Names:  Court based criminal record checks are primarily name based. Jane Doe was Jane Smith 2 years ago when convicted of a felony. Her criminal record will likely be undetected unless the name appearing on the record, is part of the background check criteria. Checking all names provided by the candidate, plus those developed, provides a more comprehensive background check, and closes the gaps to avoid missed records.  

 

 Locations:  Criminal records are jurisdictional. Jane Doe lives in Dallas, TX today, but previously lived in Chicago, IL 2 years ago, where she was convicted of a felony. Her record will likely be undetected unless criminal records are searched in Chicago, IL as part of the background check criteria. Checking all locations provided by the candidate, plus those developed, is a crucial component of a comprehensive background check.  

 

Levels:  There are five levels of criminal record checks, including nationwide, statewide, federal, county and municipal. Jane Doe was convicted of felony interstate credit card fraud. Her record will likely be undetected unless federal criminal reports are included in the background check.  John Doe lives in a city where he was convicted of assault just 2 months ago. The case was filed and concluded in a city justice court outside of the county court system.  His criminal record will likely be missed unless justice court records are searched.  Layering multiple levels establishes a more comprehensive background check, reduces the risk, and further closes the gaps.