What Makes Continuous Background Screening Different from Traditional Background Checks?

Background Screening | Risk Management | November 15, 2021

As with any tool in a toolbox, each has a purpose for being there and a reason for being used. Each tool will also provide different values, depending on the task at hand and continuous background screening and traditional background checks are no different. 

Continuous Criminal Record 

In the case of Continuous Background Screening, or more often called Continuous Criminal Record Monitoring, the purpose is to maintain an ongoing view of the individuals in your contractor network and understand if any criminal issues arise. This information is provided in near real-time from county jails, courts, and the Department of Correctional Facilities. The information is dynamic and rapidly changing and can provide a timely indicator of potential risks within your network that may need attention. 

A Complete Background Check Program

PlusOne Solutions’ sources cover more than 90 percent of the population and are a suitable search to identify potential behavior that may pose a risk to your business, customers, brand, and reputation. This information is restricted to county-level criminal information and does not cover all the screening elements a traditional background check would.  For this reason, these continuous background screenings are encouraged in addition to any traditional background check program you have in place.

For traditional background checks, the purpose is to get a complete, initial picture of the individual through a selection of position-appropriate record information. This is a more fulsome and detailed collection of searches than continuous screening provides and is based primarily on historical information available about an individual. Different facets about the individual that may be reviewed range from criminal to driving, sex offender, and even drug screening information. The data obtained is accurate as at the point in time it is obtained. It should be noted this more traditional background check may also be repeated throughout the engagement with the contractor.

Organizations that rely on contractor networks to deliver, service or install their products are challenged with maintaining compliance throughout their relationship with a contractor. Although they conduct periodic background checks on their network every two years, Continuous Criminal Monitoring could potentially solve the question of what occurs between those two years. 

Since continuous background screening of criminal details provides information as it occurs, and provides notice within 24 hours of an arrest, incarceration, or booking event, organizations are able to allow for a proactive, versus reactive, management of risk for the organization.

PlusOne Solutions strives to provide the contractor risk management services that the in-home service industry needs. Contact us today to discuss how these solutions can help your organization.

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.

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