Which checks are included in my background check package?

This article will help you:

• Determine which checks are in your package
• Understand a basic report package
• Learn where to look for more info on other Checkr products

This article is intended for users with Admin or Requester roles.

A package refers to the checks conducted once the candidate authorizes their background check. You can view your selection of packages on the Home section of the dashboard. 

For more information on the products Checkr offers, see the Checks Types section in the Help Center.

Please contact Checkr Customer Support for questions about the options we offer, or to configure packages specific to your needs. 

When you order a background check package on the Checkr Dashboard, you'll see which checks it includes:

Basic report package

Most checks begin with a "basic" report package, which includes the most common searches:

• SSN Trace
• Sex Offender Registry Check
• Global Watchlist Records Check
• National Criminal Records Check

These searches cannot be run as standalone searches, and are always run as a group.

Social Security Number (SSN) Trace

The SSN Trace is run first, and provides verification that the SSN exists, what state it was issued, what year it was issued, and all known names (AKAs) and addresses associated with the SSN.

Data returned from the SSN Trace, including previous addresses and possible aliases, is then used as a pointer to run a County Criminal Records Check, searching specific counties for records.

Process: Credit Bureau records are checked against the name, date of birth and SSN submitted by each candidate. All discrepancies are vetted by Checkr’s QA team prior to initiating the remaining checks.

For more information, please see Social Security Number (SSN) Trace in the Checks Types section of the Checkr Help Center.

Sex Offender Registry Check

A nationwide search of all 50 states and the District of Columbia’s sex offender registry for all levels of registered sex offenders. Search includes type(s) of offense and identifiers, such as Date of Birth (DOB).

Process: A near instantaneous database search. All potential records are vetted by Checkr’s professional QA team to ensure maximal accuracy.

For more information, please see Sex Offender Registry Check in the Checks Types section of the Checkr Help Center.

Global Watchlist Records Check

Searches for terrorists and individuals excluded/barred by the US government and foreign entities. Also includes a sanctions search to identify individuals who are included in government sanction databases.

Process: A near-instantaneous database search. All potential records are vetted by Checkr’s professional QA team to ensure maximal accuracy.

For more information, please see Global Watchlist Records Check in the Checks Types section of the Checkr Help Center.

National Criminal Records Check

A “pointer” database of over 900 million records is queried instantly.

Process: A near instantaneous database search, delays only occur when a record requires additional review by the Quality Assurance team.

Note that this is different from a Federal Criminal Records Check.

For more information, please see National Criminal Records Check in the Checks Types section of the Checkr Help Center.

County Criminal Records Check

If the basic report package returns any pointers to possible data in specific counties, a County Criminal Records Check is initiated. All felony and misdemeanor records identified on the National Criminal Records Check are verified at the source county courthouse. A County Criminal Records Check is conducted in one or more of the following:

• Current County Check: In the county where the candidate has most recently resided.
• Unlimited County Checks: In all counties where the candidate had a registered address during the past seven years.

Process: This is a largely human search, both for Checkr and for other consumer reporting agencies. However, Checkr’s proprietary software ensures more consistent quality across the efforts of many contributors. Checkr sends licensed and insured court researchers into each respective courthouse to search for records.

For more information, please see County Criminal Records Check in the Checks Types section of the Checkr Help Center.