Continuous Criminal Monitoring: Proactively Monitor Contractor Networks

Background Screening | Case Studies | February 26, 2020

Since there is usually a two-year cycle from one background check to the next, Customers were searching for a proactive solution to monitor potential criminal activity before the next screen. In order to offer a proactive approach to the background screening process, PlusOne Solutions launched a new continuous criminal monitoring program.

Instead of showing historical results as a traditional background check provides, continuous criminal monitoring is an ongoing process of reviewing records and provides notice within 24 hours of incarceration or booking events.

The continuous criminal monitoring program is allowing Customers an additional layer of due diligence and providing a way to identify potential behavior that may pose a risk to their business, customers, or brand reputation.

The Challenge:

How do companies monitor in-between scheduled background checks?

Companies that rely on contractor networks of varying sizes are challenged with compliance.

Although they conduct background checks on their network every two years, how do they know if something happens in the meantime?

One Customer with a large appliance repair and service network of more than 5,000 individuals, and another energy management customer with less than 500 individuals, both faced this challenge.

Both were interested in knowing about potential risks within their network that may impact their reputation, network credibility, or availability of contractors. Issues that occur between the rescreen cycles can often go undetected and some contracts do not include a self-reporting clause to ensure proactive and open reporting to the Customer of issues.

The Solution:

Continuous Criminal Monitoring Program for active monitoring

Continuous criminal monitoring is the ongoing process of using the individual’s name, date of birth, and SSN (where available) to access near-real-time incarceration data for US booking records from county jails and Department of Corrections facilities.

By reviewing records on an individual, Customers may flag internal threats and safety concerns.

While not nationwide coverage, sources cover over 85 percent of the population and are a suitable search to identify potential behavior that may pose a risk to your business, customers, brand, customer loyalty, and reputation. Continuous criminal monitoring will typically provide notice to PlusOne Solutions within 24 hours of an incarceration or booking event and has provided a means to address the gap in background screening information that can occur between a typical two-year rescreen cycle. The monitoring program also provides Customers with ongoing risk mitigation tools throughout their relationship with a Service Provider and their techs to ensure that the requirements of their contract are upheld, and consumer safety and property are protected.

Results:

These Customers received alerts within 30 days of active monitoring

Both Customers received alerts through the continuous monitoring program within the first 30 days of active monitoring.

This is a summary of these initial cases within a short timeframe.

• Driving Under the Influence

Booking occurred on 01/30/2020 and we were notified at 4:45 a.m. that same day.

Details on file indicated the individual had been booked related to Driving Under the Influence (M). Considering the individual is required to drive for his role, the first search we conducted was a Motor Vehicle Record search to determine his eligibility to drive.

While he is currently licensed, there was a notification on file that the license is pending suspension within the next three weeks. A county criminal record search was also ordered which confirmed that formal charges for Driving Under the Influence had also been filed.

The Customer determined that we should monitor this individual further to determine if the license is indeed suspended in a few weeks and then action that and any outcome of the criminal offense accordingly.

• Driving Under the Influence and Open Container

Arrest Occurred at 11:21 p.m. on 01/29/20, the booking started at 12:01 a.m. on 1/30/2020 and we were notified at 3:00 a.m. that same day.

The individual was booked for Driving Under the Influence (M), Failure to Maintain Lane (M) and an Open Container Violation (M). The individual bonded out at 10:38 am on 1/30/2020.

Considering the individual is required to drive for her role, the first search we conducted was a Motor Vehicle Record search to determine her eligibility to drive. There did not appear to be any impact on her license status, so we also ordered a county criminal record check in the jurisdiction of the incident.

This also came back clear, meaning no formal charges had been filed. Based on this information, nothing further was done with this individual and her eligibility status within the network remained intact.

• Felony Theft

The arrest occurred on 1/28/2020, we were alerted at 7 p.m. that day.

The arrest and booking data were very vague and we were uncertain what the nature of the issue was. A county criminal record was ordered in the jurisdiction of the incident and it was discovered that the individual had been charged with Felony Theft of Material – Aluminum/Bronze/Copper/Brass.

There is a pending court date showing but the nature of the offense is considered a pre-adverse condition for our Customer. It was determined that the pre-adverse process would be initiated.

Additionally, this individual also maintains relationships with at least five other Customers within the network, none of whom subscribe to the monitoring service at present.

• Sexual Assault Charges

An alert was received at 11:40 a.m. on 2/18/2020 for an individual who had only recently been included in the monitoring program.

The alert indicated charges for Sexual Assault: Under 18 Years of Age, Custodian Sexual Battery, Sexual Assault: By Custodian Victim Under 12 Years of Age, Lewd and Lascivious Behavior: Molest Victim Less than 12 Years of Age, Lewd and Lascivious Behavior: Victim 12 Years or Older and Lewd and Lascivious Behavior: 18 Years of Age, Older Than Victim.

All of these were felony charges that had occurred in November 2019. The alert populated likely because this individual had some change to their booking/arrest record, possibly a court date being set.

The individual was last screened in January 2019 and had been previously screened three times and was considered authorized and eligible to work in the network. He also worked for four different Customers through his service provider.

A Measured Approach

After PlusOne Solutions received these alerts, we worked closely with the Customer and reviewed each unique situation on a case-by-case basis by following agreed processes.

Understanding the severity and relevance of the potential charges is also important in determining how to proceed. The information and understanding of activity within the overall service network is where Customers are seeing the most value.

About PlusOne Solutions

For more than 15 years, 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 for everyone and is an Accredited Background Screening Agency by the Professional Background Screening Association.

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.

Is Continuous Criminal Monitoring right for you and your network? Contact us for more information at contact@plusonesolutions.net.