Arrest and Police Reports – What Background Checks Can Show?

Ever wonder what background checks show? Many people ask, can arrests show up on background checks? Do police reports show up on background checks? Background checks can reveal a variety of information about an individual’s past. The extent of the information uncovered depends on the type of background check being conducted, the source of the background check, and the available information sources. Below are some of the elements you will find in a background check. 

Criminal History

Arrest and Police Reports - What Background Checks Can Show?

Criminal history summarizes your arrests, criminal activities, convictions, police reports, and other elements that outline your criminal profile. Criminal history also includes sex offenses and information about sex offender registration. 

Your criminal history shows up in most regular background checks. Unless you apply that certain information be taken down (for example, arrests that do not lead to a conviction), they will remain in your public profile forever. Also, erased criminal history may not exist in your public profile but will be found on security agency databases. 

Educational History

A background check might verify the educational credentials claimed by an individual, such as degrees earned and schools attended. Academic background checks are necessary for certain claims and can be especially useful for agencies verifying educational claims of people vying for political positions. 

The process for educational background check includes:

  1. Consent: It is important to get consent from the individual you are running an educational background check on. Background checks without permission can be granted by a sitting judge, depending on the intricacy of the situation. 
  2. Data gathering: Gather information on the person you want to run a background check on. Data include full name, institute attended, graduation year, and course of study. 
  3. Reach out to the institution: Reach out to the institution of claim and submit the consent. The institution will provide information, such as transcripts, and verify the claim. The institution may request a fee to process your verification request. 

People also use third-party firms to verify academic claims. These firms have relationships with many institutions, easing the process. 

Employment History

Background checks can show a person’s work history, including past employers, job titles, dates of employment, and sometimes job performance. People who run employment background checks simplify the claimant’s claims. You should know that you need to consent to an employment background check before an employer can order one on your behalf. 

Credit History

Credit history summarizes your credit patterns, behavior, credit account, and payment history, including defaults. This data is contained in a credit report. 

Driving Record

This applies particularly to positions that involve driving, where the background check might show an individual’s driving history, including traffic violations, tickets, and accidents.

Social Media and Online Presence

Some background checks show people’s digital footprint, including online presence on different websites, social media posts, discussions on forums, and other social media activities. Sinister elements sometimes use social media and online presence to determine your behavior or put you in a particular bracket. Sometimes, these background checks are used to find self-damaging posts. 

Character References

Sometimes, people may interview or contact reputable people to vouch for or support their character claim. Sometimes, these types of checks are done by businesses or organizations and entrepreneurs looking to partner with other entrepreneurs or companies. 

Civil Litigation

Information about civil lawsuits, such as lawsuits involving personal injury, contract disputes, tenancy disputes, or other legal actions, may be included in some background checks.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

For professional industries like legal, medical, accountancy, and engineering, verifying the claimant’s claim of being part of such distinguished societies is important. For example, a person who claims to be a Chartered Accountant must have received his ACCA certification. For reference purposes, people may verify the certificate’s authenticity.

Bankruptcy

A background check can also verify a person’s bankruptcy record. It shows if a person has ever been bankrupt, the number of times, and other important details. 

Why Does Police Report Show up on Background Checks?

The personal safety and security of your loved ones are paramount. Background checks show arrest as a forewarning of an individual’s capacity to commit crimes. Arrest records show up on background checks because, with them, people can objectively define their relationship with an entity and take precautionary measures for the security of themselves and their estate.

Summary

Police reports come up on background checks; however, beyond this report, others like bankruptcy records, civil litigation, and educational history can be indicators of a person’s past and can lead to an objective assessment of a person’s moral, ethical, and business character. Therefore, if you are looking for in-depth information about a person’s record, understand that arrests show up on background checks, but dig deeper for many other types of records.