How to perform a criminal reference check

criminal reference check. The truth is, quite a number of businesses don’t do this, and many of them have found that this is something they came to regret down the road. There are a plethora of different roles that require this type of background check, while others may not deem it necessary. Different state laws dictate just how important a role it may play in your hiring strategy, so make sure you’ve done your research. If you do think a criminal reference check is something you’d like to explore, we’ve put together some basic steps to keep in mind:

Find a reputable service

First and foremost, you will want to find a reputable service that will allow you to run these checks easily and hassle free. Before hiring someone to conduct your criminal history checks, it’s really important for you to make sure that they’re legitimate. Avoid anyone claiming “free” or “instant” checks – this type of information is neither free nor instantly available, and so those claiming to be able to provide it in that manner will certainly be cutting corners.

Be consistent with your checks

Consistency is especially important if you are in charge of the hiring for a business. After all, if you only run the checks on particular job candidates, you could find yourself in a situation where you are accused of discrimination – which is not something any employer wants to go through. So, make it company policy to be consistent and check everyone prior to hiring them.

Get proper authorization or consent

One of the biggest mistakes that employers make when it comes to doing a criminal reference check is not getting the proper consent to run the check. This is actually law, and so there is no getting around it. The authorization must be in writing, so be sure to keep your paper trail to protect yourself. If you’re ready to perform a criminal reference check on potential job candidates, contact us today. We can answer any questions that you may have about the process and how it works.  ]]>