Bad Background Checks May be Costing Hundreds of Arkansans Jobs
By: Jonathan Athens, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 17, 2012
Flawed background checks may be to blame for hundreds of Arkansans not being able to land jobs.
The Arkansas Crime Information Center says it gets calls almost every day from people who've failed background checks. It turns out that most of those checks are conducted by local businesses using private online companies. In many cases, those unregulated companies don't have up-to-date information.
"It's a difficult situation," says Brad Cazort with the Arkansas Crime Information Center, "This legislature is aware of it. How do you regulate companies that do not necessarily have a business presence in Arkansas because they are internet companies?"
The center says the only way employers can be sure they are getting accurate and up-to-date background checks is by using the state police to conduct them.
The Arkansas Crime Information Center says it gets calls almost every day from people who've failed background checks. It turns out that most of those checks are conducted by local businesses using private online companies. In many cases, those unregulated companies don't have up-to-date information.
"It's a difficult situation," says Brad Cazort with the Arkansas Crime Information Center, "This legislature is aware of it. How do you regulate companies that do not necessarily have a business presence in Arkansas because they are internet companies?"
The center says the only way employers can be sure they are getting accurate and up-to-date background checks is by using the state police to conduct them.
Comments
Thank you so much for bringing this up! I preach this every day to people who don't seem to understand that there is a significant difference in 'checks', 'record checks' and 'investigations'. They THINK they are saving money but all they are doing is a dis-service. I've been doing these for over 35 years and people just don't learn. A search through these online services that use old and inaccurate information is NOT the same as an investigation conducted by a qualified, experienced investigator that knows what they are looking for. Just go to our website (arkansas-investigations.com) and see what we have to say about backgrounds. We use OSR methods as well as accurate and proven systems. Don't be fooled.
Michael W.
August 18, 2012 at 8:51 am
