Editing Background check (section)

== Purposes ==

There are 17 common types of background checks employers use to verify a new hire. The checks can include: 
* Criminal history
* Past employment verification
* Education verification
* Reference check
* Drug screening
* Credit background check
* Social media behavior check
* Driving record
* Professional license and certifications check
* Social security number trace/identity check
* Global sanctions check
* Civil offenses check
* Bankruptcy check
* Financial regulations check
* Psychometric tests
* International background check
* Gamer profile check
<br>
Each check is briefly explained along with its purpose and how it helps employers make informed hiring decisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thejusticecollaborative.com/types-of-background-checks/ |website=The Justice Collaborative |access-date=6 March 2023|title= The Ultimate Guide To All Types of Background Checks|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430124249/https://thejusticecollaborative.com/types-of-background-checks/|archive-date=April 30, 2023}}</ref>

=== Employment screening ===
Employers often request background checks on job candidates for employment screening, especially for candidates seeking a position that requires high security or a [[position of trust]], such as in a school, courthouse, hospital, financial institution, airport, and government. Background checks in the corporate realm have become a commonplace practice for many companies, aimed at mitigating legal liabilities and preventing adverse actions within their workforce.

They can also be requested when purchasing a firearm (from a legal authorization). A government agency traditionally administers these checks for a nominal fee, but private companies can also administer them.<ref name="Oxford University Press">{{Citation|title=Is Reform Possible? Checks, Smoke, and Mirrors|work=National Security and Double Government|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190206444|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190206444.003.0006|year=2014}}</ref> Results of a background check typically include past employment verification, credit history, and criminal history. The objective of background checks is to ensure the safety and security of the employees in the organization.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bushway|first1=Shawn D.|last2=Nieubeerta|first2=Paul|last3=Blokland|first3=Arjan|date=February 2011|title=The Predictive Value of Criminal Background Checks: Do Age and Criminal History Affect Time to Redemption?*|journal=Criminology|volume=49|issue=1|pages=27–60|doi=10.1111/j.1745-9125.2010.00217.x|issn=0011-1384}}</ref>

These checks are often used by employers as a means of judging a job candidate's past mistakes, [[Good moral character|character]], and fitness, and to identify potential hiring risks for safety and security reasons. Background checks are also used to thoroughly investigate potential government employees to be given a [[security clearance]].<ref name="Oxford University Press"/> However, these checks can sometimes be used for illegal purposes, such as unlawful [[discrimination]] (or [[employment discrimination]]), [[identity theft]], and [[violation of privacy]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Guojian|first=Yao|title=Identity Discrimination In Employment - Household Registration And Regional Origin|work=Taking Employment Discrimination Seriously: Chinese and European Perspectives|pages=133–156|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004177178|doi=10.1163/ej.9789004177178.i-306.30|year=2009}}</ref>

Checks are frequently conducted to confirm information found on an [[Application for employment|employment application]] or [[résumé]]/[[curriculum vitae]]. One study showed that half of all reference checks done on prospective employees differed between what the job applicant provided and what the source reported.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uwyo.edu/studentatty/background-checks|title=ASUW Students Attorney Program|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014021359/http://www.uwyo.edu/studentatty/background-checks/|archive-date=October 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> They are also conducted as a way to differentiate potential employees further and pick the one the employer feels is best suited for the position. Employers are obligated to ensure their work environment is safe for all employees and helps prevent other employment problems in the workplace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/ag_bgchecks_report.pdf|title=The Attorney General's Report on Criminal History Background Checks|publisher=Usdoj.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530095916/http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/ag_bgchecks_report.pdf|archive-date=2009-05-30|url-status=live|access-date=2013-10-25}}</ref>

===Firearms purchases===
{{Further|Gun violence in the United States}}
{{See also|Weapons smuggling}}
In the United States under the [[Gun Control Act of 1968]], citizens and US residents must be 18 years or older to purchase shotguns, rifles, or ammunition. All other firearms – such as handguns – can only be sold to individuals 21 or older. Restricted [[firearm]]s (like [[machine gun]]s), [[suppressor]]s, [[Explosive material|explosives]] or large quantities of precursor [[chemicals]], and [[Concealed carry (USA)|concealed weapons permits]] also require criminal checks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fbinicsystem.com/brady-background-check/brady-act-and-nics.html|title=The Brady Gun Background Check Act|last=Davidson|first=Charlie|publisher=Fbinicsystem.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828071253/http://fbinicsystem.com/brady-background-check/brady-act-and-nics.html|archive-date=28 August 2013|url-status=live|access-date=23 August 2013|date=2009-06-24}}</ref> Checks are also required for those working in positions with special security concerns, such as trucking, [[Port of entry|ports of entry]], and airports (including airline transportation).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Meng|first=Xiao-Li|date=2012-09-24|title=Enhanced security checks at airports: minimizing time to detection or probability of escape?|journal=Stat|volume=1|issue=1|pages=42–52|doi=10.1002/sta4.6|s2cid=15159478 |issn=2049-1573|url=http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:10886851|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Laws exist to prevent those who do not pass a criminal check from working in careers involving the elderly, disabled, or children.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Singh|first=Romila|title=To stay or to leave: Factors that differentiate women currently working in engineering from those who left the profession|journal=Women in STEM Careers|pages=39–56|doi=10.4337/9781781954072.00011|year=2014|isbn=9781781954072}}</ref>