What Is Included in a Background Security Check?

Background checks are requested for many different reasons. When looking to hire new employees, human resource professionals will usually perform some form of background screening before making a personnel decision. Banks and mortgage companies may run a background check before approving a loan. There are many different reports and searches available to be run on a person, each providing different types of information to the person or company requesting them.

Criminal History

A criminal search of areas a person has lived in can provide a report of any arrests, convictions or court trials the person was involved in. Every state has different reporting rules; depending on which area is being searched, some arrest information may not be available if the person was never convicted of the crime. A call to your local courts or law enforcement agencies could explain the reporting guidelines for your area.

Motor Vehicle History

A lot of volunteer organizations that enlist people to drive vans or buses will get a motor vehicle history report before allowing someone to begin in that position. A motor vehicle history report will differ from state to state, but generally will allow the person viewing it to see any accidents or tickets a person has received and if that person's license is currently valid. Many states are now linked so that information is reportable no matter where the incident may have occurred.

Social Security Trace Report

A social security trace report comprises an address history of places where someone has lived and used their social security number for any number of reasons. These can include magazine subscriptions, e-mail distribution lists or group registrations. This will allow the person ordering the background check to search in these additional areas for any criminal activity while the person lived there.

Credit Report

A credit report is mainly used to see a person's credit score and any negative activity he has accrued. However, a credit report will also give a small address history to allow for more criminal searches to take place. Even employers are now looking at credit reports before making hiring decisions for their companies. A bad credit report could possibly prevent someone from getting a job that she is otherwise well suited for.

Employment / Education History

A person's employment and education history is very important when making hiring decisions. It allows the person requesting the background check to see what kind of an employee a person was at previous jobs. It also helps when deciding if a person is qualified for a certain position. Any employers or educational institutions will be contacted to verify whether the information provided by the applicant is correct. This also aids in finding a trustworthy candidate.

Global Search Lists

There are many different global search lists available. A health care sanctions report will show if a person who works in the health care industry has had any complaints against her, or if she is licensed, it will show if she has ever had her license suspended or revoked. A global security report will show if a person has ever been wanted or charged by the FBI, Interpol or any other international criminal agencies.