Background Check Free – What is available Online?
I have been getting a lot of questions lately about how to do a background check for free. Many people believe that you should be able to do a search on Google or Bing and be able to find just about anything on a person. I had one person contact me and ask “Jake, all public records are available online. Why should a person have to pay for it? I should be able to do a background check free on a person just by searching on the internet”
Background Check Free – Public Records vs Public Information
First of all, information found online about a person or business is not altogether public information and not all public records are available online. Public records are those of incidents or actions filed or recorded with a government agency for the purpose of notifying the public. For example if you own a business, there is public information about you and your business or for others to see. I personally own businesses and you can view public information about my business online. If you own property, or are looking for a property owner, this information is public information as well. However, you may NOT be able to find information about that property online. You would need to contact the county where the property is located to get a copy of the deed.
There is a difference between getting a copy of a document or record and just doing a name search for a person. Why is that? Because it costs money to capture this data and store the data in a database which means that you will need to pay for it to get it.
There is also a very fine line within states as to what constitutes private vs. public information. In some states, they will not release criminal records because of privacy laws. You would need to search county court records for background check free information and it would probably not be online – but it may be free.
The Best Place for Background Check Free information
Let’s face it; most people are not very careful about what they post online. Today everyone belongs to a social media site or professional forum and they share their thoughts and opinions without much regard as to the bigger broader audience – that is the search engines. Whether it is Facebook or a professional forum, this data is very easy to retrieve on the internet and you can find out an awful lot about a person by knowing how to search.
It is a good idea to type your own name into Google or www.spokeo.com and see what comes up. You will be surprised on the amount of information that is out on the web on you. Anyone can find it – it is all free.
So the best place to start to get background check free information is to start with the search engines. In later posts, I will tell you how to find more detailed background check free information – so stay tuned.
How a Criminal Background Check Can Aid in Protecting a Business from a Negligent Hire.
Why you want to do a Criminal Background Check!
The statistics tell it all. In a study by the Federal Department of Justice, sixty seven percent of all convicts perform some sort of crime within three years after being released from prison. This follows the assumption that a person with a proven dangerous past will continue to exhibit this behavior in the future. As an employer looking to protect the business as well as the employees, it is clear that a criminal background check is a mandatory requirement for a safe hiring program.
Consider some real life Criminal Background Check examples:
1. A large manufacturing company has an applicant for a job opening as a production coordinator. The applicant looks good and the interview goes very well. It appears this applicant is a polished perfect fit for the position. The VP of production sends the employment package to personnel to order an employment background check. The results of the criminal background check show that the person had prior criminal convictions ranging from selling drugs and drug possession to assault and weapons possession. Can you imagine the nightmare of a lawsuit?
2. A Limousine service is looking to hire a new driver. The background check on the driver turns up prior assaults and sex crimes on women. This potential hire would have put the limousine service out of business with one bad incident and would have put a lot of women in danger.
3. A healthcare facility has an opening for an attendant who will care for patients and also have access to the drug cabinet. An applicant rises to the top of the list and appears to be an excellent candidate. Again, a criminal and background check is requested and performed. Can you guess what happened? The applicant had prior arrests and convictions on drug related charges. This would have put lives in danger and subjected the facility to potential lawsuits.
While it may seem cold and insensitive to not give these people a chance, an employer cannot afford to take these types of risks on job applicants who have had prior criminal convictions. A pre-employment background check that includes a criminal background check can provide the protection that is needed to avoid potential litigation due to a negligent hire. This type of litigation can easily sink a business very quickly.
One item to note is that when a conviction is found for the applicant, the employer must go through an analysis to determine if there is a business reason to deny the employment. An employer cannot just disqualify an applicant for having an arrest record – there must be a business reason for the disqualification. The EEOC has stated that automatic use of a criminal record without showing the impact on the business is discriminatory.
Employers have a tough task of finding talent that is trustworthy and capable, but a pre-employment background check cannot be overlooked as part of the overall hiring procedure – do not shortcut this process.
Does A Free Criminal Background Check Exist?
No matter your circumstance, one will eventually find the need to have a criminal background check performed on someone. Performing a free criminal background check can aid in revealing someone’s background which can provide information in keeping one self but also beloved family members especially children.
It is difficult to find any company whether online or offline to perform a free criminal background check . One way or other, clients will find themselves paying for background screening services. Where no company is one hundred percent free, one can find companies to perform a cheap background criminal check.
What can you get with a Free Criminal Background Check?
One question consistently asked is “What information can be obtained with a free criminal background check”? Some of the information obtained with these types of checks is information about the city you live within. Background criminal check information is available for all to view crime statistics of the area, which one lives. One can find out if sexual predators live within the close proximity of their residence, which is very important, if one has children. Parents can also view crime statistics of the schools their children attend. All of this information is free and one should never find themselves paying for such information.
Numerous websites online will perform a free criminal background check. Some of these websites will offer information without obtaining your banking or credit card number. Knowledge is power and one must feel safe and secure in the area, which they reside which is why a background criminal check of ones neighborhood is always a great idea.
A free criminal background check is never in essence, free but with some careful research or great offers from security companies, one can gain peace of mind of gaining empowerment of understanding their surroundings where they live, work and go to school. Information is easily obtainable for a reputable security company and is not a lot to pay for peace of mind. The price is higher in not obtaining much needed information in keeping your family safe.
One does not have to spend tons of money in gaining peace of mind. A free criminal background check does exist for minimum information needed to help you sleep better at night. If one wants a more in depth background criminal check, no matter if it is your daughter’s new boyfriend or a new employee, security companies are available to help you with this task.
In a perfect world, one would not need a background criminal check performed on anyone. In our current society where sexual predators are moving into neighborhoods in droves as well as employees being arrested for embezzlement of funds from companies, background checks are mandatory in protecting not only ones family but also ones business. One should perform their research wisely in finding the best security company for their individual needs. Peace of mind is not only for those who can afford such luxuries. Security companies offer peace of mind to anyone, with their background checks and quality services.
Performing a Pre-Employment Background Check on Childcare Workers
A pre-employment background check is common in most businesses today. Today millions of parents worldwide hire child-care workers to take care of their children. The child-care industry is a booming industry and for good reason. Parents long to have breaks from rearing their children which makes hiring a professional to watch their children appealing. Sadly, the majority of parents do not properly screen these so-called professionals with a pre-employment background check before hiring them.
Would you simply walk out into the street and hand your children to a stranger? If you are not performing free criminal background checks on people watching your children, you are indeed handing your children over to strangers. Why do parents neglect this task? Sometimes they are clouded on the opportunity to get away for a couple of hours or maybe they believe the person they have hired “looks” the part. Looks can prove deceiving and no parent should ever blindly hire anyone to watch their children without looking into someone’s background.
Numerous parents have regretted their decision of childcare providers when they eventually learn of their past. Often-times, when parents discover backgrounds of these providers, it is sadly too late. Children pay the price for this type of neglect bestowed upon them by their own parents. Our children are literally waiting to be preyed upon when parents do not take the responsibility seriously when they hire someone to watch them.
What to look for in a Pre-employment background check
There are numerous factors to look at when deciding the best care giver your children. To name a few, is the provider CPR qualified? If so, request to view the certification. Has the provider been in jail? If so, what was the crime? Anything could happen when you allow a stranger to come into your home and most importantly, you want your children protected at all times.
Nothing guarantees that you are hiring Mary Poppins but parents should always take any and every preventive measure possible to ensure they are allowing crime-free people to take care of their children and one great way to do this is to perform a pre-employment background check.
You can perform a free criminal background check which will allow you to find limited information. I highly recommend the services of a professional security screening company. This type of company can search numerous databases to find out if you are handing your children over to a criminal or a law-abiding citizen.
If a possible care-giver suddenly becomes nervous or does not agree to a pre-employment background check, chances are, they are hiding something. This is not the type of person you should be leaving in your home to take care of your children.