Inside Perspective: A Summary of a Year of Continuous Criminal Record Monitoring

Background Screening | Company News | January 13, 2023

It has been three years since we launched the continuous criminal record monitoring program with our customers. In that time, we have had thousands of individuals participate in the program and our current monitoring population numbers over 27,000 individuals across various customer networks. Many of these contractors are skilled trades – think appliance repair and installation – while others may be drivers or driving agent individuals who are responsible for tasks like delivery of products.

For reference, continuous criminal record monitoring is the ongoing process of reviewing county criminal records on an individual that may flag internal threats and safety concerns. It is a helpful tool in a comprehensive workforce risk management strategy and is best supported when used with a self-reporting policy, which encourages individuals to come forward with any relevant information that may impact contract program participation. Most continuous criminal monitoring sources cover more than 90 percent of the population and help to identify potential behavior that may pose a risk to an organization’s business, customers, brand, and reputation.  

 Using the individual’s name and date of birth, this service will provide access to near-real-time data from U.S. county jails and Department of Corrections facilities. Incarceration and booking alerts provide a proactive tool and more timely information over a wider geographic area than a local-level county record check, which is a point-in-time search only. Instead of reviewing only historical results like a traditional background check provides, continuous criminal monitoring is the ongoing process of reviewing U.S. county-level criminal activity as it occurs.

This year, we have continued to see some trends as in previous years whereby more skilled contractors tend to be less “active” on the monitoring front. The stability of their roles, the nature of their work, and what is likely to be more consistent employment are likely factors. Many of these individuals are also used to the ongoing rescreening requirements, which occur every two years, which may impact their behaviors. 

Among the most common records received back through the monitoring process were:

• DUI
• Possession – marijuana (most common) but also paraphernalia, cocaine, instruments for manufacture
• Assault / Dom Violence/ Domestic Assault, including on a family member
• Driving on a Suspended/Revoked License
• Grand Larceny / Theft / Burglary / Robbery
• Battery – Touch/Strike, including Aggravated Battery

Understanding that many of the organizations we work with use contracted individuals to deliver, supply, install and repair products in customer homes, all of these issues would be considered relevant to protecting their network, reputation, and overall operations. Any time there is a criminal offense relating to violence, theft, or driving company vehicles without proper licensing, the risk for the organization that engages that individual increases. By working with the individual through the judicial process, organizations can understand if these records will be of impact for their participation in the servicing network. 

There are always records that come in and cause some drama, and this year was no different. While the overall volume of alerts seems to be lowered this year than in previous, “pandemic times”, we still had many records that were notable and cause for escalated concern among our customer service networks. Among these alerts were: 

• Sex under 16

  

• Intensive Child Abuse
• Strangulation
• Sex Offender not registered
• Indecent liberties with a child / Sex abuse w child under 12
• Vehicular Assault
• Drive-by Shooting
• Discharge weapon into a vehicle
• Indecent Exposure
• Armed Violence / Assault with a Deadly Weapon

In each of these cases, we work very closely, and quickly, with our customers to obtain accurate and complete information and determine if the alert provided results in an actual criminal charge being laid. From there we monitor it to determine if it will be of impact on retention in the customer network, or if the customer wants us to continue to monitor the alert as it proceeds through the court system. In some cases, these initial alerts are dropped, cases are disposed of or there is not sufficient information to proceed. In those cases, the individual may continue to work in the service network. Some customers may choose to await a final disposition on the case, but they are at least aware of the record and can mitigate any reputational or media impacts.

The most important component of the monitoring program for many customers is simply knowing what is happening with their contractors between the full two-year background screening cycles. Not every alert will be of impact but considering that every customer has had individuals removed from their network because of this process, the program continues to deliver value for customers. 

Contents are provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Users are reminded to seek legal counsel with respect to their obligations and use of PlusOne Solutions services.

About PlusOne Solutions

PlusOne Solutions has been an industry leader in the risk management field by specializing in compliance programs that meet the complex challenges of geographically dispersed contractors, vendors, and employee networks. PlusOne Solutions protects companies from possible financial, legal, and reputational risks associated with contractor and vendor relationships while creating safer work environments. To learn more, visit https://www.PlusOneSolutions.net.