Pathway 2

Selecting a Reputable Background Checking
Company

There are a variety of criteria you may rely upon to evaluate the credibility of a background checking company:

• • Is the company a member of, accredited or certified by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), the professional trade association in this industry?
• • Can the company tailor the background check to report only job-relevant information? Such as limiting the look-back period, focusing on specific conviction types, or excluding arrest records?
• • Is information on convictions confirmed with the original criminal justice source, rather than online or secondary database “hits”?
• • Is a “match” to your applicant or employee reported only when a full name and at least one additional identifier data item is confirmed (DOB, SSN, driver’s license, address, etc.)?
• • Does the company engage in an ongoing audit process(ideally outside, independent audit) to maintain the quality and accuracy of its procedures and information?
• • Does the company have access to its own legal counsel for ongoing compliance updates?
• • Does the company provide guidance on employer compliance obligations under the FCRA and other applicable state or local laws on issues such as applicant/employee authorizations, timing and content of notices, data retention and disposal, explanation of conviction record data?

The Law and Collateral Consequences:
Complying with EEOC Regulations