In the increasingly corporate business model used in this country and the mobility of the population, employers are more insistent on the use of criminal background checks as a method of determining whom they will hire. Since a person who has gotten in trouble with the law in one location may decide to move across the country to re-establish him or herself, employers are more likely to seek background checks of Federal criminal records. There is only one national criminal database and that is the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) which does not provide third party access except to law enforcement and judicial departments. An individual is allowed to apply for a copy of their own FBI Identification Record, also known as a Criminal History Record or “rap sheet.” For employers to obtain criminal background checks on employee applicants they must turn to the services of commercial criminal background check companies. These commercial venues do not access the FBI’s NICS for their information. Instead the information is collected from the various State and District agencies which mostly treat criminal indictments and prosecutions as a matter of public record.
Because of the exhaustive research needed to compile these records from so many varies sources, the fees for a criminal background check can be somewhat steep, especially for one that is relatively comprehensive. Many major corporations will make business deals with these large research companies for lower prices for exclusive use of their services. While these commercially obtained criminal background checks can help spot potential trouble for a company, the information they provide cannot be guaranteed to be complete or even completely accurate. Because hiring practices at many levels rely on this information alone in their decisions, it is more important than ever that an individual maintain a current FBI Identification Record. There are many people with the same name and the possibility of someone else’s crimes showing up on your record is not a farfetched possibility. Since obtaining your federal record from the FBI requires a complete fingerprint set, this is generally one of the quickest methods to help prove any mistakes on your record. Even if the job you are applying for does not require you to furnish your own Criminal Record Report, it is still a good idea to have this tool in your possession least you be branded by a case of mistaken identity.