Go online for background checks
The Internet has made it easier than ever to check up on your next potential babysitter, doctor or date. That's good news, because it's not easy to find the right people. Become your own investigator by doing background checks online.
Online background checks are not silver bullets. However, they can offer valuable information and give you more confidence in your decisions.
A free and easy way to begin checking on someone is through Google.
Consider using it before a first date. Just don't expect miracles from
a simple name search. Google can be fun and interesting, but unfocused. The
term "background check" usually means a criminal background check. And
some of the best information you can get comes from court records. The
only hitch is that individual jurisdictions keep their own records. But
with a current and former address, you can zero in on the right states
and search for records. The
National Center for State Courts keeps an index of links to state,
federal and international court Web sites. Court records are generally
public unless they're sealed by a judge, and the information is usually
free. You can find a similar index of local courts at GovEngine.com. There are also sites that offer to do all this checking for you. Rapsheets, Case Breakers and eFindOutTheTruth
are a few examples. They can check records from all reporting states
and organize the information into a report. But these services are not
free. Depending on the areas you want to check, you can expect fees
from $7 to $30. If you need to check on a professional such as a doctor, look into licensing. You can do this at the American Medical Association (AMA) Web site. Another helpful site is that of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). Both sites keep indexes of links to state medical boards. The FSMB also offers information on doctors' disciplinary histories. There are also state boards for dentists. You can find links to state dental boards at Health Guide USA or at Dental Fear Central. If
you're an employer, you should be on the lookout for false claims of
education. Job applicants often lie about academic records or college
degrees. Academic records are generally protected by the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act, so you should contact schools
directly for information. Try the school's registrar office first.