Text Size
Print
Email
Top Stories
- Text Size
- Print
- Email
WHY ONLINE ACCESS IS BETTER FOR THE PRE-EMPLLOYMENT SCREENING COMPANY THAN MANUAL SEARCHING
Online access to court records is better for pre-employment screening companies because it fundamentally transforms their business model, making it faster, cheaper, more accurate, and scalable. It provides a significant competitive advantage over older, manual methods.
## Drastic Improvement in Speed and Turnaround Time
Thirty years ago, a background check requiring a county court search could take days or even weeks. It involved sending a researcher to the courthouse, waiting for the clerk to locate the physical file, and then mailing or faxing the results.
With online access, a screening company can often get the same results in minutes or hours. This rapid turnaround time is a critical selling point for their clients (the employers), who need to make hiring decisions quickly.
## Significant Cost Reduction
The manual process was labor-intensive and expensive. Costs included:
The researcher's time and salary.
Travel expenses to and from the courthouse.
Physical copy fees charged by the court clerk.
Online systems consolidate these efforts. A single employee can now search numerous jurisdictions from their desk, drastically cutting labor hours and eliminating travel and physical copy costs. This improves operational efficiency and profit margins.
## Enhanced Accuracy and Data Integrity
Manual searches are prone to human error. A researcher could misread a file, pull the wrong record for a common name, or a clerk could make a mistake. Online databases allow for more precise searches using multiple identifiers, such as full name and date of birth, which is crucial for compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This ensures the screening company is reporting on the correct individual, mitigating legal risk.
## Expanded Geographic Reach
Manually searching records in multiple states or distant counties was logistically complex and often cost-prohibitive. Online access allows a screening company to offer comprehensive, nationwide background checks as a standard service. They can instantly pull records from a courthouse across the country, providing a much more thorough and valuable report to their clients without a complicated network of on-the-ground researchers.
## Workflow Automation and Integration
Modern screening platforms are built on technology. Online court record data can be accessed via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and integrated directly into a screening company's software. This automates the entire workflow, from placing an order to retrieving data and generating the final report. This level of automation is impossible with manual, paper-based records.
2025 The Background Investigator. All Rights Reserved.