Employers often have questions about what employment background checks search, how long they take, how criminal records are verified, and what information may appear on a completed report. The answers below explain common aspects of employment background screening and Direct Screening’s approach to criminal record reporting.
Direct Screening provides Employment Screening Services for businesses and organizations throughout the United States.
What is an employment background check?
An employment background check is a screening conducted as part of an employer’s hiring process. Depending on the type of report ordered, a background check may search criminal record databases, county court records, state criminal records, sex offender registries, and other available public record sources.
Direct Screening specializes in criminal background screening for employers and offers several search options depending on the scope of criminal record coverage an employer needs.
What does an employment background check show?
The information that appears on a background check depends on the searches performed, the records available from the jurisdictions searched, and applicable reporting requirements.
Criminal background screening may identify reportable criminal convictions and related court information. Potential criminal records identified through database searches are verified at the appropriate county or court source before reportable criminal information is returned to the employer.
For a more detailed explanation, see What Shows Up on a Criminal Background Check?
How far back does an employment background check go?
The reporting period for criminal records can depend on the type of record, applicable federal and state requirements, and the reporting practices of the background screening company.
Direct Screening generally applies a seven-year reporting period to criminal convictions, measured from the disposition date. Additional restrictions may apply depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances.
For additional information, see How Far Back Do Background Checks Go?
What is a national criminal background check?
A national criminal background check searches a broad collection of criminal record sources from jurisdictions throughout the United States. It can help identify potential criminal records outside an applicant’s current county or state.
Direct Screening’s National Criminal Background Check also includes a National Sex Offender Registry search.
Is a national background check the same as a county background check?
No. National and county criminal searches serve different purposes. A national criminal database search provides broad geographic coverage and can identify potential records from many jurisdictions, while a county search examines records associated with a particular county.
When Direct Screening identifies a potential criminal record through a database search, the record is verified at the appropriate county or court source before reportable information is returned to the employer.
Learn more in National vs. County Background Checks.
Does Direct Screening verify criminal records?
Yes. Potential criminal records identified through database searches are researched and verified at the appropriate county or court source before reportable criminal information is returned to the employer.
This additional step helps reduce the risk of relying on database information that may be incomplete, outdated, or associated with the wrong individual.
How quickly are employment background checks completed?
Many background checks that do not identify a potential criminal record can be completed very quickly.
When a potential record is identified, the report may remain pending while Direct Screening verifies the information with the appropriate county or court source. Verification generally takes approximately one to two business days, although turnaround times vary depending on the jurisdiction and availability of court records.
For more information, see Why Background Checks May Be Pending.
Are employment background checks instant?
Some background checks can be completed very quickly when no potential criminal record is identified. However, not every employment background check can be completed immediately.
When a potential criminal record requires additional verification, Direct Screening researches the information with the appropriate county or court source before reportable information is returned. Some reports therefore remain pending until the verification process is complete.
What happens when a potential criminal record is found?
A potential database match is not automatically treated as a reportable criminal record. Direct Screening researches the potential record and verifies the information at the appropriate county or court source.
Once the verification process is complete, the report is updated with the appropriate reportable information.
Does Direct Screening report arrests or pending criminal cases?
Direct Screening’s standard reporting approach focuses on criminal convictions. Arrest-only records, pending criminal cases, and other non-conviction information are not included under our standard criminal reporting practices.
Does Direct Screening report every criminal conviction it finds?
No. The existence of a historical criminal record does not necessarily mean that it will appear on an employment background report.
Direct Screening applies its reporting standards and applicable restrictions before criminal information is returned to an employer. Our standard approach generally uses a seven-year reporting period measured from the disposition date.
Are sex offender records included in a national background check?
Yes. Direct Screening’s National Criminal Background Check includes a National Sex Offender Registry search.
Direct Screening reports sex offender information when the individual is currently required to register and the information meets our reporting and identification standards.
Why might an applicant’s name or alias matter?
Criminal records may exist under different names or name variations. Identifying names associated with an applicant can help broaden the search for potentially relevant criminal records.
Some Direct Screening screening options include additional identity and alias development to help identify names that may need to be searched.
Can an applicant complete their own background screening information?
Yes. Direct Screening offers a secure applicant invitation process that allows an employer to send the applicant a request to provide the information needed for the background screening process.
This can reduce manual data entry for employers and can be particularly useful for organizations that hire regularly or have multiple hiring managers.
Can multiple employees at our company order background checks?
Yes. Direct Screening can establish multiple user accounts for an organization. Authorized users can order reports for their hiring needs, while an administrator can oversee screening activity across the organization.
Can employers order background checks in bulk?
Yes. Employers that need to screen larger groups of applicants can use our Bulk Background Checks services. Organizations with ongoing larger screening volumes can also learn more about our High Volume Background Checks services.
Do employers have responsibilities when using background checks?
Yes. Employers using consumer reports for employment purposes have responsibilities under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and additional state or local requirements may apply.
Employers should establish appropriate background screening policies and determine which legal requirements apply to their organization and hiring decisions. Direct Screening provides background screening services but does not provide legal advice.
What happens if an applicant disputes information in a background report?
Consumers have the right to dispute information they believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Direct Screening maintains a process for receiving and investigating consumer disputes in accordance with applicable requirements.
Information about the dispute process is available on our Consumer Disputes page.
How do I choose the right employment background check?
The appropriate background check depends on the employer’s hiring needs, the position being filled, and the desired scope of the search.
Employers looking for broad criminal record coverage can review our National Criminal Background Checks. Employers can also review our Employment Screening Services or contact Direct Screening with questions about available screening options.
Get Started
Direct Screening provides criminal background screening for employers that need a straightforward way to screen individual applicants or larger groups of new hires.
Learn more about our Criminal Background Checks for Employers, review our National Criminal Background Checks, or email [email protected] for assistance.