Background Checks

FBI Criminal Background Check: Checking Your Name For Criminal History Against The FBI Database

Imagine you applying for a job and the employer requests you for your permission to allow them to do an FBI Criminal Background Check. You may not have to worry if you have not been convicted of a crime in the USA. But just in case, if you have convicted of a crime in the USA ever, you have all reasons to get a bit nervous. The latest in the series of background checks, FBI Criminal Background checks are all about checking an employee's fingerprints against the database of FBI for criminal records.

If an employer requires an FBI Criminal Background check to be done on an employee, he should request for a Copy of Record from the FBI. That can be requested by providing a list of documents which are as follows:

1. A cover letter stating the purpose of the criminal background check. This letter should also state for how many people the background checks are intended.
2. A proof of identity which should include the person's fingerprint for whom you wish to do the Criminal Background check. During this process, it is extremely important that you take the fingerprints of all ten fingers of the person. The fingerprints cannot be taken in any blank, white paper. They need to be taken in a Standard, fingerprinting form which is also known as FD-258.

After this, you can pay $18 by your credit card or money order to the Record Request division of the FBI to get your record request. Please be sure to send all the documents as the FBI may not entertain incomplete applications.

After all the effort, what you would get is one of the two below:

• No Case Record - This indicates that no criminal records have been found against the fingerprints sent.
• FBI Identification Number - This has details of the crime committed by the person for which he was arrested.

This does not mean necessarily that the world ends for the applicant if the results of the Criminal Background checks are not to his expectations. He could easily challenge the results against the FBI by finding out the state agency which coordinated with the FBI to integrate the criminal records.

So, is the FBI Criminal Background check really necessary? There are arguments for both side of the river. A set of people say that the getting the FBI Criminal Background check done on a candidate ensures that they are hiring 'safe' employees. The long waiting time of 16-18 weeks for the employer to get the results of the criminal checks from the FBI has forced some employers to stay out of it. After all, that is too long a time considering that the employer may have to fill up a vacancy real fast.

It has its own advantages, but one must say that the FBI Criminal Background check provides the 'finishing' touches to best and safe hiring practices..