| Acquiring access to a California background check | | | | option I will outline for you. |
| can be a challenge even for someone experienced | | | | You have the option to conduct an online |
| in doing them. If you have been trying to figure | | | | California background check. Proceed with caution, |
| out how to go about it and have come up empty | | | | however. A lower-rung online service will run into |
| handed, let me assure you this is not a | | | | exactly the same problems you are facing. They |
| shortcoming on your part. Rather, it is because | | | | typically do not have the resources to go around |
| the system in place is designed for employment | | | | to each of the county courthouses to collect the |
| background checks, and is not readily accessible | | | | records, especially in California. If you do a search |
| for the average Joe. As such, there is no publicly | | | | with one of these services, they will tell you that |
| accessible central repository for California court | | | | they have found no records on your subject, |
| records. However, all is not lost...I will show you | | | | which is quite literal, and unfortunately does not |
| how you can do a California criminal background | | | | rule out the possibility that he actually has a |
| check that will yield the results you need, | | | | record. |
| providing you are willing to put in the effort. | | | | Thus, even with the online option, a California |
| If you need a background check on yourself for | | | | background check can be a difficult proposition |
| employment purposes, or when it is required for | | | | because of the lack of a central repository for |
| certain volunteer work, the system is well | | | | public records accessible by data-mining |
| established, even if not entirely straightforward. I | | | | companies. So, unfortunately you will most likely |
| will outline the procedure. | | | | have to take a two step approach to gain access |
| You will need to go to a "Live Scan" site to have | | | | to the records you seek. |
| your fingerprints and application for a background | | | | First, get an "advanced" or even an "expert |
| search electronically submitted to the California | | | | assisted" national search. This will tell you the |
| Department of Justice (DOJ). The live Scan site is | | | | details on where your subject has lived, not only |
| considered by the DOJ to be the "applicant" for | | | | in California, but also on the national |
| the purposes of conducting the background check. | | | | level...Important for obtaining the complete picture. |
| A live Scan site is simply any location in California | | | | There may also be clues to any litigation in the |
| that has the equipment and certification to take | | | | form of civil judgments. The second step is to |
| finger-prints. These can be schools, universities, | | | | conduct a background search for those counties |
| police stations, etc. The applicant (Live Scan | | | | where your subject has lived. This way, you will |
| station) will get the results back, usually after | | | | have a complete picture of your subject's past. I |
| about three days, but sometime longer, at which | | | | caution you once again...The records are available, |
| point you have to retrieve the results from them. | | | | but due to the nature of California's records |
| Although the fee schedule varies by location, you | | | | system, you will simply have to work harder to |
| can typically count on a "rolling fee" along with the | | | | obtain them. |
| application fee for the search. Sometimes the | | | | To recap, if you need a background check just |
| application fee can be paid directly to the applicant | | | | for yourself it will require several trips to a "Live |
| agency along with your rolling fee, and sometimes | | | | Scan" site to submit the application, and then pick |
| they will want you to send payment separately | | | | up the results. Doing a records search on |
| with your application. On average, the total price | | | | someone else will require them to submit a |
| tag will be around $70. | | | | request for their own background check. I have |
| It is fairly obvious that this system is not always | | | | pointed you to a conceivably simpler method you |
| suitable if you need to do a background check for | | | | can use that will work for getting a background |
| reasons other than employment. For example, it is | | | | check done for reasons other than employment, |
| unlikely that your neighbor, or someone you | | | | such as protecting your well-being and that of |
| consider suspicious will volunteer to clear his name | | | | your family. There are hundreds of online |
| by going with you to a Live Scan site and paying | | | | background check services...However, almost |
| $70 for a background check. A possible solution | | | | 98% of these services struggle with high error |
| would be to hire a private investigator. However, | | | | margins and incomplete data. |
| there is a less expensive and more convenient | | | | |