Blog

What Is Continuous Background Screening?

Back to blog
Posted by: David Garcia February 21, 2024

What happens if your employee commits a crime? While HR Departments have almost exclusively focused on running background checks as part of a pre-employment recruiting process, 12% of the workforce will be arrested in the next five years (source: SJV). It is highly likely you have employees who have been convicted of a crime while employed at your company.

What Is Continuous Background Screening?

Continuous background screening is a service that runs regular background checks on your existing employees. These services provide notifications of any changes in the employees’ criminal history allowing you to understand any increased risks to your workplace.

In addition to the safety of the workplace environment, employee convictions can negatively impact your brand. To help employers, there are continuous monitoring background check products to help reduce your risk. These solutions monitor online court records and provide a notification to employers should an employee be arrested. Continuous background checks are becoming more reliable as more court systems move to online records systems, as well as due to advances in technology to scan the Web and analyze data. However, these solutions are not fool-proof, as not all U.S. counties are online today, but they provide a substantial advancement over a “one & done” approach.

What About Compliance?

We always recommend you check with outside counsel to assess the legal risks for your organization. At a minimum, we recommend that you review your current pre-employment background check consent forms to ensure candidates have agreed to continuous background screening post-employment. Not all states allow running additional background checks without additional authorization (e.g. California), so a legal review is especially critical. You will also want to review your employee manual to ensure clarity on any policies related to post-employment criminal activity.

ScoutLogic Can Help

ScoutLogic offers a 24/7 continuous monitoring background check solution. This solution covers 85% of U.S. incarceration facilities and provides instant notifications to clients of any activities. ScoutLogic’s mission is to make background checks of all types easy for recruiters. Our unique “Scout” service model provides faster reports, better quality, and great recruiter & candidate service. 

*ScoutLogic is not a law firm, and nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice. Always check with a qualified attorney before making any changes to your program

Latest blog posts
July 18, 2024
10 Best Sourcing Tools for Recruiters
Are you looking to improve your recruiting process? In today's competitive job market, finding the right fit for your company can be a daunting task. With a vast pool of candidates...
July 01, 2024
How to Measure Quality of Hire
Hiring can often be a stressful and enormous task, but how do we know when we've done it correctly? Trying to measure the quality of hire without the appropriate system is like...
July 01, 2024
What Is the Cost Per Hire?
The cost per hire refers to the total expenses incurred by a company to recruit and onboard a new employee. This metric includes all direct and indirect costs associated with the...
June 27, 2024
Talent Sourcing Strategies
Competition for the best positions in a job market has rarely been as intense, but likewise, the battle to source the best talent is equally fierce. In today's competitive job market,...
June 25, 2024
The Cost of a Bad Hire
When a great hire joins a company, the effects can be extraordinary. They can help galvanize a struggling workforce and inspire changes that can turn a business around. However, the...
Looking for a better background check company? Start by preparing with this free guide.

Download this free guide to go into the searching process prepared. This guide includes actionable steps to:

  • Gather your requirements
  • Determine vendors
  • Check references
  • Determine success metrics
get a free e-book

Get a free e-book