By Tanya H. Trotman


Searching for a free background check? You are not alone. Annually, huge numbers of people do a Google search hoping to discover that one comprehensive background check that's completely free. If you are one of those searching for the elusive 100% free criminal record check, you may stop right now. It really does not exist. Hundreds of sites advertise free background searches; but they will not supply any information besides a name, a couple of simple identifiers and data that a fairly easy Search would provide. For "full" instant criminal checks, you'll usually be asked to sign up for the site or pay a one-time charge.

When people plan to spend on these instant criminal inspections, they usually expect the results to be accurate. After all, the searches are simply taking data from a central public record information database right? Wrong! While the National Crime Information Center is available for police officers, there's never been a complete public record information database available to the private sector.

Therefore where do internet background screening businesses obtain the information for their own "free" background checks? They often end up searching free databases given by state and local government bodies. The problem with these databases is that they're often unfinished, infrequently maintained and imprecise. A whole lot worse, court clerks in lots of areas of the country don't post any criminal records on the internet.

When immediate checks do find criminal records, the information are often for an individual who has comparable identifiers to the individual being investigated. For example, try performing an instant criminal search for a person named "John Jones" in your area. Will you be confident that the records that show up actually belongs to the one "John Jones" you're looking into?

Just before reporting a criminal history, professional background screeners attempt to match a number of identifiers including name, birth date as well as Social Security number, to make sure the record is made for the proper person. If the actual court data files lack some identifiers, the background screener might call district lawyers, probation officers and jails to find matching identification. This particular service can never be provided by an instant background check.

Many individuals and companies who rely on free instant criminal background checks will be shocked to find out how imprecise and incomplete they are. The Wall Street Journal recently did an assessment of some of the most popular "free" check services including InfoRegistry, US Search, Intelius, and NetDetective. The test subject was a middle-aged woman with no criminal records. Even if this should have been a fairly easy search, every single instant background checks returned results full of errors. The Intelius check even turned up three false civil judgments for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

These kinds of checks weren't only imprecise, they were also costly. They ranged in price from $30 for a 1-year subscription to $50 for 1-month access. Plus, like most "free" online background checks, they tried to get users to join a number of extra services that would bill their credit cards each month.

While instant checks may have their own place, only human-run searches will consistently produce complete and also accurate results. The entire process of browsing a county's computer records or visiting a courthouse might be time-consuming, but it's likewise essential for employers who want to avoid negligent hiring lawsuits.




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