The process of conducting a criminal background check may seem complicated to those who are new to applicant screening. There are several acceptable resources available online to assist with the retrieval of an individual’s criminal record, however understanding the intricacies of these various tools is crucial to retrieving an applicant’s accurate conviction history.

Many assume there is a “blanket” search which covers all aspects of an individual’s criminal past in all areas of the United States. This is the most common mistake; in actuality the private sector does not have access to the same search tools and utilities as law enforcement, but knowing when to initiate an instant criminal database background check or a manual court level investigation is the secret when conducting a criminal investigation.

You will find a variety of companies online which will allow you to conduct a criminal database search. You should always pick a company that publishes the specific coverage the search in question will encompass. Several states and counties will not allow access to their criminal data online and if the record you are looking for resides in one of these jurisdictions an instant criminal check would be useless. Unfortunately many websites will leave out this fact. In these cases a manual county level investigation is needed. An investigator will be dispatched to the courthouse in question to physically search through criminal conviction files.

The key is determining the needed search area/s for your specific applicant and recognizing the exact search or combination of searches that will appropriately cover the desired jurisdictions. Knowing these search facts will be the difference between easily retrieving an accurate criminal background check or wasting time and ultimately money.