Hiring a new employee involves weighing numerous factors. As crucial as it is to look at qualifications, experience, and attitude, you must also conduct a criminal background check on each candidate. Background checks allow businesses to make confident and well-informed judgments about whether a prospect is a reliable and capable employee. Let’s take a closer look.
The Importance of Thorough Criminal Records Checks
When you conduct a thorough criminal background check, you can ensure that your company’s image is protected and that your team is trustworthy. Here are some of the benefits of conducting a criminal record search for employment during the recruitment process:
- Provide a safe and secure work environment by minimizing risks.
- Protect your assets, your staff, and your clients.
- Ensure that your company is safeguarded from potential liability claims.
- Preserve the community’s confidence and respect in your company.
- Make fair employment judgments.
- Abide by all applicable industry, local, state, and federal regulations.
- Promote the safety and security of the public.
What You’ll Discover from a Criminal Record Search
A criminal background check allows you to make a well-informed judgment regarding an applicant and assess the risks connected with hiring someone with a criminal history. Generally, the following information can be included in a criminal background check:
- Felonies: Offenders who commit felonies face the possibility of spending time in prison.
- Misdemeanors: Misdemeanors are offenses that are less serious than felonies, but they are nonetheless punished by fines or jail time.
- Traffic offenses: In most cases, traffic violations are only recorded if they are criminal in character, such as a minor misdemeanor or felonies.
Types Of Criminal Background Checks for Employment
Here are some of the most common types of criminal records search:
Federal Criminal Records Search
If you’re interviewing for managerial, executive, or financial positions, you should run a federal criminal record check on the candidates. The only information you’ll get is on federal records, many of which are for “white collar” offenses. Convictions in criminal cases at the federal level will be included in the report.
National Criminal Database Searches
If a criminal background check is required for employment, a search of the national criminal database can provide a broader scope by looking at records from more than 3,000 jurisdictions across the country. In this sense, searching the national criminal database can provide useful hints to direct specific local inquiries.
County Criminal Background Checks
Local county criminal records checks are the best way to learn about a job applicant’s or employee’s criminal history. A candidate or employee’s criminal background should be checked in whichever jurisdiction they reside.
The Bottom Line
Conducting background screenings, which include criminal record checks and ongoing monitoring, is today’s best practice for recruiting and providing a safe workplace. Criminal record searches are used by businesses to determine whether a job applicant is dishonest or a threat to the company or its employees. They also help businesses in complying with regulations, safeguarding assets, reducing risk, and avoiding expensive claims of irresponsible hiring.
Do you want to learn more about employment background checks? Contact us at HR Preferred today.