Screenings Settings – Checkr Help Center

The Screenings Settings page allows you to manage the tools Checkr provides to streamline your background check process. Use this page to:

Review your Packages
Review and edit your Programs
Create Geos
Review and customize your Positive Adjudication Matrix

Screenings Options

The Screenings Settings page allows you to review and manage the following four tools used in Checkr’s background checks:

Screenings: Screenings are the different types of background checks that Checkr performs. Select only Screenings that are meaningful to your organization and the specific position(s) you are trying to fill. For example, before you select a Motor Vehicle Report check, check to ensure the types of information returned will help you make informed decisions.

For more information, see the Screening Types section of the Checkr Help Center.

Packages: Packages are groups of Screenings that enable you to evaluate pools of candidates using different criteria. A Package (or group of Screenings) should be driven by the specific duties of the position. For example, you may want to include Motor Vehicle Report checks for all new hires, but employment verifications only for certain hires.

Packages also define the number of aliases generated from the SSN Trace that will be used for subsequent Checks. Work with your Checkr Customer Success manager to determine the number of candidate aliases you wish to use.

For more information, see Which checks are included in my background check package?

Geos: Geos define job location and are essential in helping you to remain compliant with your responsibilities as an end-user of consumer reports. Geos are relevant to both the presentation of state specific disclosures, and the required Adverse Action operations. Because candidates can apply to jobs outside of their state of residence, Checkr uses Geos to ensure we know both where the individual lives and where they’re applying to work.

Geos also allow you to group your Checkr users and to review your hiring practice analytics specific to job location.

For more information, see Geos: Segment candidates based on location.

Programs: Programs allow you to more easily manage your Packages and ensure you’re consistently evaluating similar candidates. Employers who hire for multiple positions in multiple locations can use Programs to combine Packages with Geos.

For more information, see Programs: Manage groups of similar candidates.

Work with Checkr Customer Support to define settings specific to your hiring needs and practices. Using Geos, Programs, and Packages, in tandem with the Positive Adjudication Matrix, simplifies the background check process and reduces errors.

Packages

Packages group Screenings, allowing you to create standardized background checks for different candidate pools.

The Packages tab lists existing Packages, and provides a URL to invite candidates to consent to a background check and enter the personal information required for the listed Package. This URL initiates the Checkr hosted candidate apply workflow. For more information, see How do I request a background check in the Checkr Help Center.

Use the Packages tab to search for existing Packages.

Create Packages

To create Packages, contact Checkr Customer Success. Packages must be created and managed by Checkr employees.

Programs

Programs group Geos with Packages, allowing you to manage your background check processes. Use Programs to organize your search criteria by job title, hiring manager, or job location.

Checkr's Customer Success team will help you create Programs. Once your Programs are created, your team can select a Program and see only Packages for that Program. This frees your team from making costly errors by ordering the wrong Package for a job description or location.

Use the Programs tab to search for or edit existing Programs.

For more information, see Programs: Manage groups of similar candidates.

Create Programs

To create Programs or change the Packages included in a Program, contact Checkr Customer Success. Programs must be created and managed by Checkr employees.

Edit Programs

Checkr allows you to edit a Program’s name and change the Geos included within it.

Add Geos to Programs to better manage your background check process.

Create Programs for jobs specific to a linked geolocation.
Ensure that candidates are sent invitations appropriate for the job’s location.
Allow recruiters to only send invitations specific to their recruiting territory.

To edit the Geos included in a Program:

Go to Screening Settings > Programs.
Click Edit for the selected Program.
Click Edit Geos.
To add or remove existing Geos, use the checkboxes.
To create and add new Geos, enter a name, select a state, and click Add Geo.
Click Close.

Geos

Geos allow you to define specific geographic locations. Once created, assign Geos to hiring teams or to job-specific screening Packages to help manage the candidate background check workflow. When enabled, Checkr will apply relevant compliance guidelines when creating the default candidate workflow for the background check.

For example, create a Geo for New York, and include that Geo in the Packages that will be run for candidates seeking to work in New York. Checkr will include the required New York disclosures to the candidate in the report consent flow. Packages run for New York City will also automatically provide you with Checkr’s individualized assessment adverse action flow to comply with New York’s "show your work" laws.

For more information, see Geos: Segment candidates based on location in the Checkr Help Center.

Use the Geos tab to create new Geos, edit or delete existing Geos, or require that all screenings specify a Geo.

Select the Require Geos for all new candidates checkbox and click Save to require that all future candidate screenings specify a Geo.

Note: There can be multiple Packages assigned to a single Geo, but only one Geo assigned to each Package. Only one Package, and one Geo, can be attached to a Report.

Create Geos

To create a new Geo:

Enter a name
Select a state
Select a city, if desired
Click +Add

Note: Geos may be created for states or for cities. Multiple cities may not be combined in a single Geo.

Positive Adjudication Matrix

Checkr’s Positive Adjudication Matrix (PAM) allows you to fine tune your team’s adjudication process, by displaying only those charges relevant to your hiring standards in completed Reports.

By default, Checkr Reports will display all charges against the candidate, including dismissed and ancient charges. All charges displayed will trigger a Consider status, even those that are irrelevant to your hiring practices. Use the Positive Adjudication Matrix to filter out those charges which are not under consideration in your hiring process, allowing your adjudicators to focus only on those Reports which genuinely require consideration.

Most companies’ hiring divisions will have a background check adjudication matrix in place, either explicitly or implicitly through their hiring practices. Check with your HR department to determine if these rules exist. If so, your adjudication practices can be easily transferred to the Checkr Adjudication Matrix to standardize your adjudication process. If not, work with your legal department to define rules for use within the Checkr Dashboard.

For more information, see Positive Adjudication Matrix: Reduce bias and increase efficiency in the Checkr Help Center.

Note: PAM filters are applied only to National Criminal Checks, County Criminal Checks, and State Criminal Checks.

Enable the matrix

The Positive Adjudication Matrix must be enabled before use. Once enabled, use the Matrix to define which charges will be filtered from your background checks.

To enable the Matrix, first contact Checkr Customer Success to enable it for your account. Then, go to Screenings Settings > Adjudication Matrix, and click Get Started in the dialog that appears.

Once enabled, click Edit to configure your matrix, or click PDF to download a PDF of your customized configuration to share with other members of your team.

Define filters

The Adjudication Matrix allows you to define which reportable records are displayed in your Checkr Dashboard. By default, Checkr will display all legally reportable offenses returned by your Package. This includes all discovered records that fall within the Package’s Screenings search parameters and legally defined time frame.

Note: Staffing companies with multiple clients, or companies who adjudicate different role types with different criteria, can use Programs to set different adjudication filters for each client or role. Create Adjudication Matrices specific to individual Programs using Screenings Settings > Adjudication Matrix > Program Adjudication Matrix.

Go to Screenings Settings > Adjudication Matrix, and click Edit to open the Adjudication Matrix for the selected Account or Program.

Hover over a charge type for its definition.

Show dismissed

Checkr allows you to define whether dismissed charges are displayed, both by category and by individual charges.

By default, this option is deselected for all categories, and Checkr will not report dismissed charges in any background report. This option is disabled by default to better promote fairness when considering background checks. While it is legal in most jurisdictions to report dismissed records, in most cases adverse actions and hiring decisions should not be based on these records.

To show dismissed records, select the Show dismissed option for the category or for individual record types.

Misdemeanors vs. Felonies

The Positive Adjudication Matrix allows you to set different reporting standards for misdemeanors (including less serious offenses) and felonies, for better individualized assessment.

Use the pulldown menus to define which charges will be included in Checkr background checks.

Show dismissed: Displays dismissed records for the selected charge.
Report none: Hides all instances of this charge type. (Use this option to hide minor infractions or violations that are not relevant to job duties and would not prevent you from engaging with a candidate.)
Last [x] years: Display the offense if the final disposition date falls within the defined number of years.
Report all: Displays all offenses within your Package’s scope that Checkr is legally allowed to report.

After customizing your adjudication matrix, click Save to return to the Adjudication Matrix overview page.

Review audit history

Checkr also provides a complete audit history of all changes made to the Adjudication Matrix. To review changes, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click the Edited by user at timestamp link to see all revision history.

Display filtered charges

Use the Settings section of the Adjudication Matrix overview tab to define whether or not to display charges filtered out by the Adjudication Matrix in a separate section of the Report. This allows you to streamline the adjudication process while maintaining a complete record of the Report.