What Is the Fingerprint Background Check Process?

Fingerprint background checks can verify a person’s identity if they have a criminal history. The procedure begins with an applicant’s fingerprints being collected at the time of application. They are then taken to a police department, where the vetting agency will compare the prints to the applicant’s criminal history. The agency will then forward the results to the employer.

A Biometric Device Captures Fingerprints

Law enforcement agencies conduct fingerprint background checks to determine if a prospective employee has any criminal history. Fingerprint background checks can verify a person’s identity if they have a criminal history. Fingerprints are captured by a biographic device, which stores these images electronically. These records are then submitted to a specific state agency.

The fingerprint background check is completed within a matter of hours. This is much faster than the old-fashioned method of rolling up fingerprint cards, which is messy and often produces poor image quality. The biometric device searches a state and FBI criminal history database to determine a person’s criminal history.

Fingerprints have four basic features. These include loop fingerprints and whorl fingerprints. Loop fingerprints have ridges that enter the finger on one side and exit from the opposite side, while whorl fingerprints have ridges that spiral around a central point. The biometric device can capture fingerprints on a flat surface or a surface covered with a gel.

Applicant’s Prints Are Compared To A Criminal Record

The fingerprint background checks are similar to a criminal record search in several ways. First, fingerprints are typically obtained during pre-employment screening or licensing procedures. After fingerprints are collected, they are compared to criminal records held by the FBI or State Identification Bureau. If the fingerprint match is positive, the applicant’s criminal history is available to the person who has requested it.

Fingerprint background checks cross-reference fingerprints against a person’s criminal history to let an employer or organization know whether or not that person has a criminal record. However, fingerprint background checks cannot tell employers all details about an individual’s criminal past since some crimes may not appear.

Records Are Sent To A Database

Records are sent to a database the FBI maintains when performing a fingerprint background check. The database contains information from arrests and military service records to federal employment and naturalization records. However, it is essential to note that the database is incomplete, and many papers have missing or inaccurate information. This makes the background check process more cumbersome.

The fingerprint background check process involves fingerprinting an applicant, who is then checked against the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) database. The FBI uses these records to match criminal information to personal information. The fingerprint records are also used to validate identity.

An Agency Reviews Records

Fingerprint background checks are used to verify a person’s background. FBI fingerprint background checks compare a person’s fingerprints with a database of criminal records. Because fingerprints are unique identifiers, fingerprint background checks can help avoid scams and fraud. The FBI fingerprint background checks database relies on state and local jurisdictions for its data. However, states are not required to report this information to the FBI, and they reserve the constitutional right to keep much of the information to themselves.

Once fingerprint background checks are completed, the results are reviewed by an agency. The applicant will receive a hard copy of their background check results in the mail. The agency is not allowed to discuss the results with the applicant. In addition, the agency cannot give legal advice about the results of fingerprint background checks.

Results Are Sent To The Agency

The agency can obtain fingerprint records from the person. After the fingerprints are collected, they are submitted to a secure telecommunication service and sent to the FBI or State Department for processing. Fingerprint records for NBCP applications are transmitted to the SIB for processing, passing them to the FBI. Fingerprint records are no longer processed on hard cards made before April 2012. Fingerprint records are now only processed electronically and sent by mail.

The FBI fingerprint background check database is used to identify a person’s background. 156 million people have fingerprint records in this database. The database was initially designed to assist law enforcement agencies, but there are issues with uniformity and consistency. Therefore, getting an applicant’s consent before running a fingerprint background check is a good idea.