There are a number of potential ways to perform a free background check on someone. While traditionally, this record search is performed by a local police department, since the advent of the freedom of information act, this criminal database information has been allowed to be available to the general public. Because of this release of information, several companies have stood up and purchased the rights to access these government databases as a means of allowing you or your business to perform a record search on a potential applicant. While these background checks continue to remain under controversy, many companies are currently using these free background checks as part of their pre-employment screening.
To start with, you will first need to locate an online website that offers these onlie services. From this point you will need to enter in the person’s name, address and social security number. Once this information has been entered in correctly, the website will search its database looking for anything relevant to the person’s address, name or social security number. This information can include things like a person’s financial record, any litigation they have gone through over the last 7 years, any convictions as well as any arrests, educational information and more.
From this point, how you use the information is up to you, but remember to think about how you intend on using the information because in some instances, a person’s record may accidentally be blown out of proportions leading to a lawsuit based on discrimination. While you may use this information to help filter out the unacceptable candidates, make sure that you are no basing your decision on only the free background check.
Furthermore you must remember that you are required to inform and get the permission of the person in question prior to running a criminal record search. With that said, performing free background checks are a great way to help you to filter out those who may be a potential risk to you or your company. Use it with care and you can minimize your chances of getting a bad employee hired into your company.
