Background checks play a critical role in helping employers make informed hiring decisions. While county criminal and county civil searches are a foundational component of employment screening, they do not always provide a complete view of an applicant’s history. County-level checks are limited to local jurisdictions. If relevant activity occurred under federal jurisdiction, those records may not appear in a county-level search. Relying on a single search type can leave gaps that increase organizational risk.
What County-Level Checks Cover
County-level searches are conducted at the courthouse level and can return the following records:
County Criminal Searches
- Active cases and active warrants
- Local felony and misdemeanor convictions
County Civil Searches
- Certain civil records, including judgments, nonpayment of goods, or protection orders
These records are valuable and often highly detailed. However, county searches only include matters handled under state and local jurisdictions. Federal crimes and civil actions must be searched separately.
What Federal Searches Can Reveal
Federal searches focus on criminal and civil matters prosecuted under federal law. These records exist outside county court systems and require separate search processes.
- Federal criminal offenses, such as drug trafficking, interstate theft, bank robbery, kidnapping, and embezzlement
- Federal civil litigation, including tax disputes, civil rights cases, antitrust matters, and other interstate legal actions
These cases can carry significant legal, financial, and reputational implications for employers, particularly in regulated or high-trust roles.
The Risk Of Relying On County-Level Checks Alone
When federal records go undiscovered, employers may face avoidable exposure, including:
- Safety risks if serious offenses are not visible at the county level
- Legal and financial risks if undisclosed activity leads to liability or regulatory scrutiny
- Reputational risks if a negligent hiring incident becomes public
Layered screening helps reduce these risks by expanding visibility beyond local jurisdictions.
Why Layered Background Screening Matters
Conducting federal searches alongside county-level checks demonstrates greater due diligence. It signals that an organization:
- Prioritizes workplace safety and public trust
- Takes reasonable steps to identify jurisdictional gaps
- Aligns hiring practices with industry best practices
Federal searches are not a replacement for county checks. They complement them, providing a broader, multi-jurisdictional view of an applicant’s history.
Hiring With Greater Confidence
County-level searches are an essential starting point. Adding federal searches strengthens the screening process by uncovering records that may otherwise remain hidden. This layered approach supports informed, defensible hiring decisions across a wide range of roles.
Employers evaluating federal searches should ensure these records are obtained and reviewed accurately, consistently, and in compliance with applicable regulations.
Learn how CIC supports compliant, multi-jurisdictional employment screening through coordinated county and federal searches.