The agency used a list of crimes not found in state laws to find that some applicants shouldn’t be hired. The list, which included misdemeanor DUIs and other minor crimes, was in a bill considered but not approved by the 2003 Legislature.

The article touches upon the subject of application notifcation and whether the job applicants received an adverse action letter based on the background check. 

Capt. Phil O’Neill, who runs the division, said he didn’t know of anyone who lost a job over the mistake, adding they might not have been hired for other reasons.

This response sounds like code speak for “we found somebody better qualified” in which the company wouldn’t have to issue an adverse action letter.

adverse action letter
FCRA
background checks
Nevada DPS
Nevada Criminal Records

Apparently SHRM has established a organization called HR Initiative for a Legal Workforce which has criticized the effectiveness of E-Verify.

E-Verify, which checks information from I-9 forms against Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration databases, cannot tell if a worker is submitting a stolen Social Security number.

Based on the article in Workforce Management, the proof that Howard Industries was using E-Verify is a statement from the company “Howard Industries runs every check allowed to ascertain the immigration status of all applicants for jobs”  There was no indication that an independant investigation of Howard Industries was conducted to determine if they were using E-Verify correctly, or screening every employee.  Perhaps they weren’t.  Perhaps by using E-Verify, Howard Industries opened themselves up to an easier investigation of its practices by the Feds.  I suppose it would be a simple arithmetic problem; how many employees it files on payroll, and how many submitted on E-Verify.  Even if they match, it seems that the E-verify helps the government locate abused SSNs and duplicate employment records for stolen SSNs.  

It should be interesting to see if the quality of E-verify I-9 Compliance pans out, and how the system is adopted in a largely volunteer space.

e-verify
i-9 compliance
howard industries
SHRM

Publication Timeline
No word about whether this magazine will be in print or when the first issue will be published, but hopefully it will feature quality articles by top professionals from the background check industry.  Hopefully human resources professionals will have the time and stomach to digest this media source and stay abreast of legal issues and new screening practices.

human resources magazine
background checks
employment screening

ABC system reports include felony and misdemeanor arrests compiled from information provided by Alabama law enforcement agencies,” stated Mitchell. “ACJIC has also gone a step further by combining forces with Alabama’s court and public safety agencies to provide employers with a more comprehensive Alabama records check, including available Alabama circuit, district, and local court records for the past seven years and court cases that are currently pending.”

Some of the downsides to this system are the additional step of having your applicants sign an ABC compliant release form.  Further, by providing arrest record information to employers, employers need to exercise caution when making adverse action decisions if they base this information on arrest records only and not convictions.   Adverse actions not based on convictions might not be allowed by Federal law under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

background checks
alabama background checks
alabama ABC

We agree that having prospective candidates pay for their own background check may force them to apply elsewhere.   There is a shortage of nurses in the United States and Nova Scotia nurses may do well to travel south of the border. 

We disagree that the honor system is working.  The honor systems works for those who do not commit crimes.  It is naive to believe that those nurses commit crimes, will honorably report all crimes on renewal.  The honor system, while high minded and should reflect the decency and civility of Nova Scotia, is subjecting medical patients to the “honor” of a criminal minded nurse.  By reductio ad absurdum, imagine a child molesting nurse.  Are we to believe that such a nurse would admit such crimes or convictions to the nursing college knowing that this information would assuredly ruin her chance to keep her job.   The college rightfully has instituted a background check program to protect the populace.

 canada background checks
healthcare background checks

The South County Journal recently discussed running background checks on Ice Cream Truck Drivers in your neighborhood.   

Greg Sloan, manager of Frosty Treats, 4230 N. Broadway, said the business requires background checks for its drivers, even if the municipality where they work does not require them.

A Higher Source
Regardless of local regulations, try to maintain a higher standard for your background check program.  Not only will you enjoy a higher quality workforce you will prevent negative press related to a negligent hiring situation.   Because Davie Lee Roth might be a good Rock n Roll singer, but you sure don’t want him selling ice cream to your children. 

background checks
ice cream trucks
public relations

Read the full article here:

If you are considering doing business with a public school district, be aware that background checks are coming under intense scrutiny as we seek to better protect our nation’s children.  Most school districts are implementing background check requirements, and we recommend your own companies background check program exceeds the expectations of the school district.  Check anyone and everyone that would have any contact with children.   Conduct pre-employment drug screening and frequent, random drug screening of employees.   Your extra efforts will be recognized by the public, and you will also prevent any negative press associated with a negligent hiring situation.

 
background checks
school background checks
drug testing
drug screening

“While we had certainly hoped that the district and the attorney general’s office would have respected the privacy of individual citizens, we’re now forced to file suit to protect the fundamental rights of AISD employees,” said Doug Rogers, the group’s executive director.

Read the full article here:

While the courts decide the issue, it’s worth discussing what’s at stake here.   The trouble with protecting public records about teachers in a public school is that the students of citizens attend these schools.  It seems that the public has a right to the results of the background checks conducted on the teachers, at least the ”public records” portion, such as criminal background history, civil background history, liens, judgments, etc. 

The importance of background checks in public school cannot be igored.  In light of the litigation involved in the Roman Catholic church scandal over abuse inside the church, any organization must be aware of the potental fallout of negligent hiring and not running background checks on your employees.  School need to screen all employees of the school system, not just teachers. 

 background checks
teacher background checks
education verification 

In addition to her position as office manager, she helped in women’s ministries, led Bible studies, did some churchwide event coordinating, prayed regularly with staff t is a licensed minister,

Read the full article in the Beach Reporter  to learn about some of the practices this employee used to hide her theft.

Anderson was paying all of the church’s bills, but whenever there was money left over, she would take it.

I knew we were looking at phony bank statements. She was having the statements retyped and she was stealing money through online banking. She set up online accounts with my (the pastor’s) Social Security number”

 There has been a spike in newspaper stories recently about employee theft , and unfortunately houses of worship are an easy place for a financial predator to strike.  It can be very hard to protect your business or non-profit organization from this type of criminal behavior if you are not careful. Loss prevention not only the battle against theft, or but also the litigation costs associated with negligent hiring.   The article doesn’t mention whether the church had originally run a background check on this employee.  It is paramount for any organizaton to properly screen their employees, especially anyone with check writing and fidicuary responsibilties.   Run a credit history check for employment, and also check county civil records search for any and all bankruptcy, liens and judgments records.  Finally, run a criminal records seach to make sure your candidates hasn’t been convicted of embezzlement.  

Hopefully the church will be able to get back some of the stolen funds.  Stay out the news by background screening all of your organization’s employees. 

Read the full article here:

 background checks
employment screening
church screening
volunteer background checks

Corra Daily Planet

The fact is the Motor Vehicle Driving Records can tell you much more than just how your candidate is driving. This search can define behavior patterns and even indicate substance problems. You do not want substance abuse problems in your work place, so you either run drug tests or look for the behavioral signs through the DMV search and other background check indicators.

 Sometimes your business contracts will require you to run an annual check on your driving motor vehicle records.  Using a web-based background check screening company like www.corragroup.com will help you re-order these searches quickly and easily.  Searches provided include DOT and CDLIS motor vehicle records.   

background checks
motor vehicle records
driving records