California Database Search
A Frequently Asked Question is whether California criminal records can be searched by use of a database?
The short answer is that a California database searches can be extremely valuable, but should only be used in addition to other tools.
The good news about a California database search is that it provide information on registered sexual offenders statewide. In addition, when the California search is conducted as part of the national multi-jurisdiction search, it researches millions of records outside of California and therefore gives an employer a greater chance at locating possible offenses elsewhere in the U.S.
However, there are limitations to consider:
First, of the fifty-eight (58) counties in California, only twenty-one (21) counties contribute some type of criminal data (other than sex offender data), which means that thirty-seven (37) counties DO NOT contribute any criminal data a criminal database.
Second, of the twenty-one (21) counties that do provide some data, there are limitations in trying to use it for a criminal search. The biggest issue is that most counties in California no longer provide a date of birth. That is critical because in order to search a database it is necessary to search based upon the first three letters of the first name, the last name and date of birth. Otherwise, the search would result in a large number of name matches, and it would be impossible to tell if a case belonged to the applicant.
Some of the twenty-one jurisdictions do not update the records frequently if at all and some provide records that are incomplete. For a listing of what is available from California counties, see: http://www.esrcheck.com/statewides/California.php.
As a result, an employer cannot reasonably rely upon information from a California criminal database to provide due diligence. Unfortunately, there are some background firms that imply hitter database covers all of California. A common sales ploy is to suggest all counties are covered because there is sexual offender informant form all counties. However, sex offender data is a very small percentage of relevant criminal data. In fact, one way to find out if an employer is doling withal legitimate screening firm is to ask them if California is coved in their national criminal such product so that an employer is protected in California. If they say 'Yes," then you know you are doling with a firm that is uniformed or is willing to lie to get your business.
The best approach for a California employer is to do appropriate searches at the courthouse. That can be supplemented by a national multi-jurisdictional database search to help locates sexual offenders in California and offenses outside of California. See: http://www.esrcheck.com/multijurisdictionalsearch.php.
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