The pre-employment background screening may be the most important step in the hiring process. Some industries have Federal or State screening mandates (transportation, securities), while most states have passed legislation requiring background checks in jobs that serve the vulnerable or at risk, such as the elderly, children, and disabled.
You can’t always judge a book by its cover. A potential hire may look like the person next door, but how do you know what a new employee or high school volunteer has been involved with? It’s not just the press, it’s real. Crime statistics indicate that:
Past history will not predict the future. But it will give you a reasonable indicator of the reliability and credibility of the people you are hiring or putting in trusted positions. An FBI fingerprint background check gives you the best chance of identifying people who have a record of previous wrongdoing and represent a risk to your company.
Background screening also reduces the risk of negligent hiring and retention lawsuits.
Employers must exercise due diligence in determining if the applicant has a criminal history that may be relevant to the position. An FBI fingerprint check is an important part of any defense against liability claims.