The idea that there exists one single “national database” for background checks with accurate and complete criminal record information for every person in America is a “popular myth” fueled by movies and television crime programs, according to a blog written by a member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) Board of Directors. The blog is available at http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/judicial/291939-national-database-for-background-checks-is-a-myth. (more…)

The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) – the voice representing the background screening industry – will hold the NAPBS 2013 Mid-Year Legislative Conference from April 14 to 17, 2013 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The Conference will feature the largest collection of background screening professionals in the world and provide education about the latest breakthroughs on laws, best practices, and research in the consumer reporting field. To learn more about the Conference, visit http://www.napbs.com/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3593. (more…)

The state of Oregon has specified in the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) that all background screening firms must be accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) or pass certain other requirements in order to conduct a criminal background check for certain health workers. The Oregon Administrative Rules are available at http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_536.html. (more…)

A letter of public comment was recently submitted by Attorney and safe hiring expert Lester Rosen, Founder and CEO of Employment Screening Resources (ESR), to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR). The comments by Rosen supplemented views stated by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) at a December 7, 2012 briefing on the impact of criminal background checks and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) conviction records policy on employment of black and Hispanic workers. To read the entire letter, visit http://www.esrcheck.com/Lester-Rosen-Public-Comments-to-USCCR.php. (more…)

In 2012, after reported cases of inaccurate criminal background checks costing job seekers employment, the background screening industry faced greater scrutiny over accuracy of reports. This increased attention included a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report recommending regulations on data brokers, the FTC charging companies with alleged Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) violations, a National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) report on inaccurate background checks, two New York Times editorials, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) increasing supervision of background checks, and an NBC Today Show report on background check errors. In response, the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) refuted reports critical of the screening industry and pointed to an accreditation program created to improve accuracy. This focus on accuracy is Trend 1 of the 6th Annual ‘ESR Top Ten Background Check Trends for 2013’ available at http://www.esrcheck.com/Top-Ten-Background-Check-Trends-for-2013.php. (more…)