NCJ Number
126625
Journal
Security Management Volume: 33 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1989) Pages: 46-50,52
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Public records regarding individuals can provide extensive information that is useful in preemployment screening by private security managers who want to avoid legal liability for negligent hiring and to distinguish applicants who are well qualified from those who are poorly qualified.
Abstract
The five basic types of records that offer the most assistance include criminal records, workers' compensation records, driving records, Federal records, and educational records. Arrest records say nothing about an individual, but conviction histories have many security applications. Workers' compensation records can show patterns of abuse of State laws or show injuries that make an applicant unsuitable for certain physical demands. Driving records show traffic offenses and also confirm demographic and physical information. Federal records show Federal criminal records, involvement in civil litigation, and bankruptcy filings. Educational records indicate an individual's motivation and qualifications, although falsified records are common. Security managers should be aware that these records are legally available, accessible, and inexpensive.