In the intricate world of background investigations, determining the cost of the check isn't a straightforward equation of dollars per search. It's a complex dance influenced by various factors.
So, let's dive in and unravel why some people's background investigation comes with a higher price tag than others.
Location, Location, Location
One of the primary contributors to the varying costs of background checks is the number of places an applicant has lived. Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) need to use Primary Source Verification in their investigations to ensure compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Most commonly, the Primary Source to verify criminal information is the county court in the jurisdictions an applicant has lived. In some states, the Primary Source is an even lower court, but for this article we’ll keep it to the county.
Each individual county court across the country has its own unique fee for obtaining records. If your applicant has lived in multiple jurisdictions, each jurisdiction searched comes with its own fee. It might seem like overkill to search all counties, but it is ultimately necessary.
There’s no one single point of truth in background checks, so to obtain a complete criminal history, each applicable court needs to be checked, all the way down to the town, village, or city courts.
Some criminal searches are more cost-effective than others, though. New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Vermont all have state criminal programs with quality data that we feel comfortable reporting on.
Instead of going county-by-county, employers can search the whole state for usually less than a county search.
We say usually because in New York State, for example, the statewide criminal search through the NYS Office of Court Administration (NYS OCA) has a $98.50 per name fee associated with every inquiry.
To avoid these government fees, New York employers can utilize Cursory Indicator NY™, a proprietary NY state criminal search from CI. With it, employers can obtain New York state criminal history without overpaying.
The lesson here is to be aware of your applicant demographics and factor in potential geographical variations to avoid unpleasant budget surprises.
Intricacies of Multiple Names
