Mike Sankey, founder and CEO of BRB Publications was kind enough to allow us to re-publish a section from his book, The Public Record Research Tips Book, on employeescreen Univeristy. The article offers information on how to distinguish between a name-only public record search and a document request. There is clearly a difference and it is important for employers who conduct background checks to understand this concept.
Check out a portion of Mike’s Guest Article below.
“Let us say you wish to determine if an individual has a criminal record or, say, if an individual has collateralized certain assets such as a real estate holding or ownership of equipment used in a business. The best way to perform this research is to do a “name search” – also known as an “alpha search” – of an index at the government agency that holds the records.
However, name searching is not always an easy task. An index may or may not contain the middle initial or the date of birth. Most indices no longer show the full or even a partial Social Security Number due to privacy concerns. Obviously, having this additional information – often referred to as “PI” which stands for “personal identifiers” – can be quite helpful as discussed below. Since many agencies withhold personal identifiers from appearing on the web, using an Internet site to perform a name search on such a site has lesser value and is often merely a supplemental search.
Other agencies, such as many of the county-based Supreme Courts in New York, refuse to allow the public to view an index online or in person AND refuse to perform a name search. For example, most New York courts direct searchers of criminal records to the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) for an online statewide criminal history search (CHRS) for a $55 fee.
Another problem when performing name searches is the correct spelling or variation of the name. There can be typos in the index and records could be filed under a variation of a first name (Ted vs. Theodore, Robert vs. Bob, Deborah vs. Debra vs. Debbie, etc.). Knowing how to maneuver through an agencies index, be it on-site or online, is quite important and worth investigating”
Name only searches are definitely not recommended for employers that are conducting background checks. Without proper information about the records and conclusive personal identifiers this practice could get you in hot water.
