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Frequently Asked Questions

Background Check General Questions

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Criminal History, Where the applicant has lived, Motor Vehicle Report, Previous Employer, Education Verification, Sanctions and much more. The specific criteria can be set up based on specific client needs.

In most cases, no. However, if you request a previous employment verifications it could show up.  Depends on the previous employer’s policy.

A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records, and financial records of an individual or an organization.

Yes. In most cases, if the clerk has entered the case into the system then it will show and will be reported.

Yes, only if you provide your current employer's information and request that search.

No, typically expunged records are removed from the court systems. However, if the courts have not updated their records, then the expunged records may still show.  If this an expunged record shows on an applicant’s report, the applicant may open a dispute.  In this case, when the record is expunged, then the background report is updated, the court is notified, and the potential employer is sent an updated report.

A background check will only show the past jobs that you provide.

Yes, if an arrest was made and the case has been entered into the judicial system.

Not typically. However, if there is a gap in employment history most employers may require an explanation for the gap.

Yes, if the warrant has been entered into the system and the county with the outstanding warrant is searched. Most basic National Searches will find pending warrants.

Yes, pending charges appear in a report as soon as the county clerk enters the case into the system.

No, most juvenile records are sealed. Even if the records are revealed the standard is to not report any juvenile cases.

Yes, only if a previous employer is willing to reveal this information. Revealing salary information may be against company policy in many instances.

Depending on the order, multiple sources are used, this could include County Courts, Federal Courts, Databases, Credit Bureaus, Educational Institutions, Previous Employers, Incarceration Records, FBI Databases and many other sources where public information is housed.

Orders are placed by the consumer wanting their own background or any others who have a specific permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws.  Once the order is placed all the proper disclosures and releases are signed by the actual individual the background is being performed on that give Peopletrail permission to conduct the searches.  Once the documentation is received the appropriate sources are searched and reported back to the consumer and/or or any others who have a specific permissible purpose.

Depends on many factors including the type of searches required, the county the background is being performed, how the data is stored and retrieved.  That said most backgrounds take between 24 and 72 hours.

Yes, consumers/applicants are legally entitled to see what is in their “file” (15 USC § 1681g).

Running a background check on any individual requires consent, which forms a legally binding contract; however, minors cannot contract because they lack the capacity to contract.

Capacity to contract means the legal competence of a person to enter into a valid contract. Which means consent or the ability to contract has to come from a parent, or legal guardian is required to proceeding with the background check.

In addition, we can do the background, but the majority of criminal records for minors are sealed, with the exception of when a minor is convicted as an adult.

This sealing of records is due to the juvenile criminal justice system focusing on rehabilitation and guards against the stigma of being labeled a criminal. The law that does not allow us to release that information is 18 U.S. Code § 5038(a)(6), and it states:

“Unless otherwise authorized by this section, information about the juvenile record may not be released when the request for information is related to an application for employment, license, bonding, or any civil right or privilege. Responses to such inquiries shall not be different from responses made about persons who have never been involved in a delinquency proceeding (18 U.S. Code § 5038(a)(6)).”

Disclaimer:  Peopletrail and their representatives are not lawyers; nothing in this FAQ/Blog and/or provided by Peopletrail should be deemed as legal guidance or advice.  Users are solely responsible for complying with all local, state, and federal laws as they may relate to any information provided on this website. Peopletrail recommends utilization of a competent legal representative for any legal issues.