County Criminal History

There are two separate methods used in searching criminal histories: on-line (database information) and a physical record search. Of the two, on-line information is certainly the easiest to use. For a nominal fee, you may access the public record in a matter of minutes. The quality of information received in this manner differs dramatically when compared with that received in a physical record search. Due to numerous errors, omissions and lag time in reporting, most state repositories contain less than 35% of possible charges. For this reason, ERS-NW does not rely only on database information for Criminal History profiles. An employer using these services is also required to choose the locations to search, using only the information provided by the applicant, and without the assistance of the address tracing system used by ERS-NW. Oftentimes, applicants will omit the cities and states in which they have criminal convictions.

Court records in the area which the applicant currently works or resides are physically reviewed by the ERS-NW field investigative staff. Jurisdictions of previous employment, including adjoining counties, when appropriate, are also searched. The information is compiled into a Criminal History profile that includes misdemeanor and felony offenses, date of charge, degree of charge, dispositions and active warrant information. Using the applicant’s Social Security number, ERS-NW is able to track the locations in which the applicant has worked or resided, which they may have omitted due to criminal activity. The result is the most comprehensive search in the industry.

In order to process the Criminal History profile accurately and to give you complete information to evaluate the applicant, the following information is needed:

• Applicant’s Full Name, Including Maiden and Any Other Names Used
• Social Security Number (For Identification Purposes Only)
• Current Address, Former Residences and Approximate Dates Resided
• Date of Birth (For Identification Purposes Only)
• Signed Release

When requesting a Criminal History profile, please review the application to make sure this information is included in a legible fashion. Additional information supplied by the applicant is often beneficial in compiling a comprehensive profile and should be submitted. ERS-NW profiles are subject to the quality and quantity of the data provided by the applicant.

Our Policies

• We supply you with all the information available. (The information varies among government branches.) We can also structure the Criminal History profile to include only the information you need.
• We follow the guidelines of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and all applicable state laws. For your protection, we report only information that falls within these guidelines.
• Occasionally, we will require additional time to obtain dispositions on certain cases.

While we have standard policies and procedures, we also provide customized profiles. Please speak with your customer service or marketing representative to make the changes you need.

OIG/GSA/OFAC Exclusion List

Healthcare providers, businesses and individuals that have engaged in fraud or abuse cannot receive payment for services under Medicare, Medicaid and other Federal healthcare programs. It is the employers responsibility to check the lists to ensure that no payments or costs are being submitted for employees, physicians, consultants or businesses that have been excluded or sanctioned, regardless of whether they provide direct patient care.