What Is Included In a Basic Background Check

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In the not-too-distant past, people were raised and spent their lives in small towns or localized city neighborhoods, often living among the same neighbors for all or most of their lives. Everyone knew his or her neighbors, and that personal intimacy lasted a lifetime. Today's world however, is highly mobile. Few people live in the same locale for very long, and so many of our interpersonal relationships grow out of cyberspace where a person can become anyone they wish to be. In such a transient society, trust is no longer a matter of faith, but often must be verified, especially in matters of the workplace, business and personal relationships, and property rental.

Background investigations are performed for business or personal reasons, and the depth and breadth of information available can often make the difference between success and failure in a variety of relationships. The reality of 21st century interpersonal relationships requires informed decisions to enable the protection of companies, employees, families, property or investments.

Business background checks are most often performed when hiring employees, managing rental property, conducting business with other companies, investing in a business venture or attempting to collect on a business debt. Personal background checks are essential when an individual is going to be given access to one's home or property as a result of performing a service or being hired as an employee.

The unprecedented access to technology enables people to either steal or manufacture identities with great ease. Therefore it is essential to utilize background checks, gleaning as much information as possible to confirm an individual's identity before becoming involved with them. The old expression "it is better to err on the side of caution" has more meaning today than ever in the past.

The steps shown below provide the procedural basis for conducting background checks, whether for business or personal use. However, keep in mind that when conducting a business background check, most often there is a signed application permission form that enables access to certain specific records that otherwise cannot be accessed.

STEP 1 - GATHER INFORMATION - POSITIVE ID

The first goal of any background check is to obtain a positive identification of the subject in question. The important preliminary information needed includes full name, date of birth, social security number and a current or past address.

Date of birth is a very important identifier and necessary to search criminal records. Current and past addresses are also good identifiers, because to conduct a thorough criminal records search, you must ascertain subject's state(s) of residence.

When dealing with female subjects, remember to learn if the individual is married or single, and ask for all last names used, both past and present. This can be an important factor when checking general and criminal record files.

Public records are generally indexed by name alone, or by name and date of birth.

INFORMATION PROVIDERS

When using an information provider, determine what data is being accessed. Some background checks are national in scope while others are actually "multi-state." The costs, response times and quality of these checks vary widely from company to company. Criminal Background Checks are generally name-based and often only access convictions, but not arrests.

Consider having a check done on oneself if concerned about incorrect information or what potential employers might find.

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