Using Florida Public Records

Screen job applicants with Florida public records

Hiring a new employee is one of the most common reasons for using Florida public records. A small business may prefer to take advantage of the free information available online instead of hiring another company to perform this service.

Finding an applicant with the right job qualifications is only part of the hiring process. Background checks should be essential because the employer can be held responsible for an employee’s actions on the job. Free Florida divorce records can help identify individuals that could be a poor choice due to their credit or criminal history. Employers must also specifically check people who will be working with children or the elderly for any history of abuse.

There are three types of public records of particular interest when performing background checks:

1. Credit reports that show current lines of credit, payment histories and declarations of bankruptcy.

2. Public records in Florida that show past convictions, births or divorces. These may also be useful in determining criminal history, residency requirements and alimony payments.

3. Registered sex offender lists. Florida requires convicted sex offenders to be kept on a list for a specified period after their conviction.

 

Use Florida court records to get general information on individuals

A Florida record can include information on births, deaths and divorces. Many cities and counties in Florida have websites with this information that is freely available to the general public.
Try: The Court Clerk of Alachua County maintains a variety of civil and public records for residents of this county. The Clerk of the Courts for Broward County has a public access search capability by name, case number or citation number.

Use state of Florida public records to get information on criminal history

Law enforcement agencies keep criminal records which may be publicly available. Laws vary widely by state as to the specific information you will be able to obtain. Some government agencies may also charge fees.
Try: The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has several information programs available which may require fingerprints. Florida’s Integrated Criminal History System cross-matches fingerprints and criminal histories.

Use Florida public criminal records to conduct background checks

There are many sites dedicated to performing background checks for prospective employees. These checks can also include Social Security number verification, education verification and reference checks.
Try: InfoCheckUSA performs background checks and resume verification. They also provide a variety of free resources. BackgroundFerret.com offers national criminal records as well as criminal records by state.

 

• You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual you are seeking Florida records for. Job applicants will need to provide this information on the application form or on a separate form for the background check. Individuals must also grant permission for a background check in most cases.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---