North Carolina Background Check

How to Conduct a North Carolina Criminal Background Check?

A criminal background check is something that anyone in North Carolina that has an internet connection and a smartphone or laptop. This means that you can find information on a person’s criminal history which includes a multitude of data such as; arrests, court records, jail and prison records, warrants and probation records to name a few. In order to run one, you will need the first and last name of the person as well as the age or DOB and middle name if possible. Many people in North Carolina have the same first and last name which means you will need additional identifying information to verify you have the correct NC background record for the correct person.

Since criminal records are classed as being in the public domain, anyone can lookup these public government records. This is because of the FOIA, or the Freedom of Information, which makes criminal records accessible to the general public of North Carolina. It is important to note that there are multiple types of NC background checks, one for official purposes and the other type is for reference only. The official background checks in North Carolina are typically used by employers for new employee hires, tenant screening or other official purposes.

A lot of employers choose to run an official North Carolina criminal background check on candidates they want to hire. This is able to give them an accurate picture of whether they are going to be a good employee. In particular, there are some employers in North Carolina that are obligated to carry out a criminal background check on a candidate. This includes those businesses providing child services, health services and other similar types of work. There are laws in North Carolina that mean that a criminal background check cannot be carried out until after the initial interview. This is to ensure that everybody has a fair chance when seeking a job with state employers. But there are no ‘ban-the-box’ rules for private employers.

What is Included in a North Carolina Criminal Background Check?

When you run a North Carolina criminal background check, you are going to have access to a lot of information. Namely, this is going to summarize the criminal history of the person an question. You are going to be able to see if someone has been arrested and what they were arrested for. In addition, you will see a record of any convictions that person has received including felonies, misdemeanors and infractions. Again, there will be details of what the charges were and what the sentence received was. Note that a North Carolina criminal background check will not include pending criminal charges against a person as they have not been yet tried in a court of law. It is important to also know that any sealed juvenile records will not appear in a North Carolina criminal background check, as well as military records. If you run an official NC background check then you’ll have access to a lot more information but note that you’ll need someone’s permission and their SSN or other verifiable identify information to access this type of background check. These are used for official purposes such as hiring or academic or tenant screening.

How Far Back Does a North Carolina Criminal Background Check Go?

There is a limit on how far a North Carolina criminal background check will go back into a person’s history. This time limit is typically seven years however a person’s criminal record may go back much further. Some employers make it mandatory to list any felonies even if they’re more than 7 years old. In other words, when you run a North Carolina criminal background check, you are going to be able to see convictions from up to seven years ago and possibly longer. Any records that are after seven years are not going to be shown on a 7 year criminal background check in North Carolina. Indeed, this does not mean that any convictions do not exist. It just means that you are not going to be able to see this information. Therefore, convictions after seven years are not in the public domain and will not be available in a North Carolina criminal background check.

Run a North Carolina Criminal Background Check on Myself

A lot of people assume that you would only want to run a North Carolina criminal background check on someone else. Often, this is for employment purposes. But, you can also run a criminal background check on yourself. This is going to allow you to see what information is available about yourself and what employers may see if they ran a criminal background check. There are several ways you can do this.

First of all, you can contact the North Carolina Judicial Branch. They have a lot of court information that can be useful. You are able to search for your own records or someone else, with the search taking place when you have a full name. But, something that you must be aware of with this application is that you are only going to be running a criminal background check in one county. In other words, it is not going to reveal state-wide information on a person. This search is going to cost $25 and an application form can be submitted to the clerk’s office.

Another option you have if you want to carry out a check on yourself is to use the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Statewide Background Check. This is going to allow you to enjoy your Right to Review. In order to carry out this search, you will need to submit your fingerprint card, form and pay a fee. This is around $14. There is also The Federal Bureau of Investigation option, which is also a finger print-based check. This is going to cost $18 and it allows you to carry out an Identity History Summary Check.

There is an option to use websites such as SearchQuarry.com for a North Carolina criminal background check on yourself. Some basic information will be necessary if you intend to check someone else’s criminal history. Often, it is easier and simpler to use an online website for carrying out a North Carolina criminal background check. This is going to give you quick results, which might be what you need if you are under time constraints.