If you are hiring a babysitter today, it is easier than ever to do a background check on the sitter to find out if they have had any convictions on their record. There are some important things that parents should understand when it comes to performing background checks on babysitters.
1. The background check that you get online may not give you all the information that you need on the individual. Employers often use background checks to check out prospective employees. Legally, in order to obtain a background check on an individual, you need their consent. You can then use an agency that will be able to pull up court records as well as records from the DMV. While most court records are public information, records from the Department of Motor Vehicles are not public record and can only be obtained with the permission of the person who is being investigated.
2. The background check will not delve into expunged cases or juvenile records. Juvenile crimes are often sealed and will not be reflected in a background check. In addition, Class 4 felonies as well as misdemeanor crimes can often be expunged after a certain period of time. This means that they are released from the system after the person has completed a probation period. These crimes are not violent in nature but can consist of drug crimes as well as drunk driving.
3. The background check only pulls up convictions, not arrests. A person in the United States is considered innocent until proven guilty. If a person has been up on a number of assault charges, but the charges have been dropped, or they have been found not guilty, then this information will not appear on a background check.
4. Background checks for convicted sex offenders are free online but only if the offender is registered. Sex offenders must register when they move and keep in touch with local law enforcement. But this only applies to those who are compliant with the law.
You can perform a background check on your own by using a background check service online or rely on a service that specializes in performing these checks for employers. You are better off to use a professional service than try to perform a background check on your own and get permission from the person who you are investigating. You should never be lulled into a false sense of security if a background check comes up clean, although this does give most parents a peace of mind if they know that the person who they are hiring for child care is not a convicted felon, sex offender or has any warrants out for their arrest.
Parents should still do due diligence and trust their instincts even after performing a background check on a potential baby sitter. There is nothing wrong with playing it as safe as possible when it comes to hiring someone to look after your children. If you cannot afford a full background check, you can usually find out a great deal for a low fee if you use an online background check service that will give you basic information about any individual you are thinking of hiring for baby sitting.