Public Records, Background Check

New Web Portal Reveals Facts Every Citizen Shouldits' own standards for employment screening. There is
Know About U.S. Public Recordsan Act, which oversees employment-screening
Long, endless days spent at the local courthouse whilestandards known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act
searching for U.S. public documents such as titles, liens,(FCRA).
arrest warrants, and other records might be a thing ofThis Fair Credit Reporting Act considers a background
the past. educates citizens and agencies about a newcheck as a consumer report. Even before an
way to find public records.employer can receive a consumer report for the
Research experts are now turning to the Web forpurposes of employment screening, the employer
public records and documents and finding theirneeds to have written authorization from the subject.
searches to be easier and faster than ever before. AFor simpler inquiries, the employer should still seek your
new Web portal called reveals facts about thisconsent.
process and gives every citizen a glance into theYou have the right to withdraw application for the
procedures of public record research.position if you do not want information disclosed. This
The Web portal about U.S. public records wasgives you, as a potential employee, a right to decide
designed to educate the general public as well asfor yourself if a certain position or is a job worth the
companies and agencies about a public service thatdisclosure of particular information about personal life.
has become the backbone of most financial and legalIt is in your right to dispute any errors in data in a
procedures in our society. Public records are used inreport. Once the employer receives the background
just about every major transaction today, whetherreport results and chooses not to hire you due to
business or personal," states Marc Gaines of Publicinformation in it, the employer is required to provide you
records are documents compiled by agencies andwith a pre-adverse action disclosure, which contains
public offices as well as the federal government thatyour rights and a report copy.
are made available to the general public. They areAfter this, they must inform you that they are not hiring
used to verify information such as criminalyou and include the address and name of the
backgrounds, real estate purchases and ownership,Consumer Reporting Agency, which provided the data
vehicle ownership, death records, tax liens, bankruptcybecause you have a right to dispute any errors in their
files, and court decisions.data, per Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Some examples of when public records might beAt the very least, an employment background check
needed include real estate transactions, motor vehicleincludes social security number verification. More
purchases, court trials, certain business transactions,detailed employment background checks may even
financial loans and mortgages, hiring for employment,contain a work history analysis, complete credit report,
and property value assessments.and names of references.
To research public records in the past, one wouldCriminal history, driving records, and payment of credit
typically visit their local courthouse or some otherrecords may also be included. The background inquiries
office. But with the Web becoming a staple in today'sare always associated with the nature of the job
business and legal world, the federal government, alongapplied. If, you are applying to work as a cashier, trying
with many agencies and companies, is now makingto figure out if you had a prior conviction in the past for
most public records available on the Internet. This givesstealing is not a far stretch of information that an
agencies and individuals an opportunity to find publicemployer may want to know.
records from their own home or office while savingHowever, that there is various information sources,
time and money.which in any case can be part of a comprehensive
delves into the facts many citizens do not know orbackground check. There are multiple states, which do
understand such as how public records are collected,not permit inquiries concerning certain convictions or
why background checks are needed, and why a U.S.arrests before a particular period. Other states will not
citizen's personal information is not always private.allow inquiries regarding criminal history for particular
More information about public records and how theypositions.
work is available at the Web site below:Also, as an applicant you should be aware that
First Background Check Directory - All You Need inemployers are not allowed to base their hiring choices
One Placeon a potential employee's disabilities, which is why they
If you are beginning to apply for a job, you maymay not ask for medical records. Your capability to
wonder what exactly an employment background Inperform the tasks for a particular position is what they
actuality, it is not just each separate business that setsmay ask about as well.