The Potential Flaws of Fingerprint Background Checks

While most know that everybody’s fingerprints are unique, fewer know that fingerprint-based background checks aren’t as thorough as many believe. Although crime shows on TV depict protagonists instantly identifying suspects through this method, this trope may not be accurate. Additional association with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies has given it a reputation as the end-all-be-all screening method. However, it has notable limitations as a sole background check method. 

What could you miss with fingerprint-only background checks 

While helpful in some situations, fingerprint background checks provide limited information compared to other background screening services. Even the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) has a public position that,

fingerprint-based background checks are a useful tool when conducting background screening, but they don’t provide a comprehensive history and should not be solely relied upon for obtaining complete and up-to-date information.  

Three primary factors can make fingerprint results less reliable than other background check services: 

1. FBI fingerprint database may not give a complete criminal history. The FBI fingerprint database only includes criminal records reported to the FBI. Not all jurisdictions submit or report criminal record information to the database, and even when they do, some jurisdictions fail to report final case disposition.  Therefore, the FBI’s fingerprint database presents a significant opportunity for potential gaps where a subject’s record could be inaccurate or incomplete.
2. The FBI doesn't require fingerprints to be submitted regularly or at all, and jurisdictions may not consistently submit records. Even when fingerprints are collected, there’s no guarantee that the records are current.
   
   According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, in 2012, only 20 states reported completeness of over 75%, 13 reported 51-75% completeness, and 17 either fell short of half coverage or didn’t submit data. The agency notes this isn’t out of the ordinary, as not all states are required to submit final disposition data.
3. Unusable information could be included. Not all fingerprint records are related to a conviction or have a final disposition. In many cases, fingerprints are collected at the time of arrest, which means that the record could violate the FCRA or other laws if used to make certain decisions.
   
   In fact, former Attorney General Eric Holder emphasized in 2016 that solely using FBI fingerprint searches for background checks would likely result in discriminatory decisions, and the database was not intended for commercial use. In 2016, Holder stated,

The FBI database has a clearly-defined purpose: to aid law enforcement during investigations. It facilitates investigators, who are then expected to follow up on information found in the database to determine whether it is complete or not. . . . It was not designed to be used to determine whether or not someone is eligible for a work opportunity. Relying on it for that purpose is both unwise and unfair.

Comprehensive criminal checks include multiple sources 

Criminal background checks, including those that are used for contractor certifications in the Certified Contractors program, are powered by background checks from various sources for added coverage.

The criminal history searches utilized to certify contractors include robust scopes from county to national levels and more detailed insights such as identity traces, registry searches, and various other products and services—all of which are important services that fingerprint-only screenings can’t provide.

Even if fingerprints are required for contractors or vendors to gain access to certain facilities, they might not offer the coverage an organization prefers. Contractor certifications are a great way to bridge the gap. They combine court-level criminal record checks with other screening sources and distill the results into an easy-to-use credential. Though employers cannot make employment decisions using contractor certifications, they do verify that anyone who has gained certification passed the requirements for entry to a secure facility and give peace of mind that contractors and vendors were vetted to that organization's standards. It’s just another way to keep organizations safe and for contracting companies to prove that the workers you send to perform work don’t create a risk to your clients.

Don’t settle for fingerprint-only background checks or vendors that rely on them. Join Certified Contractors today to ensure contractors are screened thoroughly.