An Intro to National Criminal Background Checks
May 13 2025
When screening a potential new hire, you want to get the whole story. After thoroughly reviewing their professional qualifications, evaluating their personality, and reaching out to their references, the last major step is to ensure there are no hidden red flags in their background. Before you send over the final hiring paperwork, your due diligence likely includes a national background check through a criminal database. These multi-jurisdictional databases explore criminal histories from a wider pool than single-state record checks. However, national databases aren’t flawless; there are times when state- or county-level checks can fill in important gaps.
In this article, we’ll break down how national criminal databases gather their data, highlight their key limitations, explain why localized (state or county) checks still matter, and show you how to use both methods in tandem to achieve a more thorough candidate screening.
What is a National Criminal Background Check?
A national criminal database search explores a wide net (2,800 to be exact) of “sub-databases” to find criminal information on an individual across the United States. These sub-databases pull from state and county court records, revealing any convictions, felonies, misdemeanors, pending cases, violations, or even law enforcement interactions that did not lead to a conviction.
What Types of Crimes do Background Checks Uncover?
Felonies
Felonies that may appear in national checks include serious crimes such as rape, child or sexual abuse, embezzlement, fraud, murder, aggravated assault, and arson. Although felonies usually result in a sentence to a state Department of Corrections or, in some cases, a spot on the sex offender registry, federal felony charges filed through agencies like the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) do not always appear in national databases. This is largely dependent on the type of search performed, so it’s beneficial to work with a professional screening firm to ensure all avenues are explored.
Misdemeanors and More
Misdemeanors often involve vandalism, theft, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct. Even minor infractions like noise disturbances, littering, or jaywalking can be flagged, though reporting restrictions may prevent these from showing up on a final report.
National criminal database searches provide a quick, wide-ranging view of a person’s background, even if they have lived in multiple states, and they are often the first line of defense in a pre-employment screening. Employers want to make informed decisions as quickly as possible, and a national criminal background search delivers initial insights quickly; however, there are limitations to performing this type of search alone.
Limitations of a National Background Check
Despite its broad reach, a national criminal background check should often be paired with a statewide or county criminal search. Certain records may be outdated or missing from the database, and some jurisdictions may not update their systems promptly. Additionally, not all states are available in a national criminal search. As a result, relying solely on a national search can lead to an incomplete picture of a candidate. It could result in an employer overlooking serious issues hidden in local courts or lesser-known reporting systems.
It’s important to note that national criminal records checks may lack vital details such as the disposition (i.e., the final outcome) of a case. For example, a record may only indicate that someone was arrested on suspicion of theft but fail to show if they were ultimately convicted, acquitted, or if the charges were dropped. This omission can create confusion and may unfairly disadvantage a candidate if employers assume an arrest automatically equates to a conviction. The right background screening company (like InfoMart!) will not report data directly from a national criminal database. Instead, they will do additional research at the state or county level and only report pending cases or cases with a disposition.
Why State and County Criminal Checks Still Matter
To address these limitations, state and county criminal background checks can offer a level of detail that national searches often miss. County-level searches, in particular, provide the most up-to-date and complete information, including precise case details and final dispositions. Since many courts now make records available online, researchers can dive deeper to verify any flags found on a national search. In regions where records aren’t digitized, an in-person request for paper copies or a consultation with the county clerk may be necessary.
In some cases, a state-level check may be more appropriate than a county search if a particular state offers a robust, centralized reporting system. Still, verifying information on a county-by-county basis is often the gold standard, especially if an individual has moved frequently or lived in multiple regions. Your background check provider can help guide these decisions.
How to Use National Background Checks Effectively in Hiring
To ensure you are conducting comprehensive background checks on potential hires, run both a national criminal background check and a state or county search in the areas your candidate has lived. If the national criminal search finds additional areas of concern, your background check provider should investigate those records at the county or state level.
Step 1: Start with County and State Searches
Begin by identifying where your candidate has lived or worked, and run county or state criminal searches in those jurisdictions. These searches are the most accurate and up-to-date sources of criminal records.
Step 2: Add a National Criminal Database Search
Once you’ve covered known locations, layer in a national criminal database search to cast a wider net. National searches aggregate records from across the country and can reveal charges filed in areas outside your candidate’s known history—but they should never be used alone.
Step 3: Confirm and Investigate Any “Hits”
A trustworthy background screening provider will never return raw data from a national database. Instead, they’ll investigate any hits by going to the original source—typically a county or state courthouse—to verify accuracy before reporting anything to you. This step is essential to ensure legal compliance and protect candidates from false or outdated information.
Step 4: Consider Ongoing Screening for High-Risk Roles
In regulated industries like healthcare, finance, or education, ongoing or periodic background checks may be required. Regular rescreening helps protect your workplace and stay compliant with industry standards.
National database searches are a great tool to flag records you might otherwise miss, but they’re not comprehensive. Think of them as a way to broaden your scope—not replace core county/state-level checks.
Get The Whole Story with InfoMart
When hiring a new team member, it’s tempting to rely on a single, wide-reaching search to save time. Yet, as we’ve seen, national criminal databases aren’t without their blind spots. By pairing a national background check with more detailed state or county-level searches, you gain a clearer and more comprehensive view of a candidate’s history.
To protect your organization’s reputation and ensure a safer workplace, it’s important to rely on professionals who recognize the nuances of background screening. When you partner with a trusted, PBSA-accredited firm like InfoMart, you get expert guidance in navigating the legal complexities of hiring.
Request a quote today from InfoMart for greater peace of mind in your hiring process.
About Tammy Cohen
Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record.
About InfoMart
InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.