Criminal Background Check Fulton County, IL

What does a criminal record check reveal? As part of the pre-employment candidate screening process, most employers will conduct a background check. Although many candidates lack a thorough understanding of how background checks work and what information they can uncover, this is not always the case.

You need to be aware of the difference between a criminal background check and “regular background checks” when it comes to employment-related background checks.

When it comes to conducting a criminal background check, there are a wide range of options available. Even though most employers use criminal background checks as the foundation of their screening procedures, this does not mean that they are the only ones. An employment background check may also include information that goes beyond criminal and disciplinary records, such as education and employment history.

Are there any other ways an employer could learn more about you? Other common types of employment background checks include the following:

• Verification of educational records. For the purpose of verifying your educational background, these background checks are conducted. For example, employers can use a background check to verify your attendance at a previous college or university to see if you graduated or earned a degree, as well as any honors attached to the degree.
• Retrospective examinations of prior employment records. Work history checks, like education verifications, allow employers to contact former employers listed on your resume to verify your employment, job title(s), employment dates, and other important information.
• Verifications of professional licenses. The employer will verify that your professional license or certification is genuine and in good standing if you are applying for a job that requires a specific professional license or certification.
• Referencing. Professional references, such as former supervisors, mentors, coworkers, professors, or anyone else who can vouch for your character, work ethic, and other attributes, are frequently contacted by potential employers.
• Checks on driving records. As part of the hiring process for jobs that require driving, a driving history check is common. When an employer conducts a background check, they will be able to see what kind of driver’s license you have, how many points you have on your license due to tickets or infractions, and other relevant information.
• Checks on a person’s credit history. Credit checks may be required as part of a background check for finance positions. You can learn about your credit limits, average monthly payments, past due amounts, balances, and more with a credit history check. Running this check can give some employers a glimpse into a candidate’s financial habits and responsibilities.
• Checks from a civil court. Criminal charges or convictions are not always filed in cases involving breach of contract, property damage, or constitutional rights violations. Some employers use court records checks as part of the background check process, even if these cases are not part of a criminal record because they appear in the county or federal civil courts.
• There are checks for sex offenders. In addition to a criminal background check, pre-employment screening procedures may also include searches of the national registry of registered sex offenders.
• Testing for drugs. Workers in some highly regulated industries must submit to random drug testing on a regular basis in order to ensure their safety. To ensure a drug-free workplace, employers can also implement their own testing policies. In either case, pre-employment background checks often include drug testing.

A “regular background check” may include any or all of these checks, depending on the employer. For example, an office manager probably wouldn’t run a driving history check on a potential employee who’s only going to be sitting at a desk all day. Employers, on the other hand, can build near-comprehensive background screening strategies by selecting the most relevant background check types that fit their professional circumstances (and the positions they are trying to fill).

Criminal background checks only look at felony and misdemeanor convictions and do not include any other information. A more in-depth look at what information might turn up on a search of your criminal history can be found in the following section.

A criminal history check can reveal information about any charges, trials, or convictions against the subject. Most of the time, these checks are done to see if a candidate has a criminal record, either on the misdemeanor or felony level. An arrest record or pending charge does not provide any evidence of guilt, whereas convictions do.

Additionally, pending criminal charges and arrests are frequently included in background checks. Due to the lack of proof of guilt in the absence of a verdict and conviction, employers are advised not to place as much weight on the results of criminal background checks.

It is important to keep in mind that some states have laws in place that prohibit or restrict employers from considering arrest histories when making hiring decisions.

Backgroundchecks.com excludes arrests that did not result in a conviction from our criminal history checks because the average employer is unfamiliar with the specifics of state laws governing arrest records. Employers who use our reports can rest assured that they are not inadvertently infringing on any local or state laws by removing this data.

• The defendant, or the name of the individual charged with a crime.
• The offense, or the crime with which the subject was charged. Includes information about whether crime is considered a misdemeanor or a felony and the degree.
• The filing, or how the charges were initially filed, the case numbers associated with the charges, and other relevant details about the court case.
• The verdict, or the outcome of the charge.
• The sentencing, including any jail time or fines.
• The disposition, or any details about a settlement in the case.

Expunged or sealed criminal convictions should never appear on a criminal background check. The legalization of marijuana across the country has left many ex-offenders with criminal records that are no longer crimes, which has prompted criminal justice reform advocates to remove some of the barriers to expungement. It should not appear on a person’s criminal record if they have been successful in getting their records sealed or expunged. State laws on expungement differ slightly.

Depending on the state, there may be limits on how far back a criminal history check can go. Background check companies are prohibited from disclosing information about convictions older than seven years in states like California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, and Washington. A seven-year prison sentence for felonies and a five-year sentence for misdemeanors is the standard in Hawaii. Criminal background checks in other states are not time-limited.

Whether you’re a large corporation or a start-up, you can rely on Alpha & Omega since 2001. Your background screening needs can be handled by our company at transparent prices. With no setup fees and no contracts, we keep things simple. Get in touch with us right away to get your criminal background checks done.