear in results of criminal background checks, and nether the Off-white Credit Reporting Human action (FCRA), bankruptcy filings cannot be reported in pre-employment screenings once they are 10 years one-time. Because they are a affair of public tape, bankruptcies are generally piece of cake to observe. Filings more than 10 years old may announced in non-FCRA compliant background checks.

Do expunged or sealed records prove up on a background check?

When a courtroom expunges a conviction or trial record, the case files are sealed off from public access, and the convicted political party or defendant does not have to disclose the case when asked about their criminal history. Sealed cases are not eligible for disclosure in most pre-employment background checks. If there is a significant time filibuster between the resolution of a case and the determination to expunge it, its records may continue to appear in criminal-background database searches until records are updated to reflect the expungement. The existence of expunged convictions that involve mistreatment of children or other vulnerable individuals may be legally reported in Level 2 background checks, though unsealing the details of those records typically requires a court order.

What will show upwardly on your background check?

The contents of background check reports tin vary considerably, depending on the nature of information required by the employer, and the number and quality of the data resource used by the screening company. The all-time style to ensure a check complies with federal and local regulations is to piece of work with an FCRA-compliant background check provider, such as GoodHire. And the all-time fashion to see what volition appear on your FCRA-compliant background bank check is to run one on yourself.

Disclaimer

The resources provided hither are for educational purposes merely and practise not institute legal communication. We propose you to consult your own counsel if you accept legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.

About the Author

Jim Akin is a Connecticut-based freelance author and editor with experience in employee relations, media relations, and social-media outreach. He has produced content and managed internal communications, business organization-to-business organisation outreach, and consumer-focused campaigns for clients including Experian, VantageScore Solutions, Pitney Bowes, Medtronic, Microsoft, and Coca-Cola.