How Long Is A Pa Criminal Background Check Good For

Many Pennsylvania employers utilise background checks equally office of their pre-employment screening process. Background checks may be used as a tool to help brand smarter hiring decisions that protect the organization's reputation, employees, and customers. Employers must follow federal, land, and local statutes governing background screenings, proper handling of their findings, and respect for the privacy of job candidates and employees. The post-obit is an overview of what employers should know.

What Is A Pennsylvania Groundwork Bank check?

Pennsylvania employers and public agencies use background checks for a wide diversity of purposes, such as gauging the reliability of job candidates; qualifying and monitoring operators of heavy equipment, motor vehicles, and firearms; and safeguarding the welfare of children and other vulnerable individuals.

Pennsylvania background checks often include criminal records searches using the Pennsylvania Admission to Criminal History (PATCH) online database, but as well may rely on national records searches or fifty-fifty an FBI criminal history clearance.

Common Use Cases For PA Background Checks

Pennsylvania's private employers and public agencies routinely run comprehensive pre-employment background checks, which includes criminal background checks, but Pennsylvania background checks can take many other forms:

PA Land Police Background Cheque

The Pennsylvania Country Police operates and maintains Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH), an online database used in groundwork checks by many state agencies and municipalities. PATCH contains information on convictions and arrests statewide. PATCH is routinely used by state law enforcement agencies to check suspects' criminal histories, but PATCH checks are likewise required of all prospective school employees, contractors who work in contact with children, foster parents, elderberry intendance providers, and others with straight access to vulnerable individuals.

Pre-Employment Credit Check

Common for sure fiscal and business-related roles, a pre-employment credit check does not report a candidate's credit scores, simply may include information on their electric current and past employers, notifications of defalcation, credit and payment history, whatever bills turned over to a collection agency, and other credit inquiries made on the candidate. A pre-employment credit check generates a "soft inquiry" entry on the candidate'southward credit study, which does not bear on their credit scores.  A local fair hiring constabulary restricts the use of pre-employment credit checks by employers doing business in Philadelphia.

Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check

All Pennsylvania companies that employ commercial drivers subject to DOT regulation must carry motor vehicle tape (MVR) checks and substance-corruption screenings on all operators as part of pre-employment screening, and at regular intervals during their employment, per U.Southward. Section of Transportation (DOT) requirements. Employers also may perform MVR screenings (with consent of applicant or employee) on new hires and employees who bulldoze company vehicles or who utilise their ain cars in the course of company business.

Volunteer Background Check

Volunteers who donate their time to Pennsylvania departments and organizations that help children, seniors or other at-gamble individuals must first consent to a criminal background check. The Pennsylvania Land Police PATCH system waives its customary processing fees for volunteers who request background checks using a special request form created for that purpose.

Additionally, in that location are several types of criminal background checks in Pennsylvania that must be conducted direct through state or federal agencies. Employers may still work with a 3rd-party groundwork check provider, like GoodHire, to conduct preliminary searches for employment purposes prior to conducting checks through these databases and law enforcement agencies.

FBI Background Check

FBI criminal background checks are required of job candidates applying to piece of work in positions with access to children and other vulnerable persons, and of applicants for licenses in financial fields.

Financial Services Background Checks

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, which regulates financial-services in the Commonwealth, requires a Pennsylvania Land Police criminal background history cheque and an FBI Fingerprint Bank check for all individuals applying for financial services licenses including fiscal advisers, securities traders, mortgage lenders and brokers, and providers of check-cashing and pawnbroker services.

Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

Pennsylvania Child Protective Services regulations require three background checks for all new hires at public and individual schools, child intendance facilities, and contractors serving those institutions. In addition to the Pennsylvania Country Police criminal history bank check and FBI Criminal History Clearance, job candidates must too submit a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance application. Required awarding forms may be obtained online and submitted using the state Department of Man Services' Child Welfare Portal or via mail. All three screenings required by child protective services must exist updated every v years.

Pennsylvania Gun Background Check

The Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) is an electronic database that enables gun dealers and police force enforcement officials to check whether an individual is legally barred from purchasing or possessing a firearm. PICS findings that might foreclose a gun sale include past convictions on a multifariousness of felonies and weapons-related charges, findings of mental incompetency, and avoiding condition. (A gun background check is non part of a pre-employment groundwork check. GoodHire does non offer Pennsylvania gun background checks.)

How Far Back Does A Groundwork Bank check Go In Pennsylvania?

Land law places no restrictions on how far back a Pennsylvania criminal groundwork bank check can search, and permits employers to consider relevant convictions, no affair how sometime, when making a hiring decision. However, the Pennsylvania Clean Slate law, described in greater detail below, blocks public access to information for almost misdemeanor criminal convictions more than than 10 years former, and any arrests that didn't pb to a conviction. This means those incidents should not appear in Pennsylvania background check results or be considered in hiring decisions.

Pennsylvania does not restrict how far back a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check tin look, but violations typically remain on state driving records no more than 10 years. (Even if they "fall off" a motor vehicle tape, convictions for felony DUI and other motor vehicle-related felonies may stay on your criminal record permanently and volition appear in criminal groundwork checks.)

Similarly, other than in Philadelphia, where use of credit checks in pre-employment background checks is restricted (come across below), Pennsylvania does not limit how far back a credit check can expect. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) forbids reporting bankruptcies that are older than ten years and paid tax liens or any collections accounts that are older than vii years.

Pennsylvania Groundwork Bank check Laws

Pennsylvania has several state laws that limit the use of pre-employment background checks, including:

• The Pennsylvania Criminal History Tape Information Human action forbids public and individual employers in the Republic from refusing out of manus to hire persons with criminal records, and requires employers to:
  • Consider only felony and misdemeanor convictions in the hiring process. Summary offenses and misdemeanor or felony arrests and court proceedings that did not lead to a conviction must be disregarded.
  • Assess whether whatsoever conviction uncovered in a criminal groundwork check specifically affects the bidder's suitability for the position to which they accept practical.

• The Pennsylvania Fair-Gamble Hiring law is a ban-the-box provision that forbids asking nigh criminal history on applications for public service jobs in land departments under the governor's authority. The police permits Pennsylvania departments to conduct a criminal background check only subsequently an bidder has been given a provisional chore offering. An offering of employment or promotion may be rescinded based on a background check only if the findings take direct bearing on the chore in question.

• The Pennsylvania Clean Slate law, passed in 2018, automatically blocks data on misdemeanor criminal convictions that are 10 or more years old, as long as any courtroom orders of restitution take been met. This means those convictions cannot appear in a Pennsylvania background check or be considered as part of a hiring decision.

In addition to these statewide laws, many Pennsylvania cities and counties have adopted local fair hiring laws that farther restrict background check procedures in their jurisdictions. This can create defoliation for employers who operate in multiple locations around the Democracy, or who utilize remote workers living all beyond the country. When in incertitude, employers should utilize the strictest law that applies to whatever given locality.

Employers in Pennsylvania must also comply with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Human action (FCRA). The FCRA requires employers to get permission from candidates and employees earlier conducting background checks, outlines the required steps for notifying candidates of background check results, and requires that employers follow a two-step adverse action procedure in order to give candidates an opportunity to respond to background bank check findings that may lead to a decision confronting hiring or promoting them.

County Resources

Allegheny County

Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, Allegheny County'south 730 square miles include the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding metro area. Known equally the celebrated heart of America'southward steel industry, the canton has emerged in the 21st century as a center for healthcare, education and loftier-tech development. It is the state's 2d-most populous canton with i,250,578 residents.
Public Information & Records:

• Allegheny County website
• Allegheny County public and courtroom records

 Allegheny County has a ban-the-box law. Learn more.

Berks County

Reading, the largest city in Berks Canton, is famous as the historical dwelling to the Reading Railroad, made famous past the Monopoly game. Considered part of the Philadelphia metro expanse, Berks Canton occupies 856 square miles and has a population of 428,849.
Public Data & Records:

• Berks County website
• Berks County public and court records

The city of Reading has a ban-the-box law. Learn more than.

Bucks County

Located to the northeast of Philadelphia and bordering New Jersey to its due east, Bucks County encompasses the suburb of Levittown, a planned community that straddles 4 municipalities; Croydon, some other suburb that lacks a municipal government; and the borough of Doylestown (the county seat). The county spans 604 square miles and is dwelling house to 646,538 people.

Public Data & Records:

• Bucks Canton website
• Bucks County public and courtroom records

Chester County

This southeastern Pennsylvania county covers 750 foursquare miles and serves as a suburb to Philadelphia, to its due east, and to Wilmington, Del., to its s. Including the borough of West Chester (the county seat) and the city of Coatesville, Chester County has a population of 534,413.
Public Information & Records:

• Chester County website
• Chester County public and court records
  

Cumberland County

Occupying 545 foursquare miles to the west of Harrisburg, Cumberland Canton is home to several of the land capital'due south suburbs every bit well every bit the urban center of Carlisle. Cumberland County is the fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania, with a population of 259,469.

Public Information & Records:

• Cumberland County website
• Cumberland County public and court records

Dauphin County

Abode of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital letter metropolis and sixth-largest municipality, Dauphin County encompasses 525 foursquare miles and has a population of 286,401.

Public Information & Records:

• Dauphin County website
• Dauphin County public and court records

Delaware County

Located southwest of Philadelphia and within its metropolitan surface area, Delaware County is dwelling house to 576,830 people and spans 184 square miles, comprising the townships of Upper Darby and Haverford and the urban center of Chester.

Public Information & Records:

• Delaware County website
• Delaware Canton public and courtroom records

Erie County

Occupying 799 square miles in the northwestern corner of the Commonwealth, astride its namesake Great Lake, Erie Canton includes the cities of Erie and Corry and has a population of 270,876.

Public Information & Records:

• Erie County website
• Erie County public and courtroom records

Lackawanna County

Located in the northeastern region of the Democracy, Lackawanna Canton has a population of 215,896 and occupies 459 foursquare miles. It includes the cities of Scranton and Carbondale, which takes its proper noun from the coal mining industry that drove the canton's economy in the 19th century. Mining still makes upward a minor portion of its economic system, but today the county's biggest task sectors are manufacturing, healthcare, and didactics services.

Public Information & Records:

• Lackawanna Canton website
• Lackawanna County public and courtroom records

Lancaster Canton

Known the world over equally the heart of "Pennsylvania Dutch Country," Lancaster County spreads beyond 944 square miles and is dwelling to 552,984 people. Bated from their popularity with tourists. The canton and its seat, the metropolis of Lancaster, besides support thriving manufacturing and healthcare industries.

Public Information & Records:

• Lancaster County website
• Lancaster County public and court records

Lancaster County has a ban-the-box law. Learn more.

Lehigh Canton

Taking its proper name from the Lehigh River, whose valley information technology occupies, Lehigh County'due south 345 square-mile expanse includes Pennsylvania's third-largest city, Allentown, and a portion of the city of Bethlehem, which it shares with bordering Northampton County. Montgomery County's population is 374,557.

Public Data & Records:

• Lehigh County website
• Lehigh County public and court records

The cities of Allentown and Bethlehem have ban-the-box laws. Learn more than.

Luzerne County

Northeastern Pennsylvania's Luzerne County, which includes the cities of Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, is an 890 square-mile area with a population of 325,594. A historic centre of black coal mining, the county became a manufacturing center in the mid-20th century and today is a major centre of warehousing services.

Public Information & Records:

• Luzerne County website
• Luzerne County public and court records

Montgomery Canton

Extending across a 483 square-mile surface area, Montgomery County includes suburbs of adjacent Philadelphia and function of Valley Forge National Historical Park, which commemorates the ordeal of George Washington's troops' encampment in the biting winter of 1777-1778. Encompassing the metropolis of Norristown and the townships of Abington, Lower Merion and Upper Merion, Montgomery Canton has a population of 856,553.

Public Data & Records:

• Montgomery County website
• Montgomery Canton public and court records

Montgomery County has a ban-the-box police. Learn more.

Northampton Canton

Spread out over 370 foursquare miles in eastern Pennsylvania, Northampton County borders New Jersey and forms office of a metropolitan surface area comprising Easton, its county seat; Bethlehem, which lies partially inside Northampton County and partially in neighboring Lehigh County; and Allentown, Lehigh County'due south largest city. Northampton County'due south population is 312,951.

Public Data & Records:

• Northampton County website
• Northampton County public and court records

 Northampton County and the urban center of Bethlehem have ban-the-box laws. Learn more than.

Philadelphia County

Pennsylvania'southward virtually populous county and the hub of its largest metropolitan surface area, Philadelphia County had a population of 1,603,797. The canton and city of Philadelphia occupy the aforementioned 134 square-mile area, and share consolidated government courtroom systems.

Public Information & Records:

• Philadelphia Metropolis/County website
• Philadelphia Metropolis/County public and courtroom records

Philadelphia County and the city of Philadelphia take ban-the-box laws. In that location is also a ban on testing many job candidates for marijuana use. Learn more.

Westmoreland County

Located southeast of Pittsburgh and dwelling to the towns of Murrysville, Latrobe and Greensburg (the county seat), Westmoreland County is believed to take more 100 abandoned coal mines across its 1,028 square-mile area. Remnants of the county's role in the rise of the Pennsylvania steel industry, their economic part in the 21st century is filled by industries including wellness care and social services, manufacturing, and retail. Westmoreland County's population is 354,663.

Public Data & Records:

• Westmoreland County website
• Westmoreland County public and court records

York County

Occupying 904 square miles in South-central Pennsylvania'due south Susquehanna River valley, York Canton has a population of 456,438. York Canton is sometimes called the Snack Food Capital of the World, equally home to five major snack food bakeries, including Snyder's of Hanover, Martin'southward Snacks and Stauffer Biscuit Company, originator of animal crackers.

Public Information & Records:

• York County website
• York Canton court and courtroom records

The city of York has a ban-the-box police. Acquire more.

Get A Pennsylvania Groundwork Check With GoodHire

Background checks are vital to the hiring practices and public welfare policies of private and public employers across Pennsylvania. Compliance with FCRA, and fair chance hiring and ban-the-box laws throughout the Commonwealth, can be daunting for both small businesses and large companies alike as the consequences of compliance mistakes can be plush.
Pennsylvania employers can gain peace of mind by using a tertiary-party background check provider, similar GoodHire. GoodHire offers FCRA-compliant background check services with an easy-to-use online platform that simplifies the process for both hiring managers and job candidates. Our built-in compliance features automate key steps such as background check review workflows and initiating adverse action. GoodHire'south in-house compliance team is likewise available to answer your questions.

Disclaimer

The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and practice not constitute legal advice. We advise you to consult your ain counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.

How Long Is A Pa Criminal Background Check Good For,

Source: https://www.goodhire.com/background-checks/pennsylvania/

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