Introduction to criminal records search

Importance of criminal records search

There are many new regulations for hiring people to insure the safety of the existing employees as well as individuals that your company may serve. Criminal records search is a key way of making sure that the employees that you are hiring are being honest on their employment applications. It is important to understand how the criminal records search is completed to insure that the full record of the individual is explored.

Each state offers a criminal records search, but each varies greatly regarding what is checked. Privacy rights of individuals need to be protected through this process and as a result the forms used for completing the search need to have specific releases and information on them to make sure that all bases are covered. There are also local criminal record searches that can be completed, but these searches are only as thorough as the technology of the department that is completing the search for you. The bottom line is that you need to do research prior to sending out the forms.

How do criminal records search work?

As an example, if an agency is in the process of licensing a home and individuals to provide foster care a number of criminal records search forms to be completed. Forms need to be filled out for everyone living in this residence that is over the age of 16 years.

For a Criminal Records Search, what you need is the individual's full name and state

This includes college students that spend time on weekends, breaks and summers in the home. Criminal records search forms also need to be completed for anyone that provides respite care for the foster care provider. The form should include all the addresses that the individuals have lived in for the last five years. This is done to insure that if a crime has been committed in a different law enforcement jurisdiction it will show up on the report that is generated as the result of the search. Many states have central data bases that include all areas in that state, such as the bureau of criminal apprehension, however their records are only as complete and accurate as the agencies reporting to them. If you are dealing with an applicant that has multiple addresses in several local jurisdictions it is best to do a criminal records search for each jurisdiction. By doing this you will insure that recent crimes will be listed in the reports that you receive.

Criminal records search services online

The internet also provides a variety of criminal records search services. Some people use theses, for example:

• Criminal History Conviction Database: The Conviction Database is public record information extracted from the DPS Computerized Criminal History System (CCH). The information contained in CCH is only public if a conviction or deferred adjudication has been reported to the Department on an offense.
• Sex Offender Registry: The Sex Offender Registry includes Public Sex Offender Registration information submitted to DPS by local law enforcement agencies.
• T.R.I.P: It is for owners of commercial & farm grade equipment to enter specific information regarding their property into a database that will be utilized by law enforcement personnel in tracking stolen equipment.