As a business owner, you understand that a bad hire can cost your company money and damage your reputation. That’s why you may consider conducting a criminal background check on prospective employees before hiring them.

There are some advantages to accessing criminal history records for employers. Learn more in this article about why you should do so and how it can benefit your company.

Reduce Risk

Hiring new employees is an important business process and a critical step in growing a successful company. However, employers must take precautions to protect themselves from unnecessary risk and fraud in hiring.

By accessing criminal history records, employers can help them reduce this risk by allowing them to make informed decisions about job candidate’s qualifications. This allows them to hire the best people for the job who will add value and improve performance within the company.

Some employers have moved toward evaluating job applicants’ qualifications first and then running background checks to evaluate their criminal history later. This approach has a few benefits:

The first advantage is that it eliminates discrimination based on race or other characteristics.

This is because an employer might otherwise use these observable characteristics to infer a probability that a candidate has a criminal record without actually knowing anything about the person. This could lead to statistical discrimination if a job applicant with a criminal record is disproportionately compared with non-criminal applicants in terms of race or educational attainment.

Additionally, delaying access to an applicant’s criminal history can allow a firm to gather more information about that individual during the hiring process, which may lead to a more informed decision as to whether or not that person should be hired.

In some states, most employers can only ask about arrests and charges that led to a conviction. They also cannot consider records that have been sealed or youthful offender adjudications in making employment decisions.

Prevent Fraud

Criminal history records are key to assessing whether a candidate is a good fit for the job. They can reveal important information about an applicant’s background, including past arrests and convictions, disciplinary actions, employment history, and other important details.

Many employers conduct criminal history checks to reduce risk, prevent fraud and protect the company’s reputation. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, one of the most common reasons employers consider criminal background screenings is to reduce legal liability for negligent hiring (51%) and theft and other crime (38%).

Employers can also use criminal record checks to ensure a safe work environment. They can be particularly helpful for companies that deal with vulnerable populations, such as children and seniors.

A complete criminal record report is critical to reducing the risk of employee theft and fraud. A thorough check includes a search at the county level, which may uncover records that aren’t available on state or federal databases.

Fortunately, many states have adopted ban-the-box or fair hiring laws that restrict employers from using criminal record information in the hiring process. These laws require employers to conduct individualized assessments of job candidates with criminal histories, taking into account the specific circumstances of each case.

Protect the Company’s Brand

Using the right tools, you’ll be able to get your hands on the information that matters most to your bottom line. You’ll also have a better understanding of the people you hire and be more informed when it comes to making decisions about their ongoing employment.

The best way to access this information is to get an instant criminal history check from a provider that offers a comprehensive and cost-effective solution for your needs. These services include federal and state criminal history checks and a complete credit report. Besides providing valuable insights into your prospective employees, these services will help protect your company from the financial consequences of negligent hiring and fraud and improve employee morale.

Prevent Discrimination

In many cases, criminal convictions are an important consideration for employers because they can impact a person’s ability to perform their job. However, employers must ensure they are not discriminating against candidates based on their criminal convictions.

Some federal and state laws protect job applicants with criminal convictions from discrimination. 

Using a background check service to access an applicant’s criminal record is a good way to ensure you are not making discriminatory hiring decisions. These services are fast, easy to use and provide reliable results within minutes.

A criminal conviction can impact a person’s employment, education, voting, housing, and financial security. This is particularly true for people of color, who are often subjected to higher arrest and incarceration rates than whites.

Although it is rare, a small amount of evidence can be enough to prove that an employer has discriminated against someone based on their criminal record. The most common form of criminal conviction discrimination involves lying about an applicant’s right to be hired if they have a criminal record.

In addition to lying, criminal conviction discrimination can take the form of derogatory comments about people with criminal convictions or statements about how a person’s past criminal behavior makes them unfit for a certain job. The best way to prevent this type of discrimination is to document any statements or displays that may indicate possible criminal conviction discrimination.