Background Checks
Pre-Employment Screening
Drug Testing
Electronic Form I-9
Integrity Assessment Profile
Business Due Diligence

Established in 1997

HIRE~SAFE
8788 Elk Grove Blvd.
Bldg #1  Suite O
Elk Grove, CA 95624

T: 916 226-2550
F: 916 226-2552

Call us Toll-Free:
888 792-4473
Fax us Toll-Free:
866 619-1050

E-mail Us

Stop by and visit
our office weekdays
8:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Good old-fashioned customer service.  The way it was... the way it should be.

About Our Background Check Services

Employment Background Checking is as necessary and important as insurance. It can help you find employees who are stable, who will grow your business and minimize your exposure to liability and risk.
 
Employment Background Screening doesn’t cost money; it saves you money. Consider the following quote taken from the Small Business Administration:

"For every dollar an employer invests in personnel screening,
the SAVINGS range from five to sixteen dollars in reduced absenteeism, improved productivity, lower turnover, safer working environments, reduced insurance premiums and decreased employer liability.”

Employment Background Screening enables you to concentrate your hiring and recruiting on high-quality applicants, avoiding unsuitable or dangerous people who will bring no good to your business, and just may destroy it. To learn exactly what the reports will reveal, click here.

HIRE-SAFE is designed to provide positive results for our clients. We work to achieve your objectives in order to reduce your exposure to employee liability and risk. The major focus of our company is gathering data for business. Click here for more details

HIRE-SAFE carries Professional Liability Insurance (similar to malpractice). That's very important because it protects our clients against catastrophic loss if we make a serious mistake. You DON’T want to work with a company that that doesn’t have this insurance protection for YOU. Take a look at our Best Practices review.

HIRE-SAFE is managed by a licensed California Private Investigator (CA PI #25313) for security and the protection of your confidential information. A licensed operator is your best assurance of security and quality.

All county criminal record checks are conducted onsite in each individual court house.  To learn more about how we retrieve the criminal records for our reports click here. Stored criminal data files are NOT legal for primary use. Read the FTC’s findings on the use of STORED DATA.

We do not routinely charge setup fees and we do not require monthly minimums. You only pay for those services that you want and need. (if credit reports are needed, a one-time physical inspection fee required by the credit bureau of $95.00 will apply)

Submitting a background check request is fast and easy. Just fax us one sheet of paper to begin the research process for each applicant.  Click here to setup your account.

We follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act to the exact letter of the law. This is for our client's protection, the safeguarding of each applicant's rights as well as our legal responsibility. 

Volume discounts and package options for background checks are available.

Fast, Friendly Expert Service. Our business method is centered on our clients, so we’ll do our very  best to adapt to meet your needs in specialized forms, billing and developing customized screening and checking solutions.

We have been in this business since 1997, and we fully intend to be around for a long, long time because we really like what we do.  As a small business, we are able to maintain a personal relationship with all of our clients; we are available at all times to answer questions, provide support and service the needs of our clients.

Be sure to read our Best Practices and FAQ’s for background screening. Don’t miss the Red Flag of 12 Bad Practices!

What about privacy issues?
Government records are public in order to ensure the free flow of information in a democratic society. The challenge to policy makers is to balance the public’s right to information with the individuals’ right to privacy. The Fair Credit Reporting Act protects the rights of all citizens.

Virtually every major change in life is recorded somewhere in a government document.  Shortly after you are born, a birth certificate is issued; if you obtain a driver's license, get married, buy a house, file a lawsuit--all of these events are recorded in public documents easily available to you and to others.

One bad move can lead to financial disaster.                               

In today’s Human Resources, there's no room for mistakes.

Although there is a high degree of commonality in the application of background checks and pre-employment screening, many fields have specific needs for their proper use. Sometimes “one size fits all” works very well, as in the case of the Basic Profile being used for the majority of employment positions.

Take a look at our Background Screening Matrix to help define your needs and what our services can do to assist you. So why choose HIRE-SAFE as your service provider?

                    

HIRE-SAFE Background Check Menu of Services  Bankruptcy Report  A search within the specific federal jurisdiction for records of any bankruptcies. The information returned may include: case or file number, date filed, type of bankruptcy (i.e. Chapter 11, Chapter 7, etc.), discharge date and name(s) listed as petitioner(s). Legal Right to Work The Instant ID Verify  program allows you to instantly verify the following from your desktop computer: Social Security Number, the applicant’s Address History, Telephone Number and Driver’s License number. This information is to be used only to verify if the documents presented during the interview are legitimate. A hiring decision can not be made based only upon this data. County Criminal Court This is one of the most important tools for uncovering criminal records available, and is recommended for all applicants to ensure a safer work environment. Because law enforcement must report charges resulting from arrests on felonies, misdemeanors and other offenses, this criminal search is conducted at the county level where a subject is most likely to have any information filed. HIRE-SAFE recommends conducting searches for current and previous addresses of residence and employment for the past seven years. HIRE-SAFE is one of few screening companies using actual researchers who will physically go into the county courthouse to hand-pick the court records from any county in the United States. All county criminal searches go back a minimum of seven years and include felonies and misdemeanors. The average turnaround time for county courthouse searches is 1 - 3 business days. Some courts impose statutory surcharge fees to access their records. International Criminal Record Search Criminal records are available from 172 foreign countries. County Civil Court Civil Court Records reveal if a person or company is involved in non criminal lawsuits including litigation for tort, contract, or real estate disputes. These types of lawsuits are filed by individuals or corporations against other private parties or corporations. Civil history records provide information about:  product liability suits, violation of civil rights, judgments, nonpayment of goods and other similar cases. These cases can be found at the county level. Unless otherwise specified and an additional fee is paid, records are only searched back seven years.  Most jurisdictions are divided into an upper level ($25K and higher) and a lower level (less than $25K). Some statutory court fees apply. Recommended for medical professionals, management, general contractors, out sourced professionals, and service providers such as cleaning services, daycare providers, and general maintenance providers. Federal District Court searches are INCLUDED with the County Superior Court search at NO EXTRA CHARGE. Academic Verification Academic Verification will confirmation an applicants’ highest level of education. We will verify institutions, dates, major areas of study and degrees earned. Level of education is the most common item falsified on a job application or resume. The verification of Degrees, Certificates etc. are primarily accomplished through the educational institution. Many of the nation’s Universities and Colleges have followed the trend and have changed to a 900 Number Services for degree verification. The average fee is between $15 and $20, not including the HIRE-SAFE service charge. Previous Employment Verification This report draws on the previous employers knowledge of applicant during the period of employment specified in the application. The information obtained by the HIRE-SAFE interviewer includes but is not limited to: dates of employment, character, salary, title, disciplinary actions, eligibility for rehire, work habits, interaction with others and performance. Over the past seven years a few 900 Number Services, the best known being the “The Work Number for Everyone”, began purchasing the former employee information from the larger employers in the country. They created a large database of former employees that they charge to access when performing an employer call with one of their candidates.  These fees range from $14 to $20 in addition to the HIRE-SAFE service charge for Employment Verification Information. In a few cases, there are employers that actually charge background screening companies a few dollars to access the information of a former employee.  These charges all passed through to the client. Recommended for all applicants due to the fact that employment history is often embellished. Federal District Criminal Court Some offenses are violations of Federal law as opposed to state or local law. Record of these crimes can be located in the US District Courts. Each state has at least one US District Court, while others are divided into as many as four districts in separate geographical regions. Federal violations generally will not appear in either a county or statewide criminal check. Only a small percentage of criminal cases are violations of Federal law. However, Federal offenses can be very severe involving kidnapping, drug trafficking, interstate transportation of stolen goods, bank robbery, illegal immigration, terrorist activities and embezzlement. Federal District Court searches are INCLUDED with the County Superior Court search at NO EXTRA CHARGE. View an example of a Federal District Court Criminal report. Federal District Civil Court Federal civil records are searched at an appropriate US District Court. Cases are typically related to interstate commerce, violations of civil rights, issues involving the federal government, financial institutions, etc. Federal District Court searches are INCLUDED with the County Superior Court search at NO EXTRA CHARGE. Drug Testing HIRE-SAFE offers a nationwide administration of employee drug and alcohol testing programs that strictly adhere to federal and state guidelines. With approximately 5,000 DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) certified and trained collection sites, HIRE-SAFE has one of the largest collection networks in the nation. We are able to provide drug testing using hair, urine or saliva samples. Additionally, we offer an MRO (Medical Review Officer) Service, computerized, random testing schedules and comprehensive training for all of our programs. We can help you design and implement a program to meet the individual needs of your company and help you manage the changing needs of the state and federal requirements. Average turnaround time varies depending on the test procedures. The 5-Panel Urinalysis (with negative results) is usually completed within 48 hours. Nationwide Wants and Warrants This is a nationwide search of Local, County, State and Federal Extraditable Warrants. This may include Misdemeanors or Felonies. This database is owned and maintained by a government agency. All law enforcement agencies do participate in the database. However, reporting is the sole responsibility of the state and agency in charge of the pending warrant. We make no warranty either expressed or implied to the accuracy or validity of the information provided. All information provided as is Professional License Verification Useful for verifying professional license and certifications, as well as providing the subjects professional standing with a regulatory body. Based on the information submitted, we contact the necessary licensing agencies, and verify standing, as well as verifying dates and any other information crucial to the license. Reference Verification Important for affirming applicants claims of dependability, integrity and character through contact with business and personal references. Social Security Trace Report Recommended for all applicants, this search reveals the name(s) associated with a social security number, past and present addresses, and fraudulent use of the social security number. Results may be used to cross-reference addresses supplied by applicant to insure the integrity of the information on the job application or resume. Using a social security number, a past address history search retrieves information from the credit bureaus and reveals where a subject has lived in the past seven years. Using this information as a “pointer” you can begin to run some of the most basic but powerful searches for criminal records; the county and statewide criminal record searches. Credit Report Includes name, current address with other previous addresses, SSN, and may include the following: phone, current employer, up to three previous employers, and aliases. Credit summary complete file including public records (i.e., liens, judgments, etc.), collection accounts, current or previous delinquent accounts, types of credit, and total indebtedness. Displays “Profile” (i.e., account charged off, repossessed, etc.) and alerts of any confirmed or suspected fraud activity. This credit report is designed for employment purposes, so it does not place an inquiry on the applicants report. Recommended for all positions that involve access to cash, expensive equipment, or financial record keeping. This service provides the employer insight to the applicant’s level of fiduciary responsibility. Motor Vehicle Reports Covers driving records available from all 50 states and Canada. These reports can include records of: driving while intoxicated, revoked license, accidents, minor traffic violations. Because driving records are held in state bureaus and have access to all counties in the state and sometimes other states, they can be very useful for general screening purposes. Records are only searched back 3 years. Some state fees and surcharges may apply. Pricing varies from state to state, please call for specific state rates. This screen is highly recommended for all positions that may require the use of a motor vehicle.  In some states, convictions of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are not revealed on the criminal record and are placed on the MVR record. Our Motor Vehicle Reports include such items as DUI arrests and convictions, reckless behavior, moving violations, suspensions and revocations. Additionally, it will outline the type of license approved and any restrictions to that license. HIRE-SAFE adheres to guidelines set forth by the Driver's Privacy Protection Policy Act (DPPA). When a fatality accident or other serious driving violation occurs the information is sent to the National Driver Registry. National Criminal Profile Report For this report, HIRE-SAFE searches over 128 million records in 39 states. This is an effective tool to screen applicants who have lived in numerous locations or whose previous positions required travel across state lines. This service is recommended as a supplemental search to criminal background screening to identify criminal activity in jurisdictions outside of current and previous residences and employment geographical locations. Average turnaround time is typically one business day. Military Service Records This service is recommended for all applicants stating military service on job application or resume. This service is unique in that it provides information that is not normally found in employment and education screenings. This report provides such details as dates of service, rank, pay, decorations and medals, performance, and reason for discharge. Turnaround time can be up to 3 weeks. Sex Offenders A sex offender is typically an individual who has been convicted of a violent sexual crime such as rape, or someone who has committed a sexual offense against a child or a loved one. Details in the report usually include: identifiers, registered address, aliases, case numbers, charge(s), conviction details, and period of incarceration.   Worker’s Compensation Records Workers Compensation claims history contains abbreviated information taken from two types of government documents:  Report of Injury & Court Contested Claims. Some states also have privately reported information available. Reports typically have: date of injury, time lost, employer during the time of incident, type of injury, body part and job related disability.  Depending on the state reporting, information may vary. USA Patriot Act Compliance   The USA Patriot Act requires financial institutions to match their existing and potential customers against the Office of Foreign Control (OFAC) list of suspected terrorists entities and individuals and other "watch lists". Customer identification programs are now required of virtually all cash transactions exceeding $10,000.00. The key to compliance with this law is to “know your customer.” Fraud Abuse Control Information System Report (FACIS) This extensive report reveals sanction and disciplinary information related to a wide range of healthcare providers, and is obtained from the Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Government Services Administration (GSA) and other federal agencies as well as those taken by licensing and certification agencies from all 50 states. State Incarceration Records This report will provide records of inmates within the state correctional system. Metro Area Criminal Record Search Select jurisdictions are able to provide a metro-area criminal record database search. This search generally does not contain DOB information or final disposition. For compliance a separate onsite courthouse record search is required when a name-match record is located from this search. Call for the area’s included and special terms. Statewide Criminal Records Search Alabama Statewide Criminal Records Statewide felony convictions since 1987. Records on approximately 230,000 persons. These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, SSN, charge(s) and sentence. Records updated monthly. Alaska Statewide Criminal Records This database contains current and historical felony and misdemeanor records of individuals who are or have been under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Court system. Records updated quarterly. Arkansas Statewide Criminal Records Court records of statewide felony and state-level misdemeanor dispositions since 1987. Records on approximately 400,000 persons. These records contain information submitted to the state by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, arrest date, county, case #, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s), dispositions and sentence. Records updated monthly. Colorado Statewide Criminal Records The Colorado Courts Database contains millions of up-to-the-minute court records in four major case categories: Criminal, Civil, Traffic and Domestic Relations. Certain cases on the database date to the 1960s. The database is the publicly available portion of the Integrated Colorado On-line Network, or ICON, which is the official electronic courts repository of the Colorado Judicial Branch. ICONs predecessor systems date to 1978. The official custodian of ICON is the State Court Administrators Office, which is the administrative arm of the Judicial Branch. Connecticut Statewide Criminal Records Statewide Misdemeanor and felony convictions since 1991. Records from all Connecticut Counties. These records may contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Delaware Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Florida Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Georgia Statewide Criminal Records Search includes arrest, disposition and custodial information. Records without dispositions are released. Records are available from 1972 forward. Hawaii Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Idaho Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. (Convictions Only) Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Indiana Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Iowa Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Kansas Statewide Criminal Records A search conducted through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. This search includes felony and misdemeanor arrests, prosecution data, court dispositions and information of incarceration in state-operated confinement facilities. The Central Repository database receives summary information for these events from contributing police departments, sheriff’s offices, prosecutors and courts throughout the state. Kentucky Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Maryland Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Massachusetts Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Michigan Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State Police from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Minnesota Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Records updated monthly and available instantly. Mississippi Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Missouri Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Montana Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence.  Nebraska Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Nevada Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies for FELONIES ONLY. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. New Hampshire Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. New Jersey Statewide Criminal Records NOTE: This search is for Felonies Only. These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. (Convictions Only) Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. New Mexico Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. New York Statewide Criminal Records A search of all 62 counties and processed by the O.C.A. (Office of Court Administration). The Boroughs & additional counties processed through the O.C.A. of New York Are: Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Delaware, Fulton, Hamilton, & Orleans Montgomery. Information includes: Felonies, Misdemeanors, Violations and Infractions. North Carolina Statewide Criminal Records State of North Carolina felony AND misdemeanor records of criminal history data from all counties district and superior courts. Contains over 10 million persons. These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Records show name, address, DOB, race, sex, case number, county, charge, disposition, sentence, sentence date. Records updated every 30 days. North Dakota Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Oklahoma Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Oregon Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Pennsylvania Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. If a hit is found results can be up to 10 business days. Rhode Island Statewide Criminal Records Superior and District Court records of statewide felony and misdemeanor cases disposed since 1985. Records on over 300,000 persons. Results can show case no., name, DOB, sex, address, offense, offense location, file date, disposition, disposition date, sentence, sentence type, and sentence date. South Carolina Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. South Dakota Statewide Criminal Records These records contain information submitted to the State by courts from each county and other criminal justice agencies. Results may show the disposition date, county, defendant name, DOB, race, sex, charge(s) and sentence. Tennessee Statewide Criminal Records Court records of statewide felony convictions from all 95 counties since 1990. Approximately 900,000 records. Search results show the date, county, case #, defendant name & aliases (when available), DOB, social security number (when available), charges, dispositions/judgments and sentence. Records updated monthly and available instantly. Data contains misdemeanor, traffic, and infraction records dating back to 1990. Data can includes name, offense, degree of offense, type of filing, file date, disposition date, and judgment type. Texas Statewide Criminal Records Search of Public Record Criminal History Information relating to Felony and Misdemeanor Convictions or Deferred Adjudication regarding Felony Offenses for a minimum of 7 years. As of 01/01/2000 Deferred Adjudication regarding Misdemeanor offenses are included in the Public Record section Information returned can include Filing Date; Charge; Charge Level; Disposition; County; ID Information. Records are updated monthly. Utah Statewide Criminal Records A Utah State Courts search. Search includes Felony, Misdemeanors, Violations and Infractions. Virginia Statewide Criminal Records This database contains statewide and/or county-level current and historical felony and misdemeanor dispositions, including motor vehicle citations of individuals who are or have been under the supervision of the Virginia General District or Circuit Courts. This jurisdiction provides monthly updates of the most current data available. NOTE: These records are from all Virginia counties and independent municipalities except: FAIRFAX--(General District and Circuit Courts) PRINCE WILLIAM--(No Circuit Court records) ALEXANDRIA--(No Circuit Court records). Washington Statewide Criminal Records A Washington State Police search. Search includes conviction records plus arrest information less than one year old with dispositions pending from the court. Records are available from 1974. Records without dispositions are not released. Wisconsin Statewide Criminal Records A Wisconsin Circuit Court search. Search includes all records, including those without dispositions. Arrests without supporting fingerprints are not included in the database. Records are available from July 1971. NOTE: Statewide criminal record searches are NOT valid for employment decisions when they are the only criminal record(s) being utilized. If a record (“hit”) is found, then the original local court of jurisdiction files must be retrieved at additional cost. Return to the HOME PAGE