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Website Launched:  12/26/1994
Last Update:  2/14/2013
The Integrity Center, Inc.

(972) 484-6140
[ Since 1984 ]
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Myth # 7
It is possible to obtain a
National criminal conviction history.

The first inclination of the average person is to assume that the nationwide access to criminal records that they see on TV is available to employers.    The closest thing to the image usually portrayed is the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) operated by the FBI.   This is a law enforcement resource and is illegal for the civilian sector to have any access to.   Further, it does not contain the sum total of every criminal record in every state and city in the U.S.

There are background checking companies who advertise that they do have a national check, and in the fine print tell you that they are online with every court that has made external access to its computer system available.    Any check based on that availability is only a tiny portion of a national search because not that many courthouses (14%) yet have those facilities.

There are also vendors who have accumulated vast databases of records and say that they will do a national search.   True, they have records from all over the U.S., but these too are far from complete.   However, most importantly, they have a major problem. The FTC has issued an opinion to Allan that says that using stored data for employment purposes violates Section 613(a)(2).    No employer should be using stored data firms for employment purposes.

Finally, there are newspaper clipping services that accumulate arrest and conviction records nationwide, but this does not give you criminal conviction histories.


COMMON
MYTHS
MYTH # 1
The FCRA does not
apply to all
situations.

MYTH # 2
You don't need a
Release to investigate
current employees.

MYTH # 3
It is legal to use
stored database info
for employment
purposes.

MYTH # 4
Background checking
companies don't need
to be licensed.

MYTH # 5
You can't ask for
Date of Birth.

MYTH # 6
Conviction histories
can only look back
seven (7) years.

MYTH # 7
It is possible to
buy a NATIONAL
criminal history.

MYTH # 8
All SSN verifications
are the same.