Fingerprint background checks are often required for employment, security clearance, immigration, etc. They are used to cross-reference records within the FBI’s criminal history databases.
Pros
Many employers perform background checks as a part of their hiring process to protect their employees, customers, and assets. A background check can verify information on an application, including criminal history, employment, education, and more.
Traditionally, fingerprint-based criminal record searches compare an applicant’s prints to the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) database to locate criminal records. This method is considered more accurate than name-based searches, ensuring the records are associated with the individual. Additionally, fingerprint screenings result in fewer false positives than database searches.
However, the FBI IAFIS database relies on the data sent to it by local and state law enforcement agencies, which may need to be updated regularly. Moreover, a fingerprint background check may require applicants to go through the physical submission of their biometric data, which can add friction to the onboarding process.
Submitting fingerprints also involves the potential for error, such as poor image quality or mismatched prints. Live scan technology significantly reduces these errors, resulting in a more precise and reliable screening process that eliminates false positives. It also has a much faster turnaround time than the traditional ink and roll.
In addition to being accurate and reliable, a digital fingerprinting program is cost-effective, eliminating the need for extra administrative costs like staffing, paperwork, and shipping. This can help save valuable recruiting and training resources for your business. Finally, it’s worth noting that fingerprinting and criminal background checks can expedite the process, allowing you to get the job done faster and make a more informed hiring decision. This is especially important in fast-paced industries where bad hires can have costly ramifications.
Cons
Some employers require fingerprinting as part of the employment screening process. This includes those who work with children, money, and the military, as well as some on-demand jobs like ride-sharing. However, fingerprinting has its limitations. Comprehensive name-based background checks are a better solution.
The FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint System (IAFIS) database contains 70 million records. However, not all arrests result in a fingerprint taken, and the database doesn’t always provide details about an arrest’s outcome. For example, the database might not tell an employer if the arrest resulted in a conviction or dismissal.
In addition, if an applicant changes their name after being arrested or they have multiple criminal arrests, it might take longer for those records to appear in the database. Also, the fingerprinting process can be expensive and time-consuming.
A more detailed criminal background check, compiled by a certified consumer reporting agency (CRA), can reveal an individual’s entire arrest history and other important information, such as driving violations, medical and social security records, and more. CRAs compile these reports using data from federal, state, and local records and public sources. The Fair Credit Reporting Act and similar state laws regulate them.
Both job applicants and employers need to understand the limits of fingerprinting in employment background checks. Crime TV shows might make it seem like a quick run of a person’s fingerprints will give you all the information you need about their past. In reality, that kind of all-knowing database doesn’t exist. Despite its limited value, fingerprinting is still used in many industries and can be used in conjunction with name searches in databases. However, to ensure you get the most accurate and complete information possible, consider partnering with a company that offers comprehensive name-based and criminal background checks as part of its employee screening services.
Advantages
A fingerprint background check is used to cross-reference an individual’s prints with law enforcement databases to find criminal records. The information retrieved can include the name of the agency that submitted the fingerprints, the date of the arrest, and the disposition if known. Fingerprinting is the most reliable method for criminal background checks, as it reduces false positives and eliminates duplicates that may result from name similarities.
Fingerprinting can also be more cost-effective and efficient than other background checks. Unlike traditional ink-and-paper print comparisons, digital fingerprinting requires less processing time and provides results immediately. This allows employers to make hiring decisions more quickly.
However, a fingerprint background check may not provide all the criminal history an employer seeks. Additionally, the FBI only reports on serious crimes — e.g., robbery, assault and murder. This means other charges, such as disorderly conduct, first-offense drug charges, and loitering, will not appear in the FBI record.
For these reasons, most employers who use a fingerprint background check will still conduct a more comprehensive national and local criminal background check beside the fingerprinting results. This will ensure they get the most accurate and complete picture of a potential hire’s background.
Additionally, private screening companies can compile a comprehensive report that includes the results of a criminal background check, credit checks, medical and drug tests, and employment, education, and professional verifications. These reports are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and analogous state laws to protect job applicants from unfair employment actions and help cover gaps that may not be found through a single method.
