Criminal Record Background Check

A criminal record background check may also include running a credit report on a candidate. Now you may be asking yourself why an employer has the right to access this information especially if the position does not require handling money. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) outlines all of these questions for you and can serve as a good resource if you can't find everything you need here.

Why Your Credit Affects a Criminal Record Background Check

To answer the question, many employers use a credit check to measure your level of responsibility. A credit report tracks all open accounts, your level of debt and your cycle of repayment. All your late bills are posted on this report as well as any accounts that have gone to collections. The lower your FICO score, the less responsible you are to an employer.

Your criminal record background check will also include many of the following items: incarceration records, drug test results, sex offenses and court records. These items are listed out by date of offense and also include penalties such as jail time. Since all convictions are a matter of public record, you can be sure that your employer will uncover any criminal history you may potentially have. We encourage you to be forthcoming with your prospective employer about your history before they find out themselves by running a background check.

How To Prepare

In order to prepare yourself for a criminal background check you should follow these simple steps. First order your credit report and make the necessary changes to keep it updated and accurate. Secondly, revisit any court records that you may have been involved in to ensure the information provided within is correct. Finally, purchase your own online version of your background check. This will enable you to see what information your employer will access and hopefully prevent any misunderstandings about your history.