Using New Jersey Public Records

Screen job applicants with New Jersey criminal records

Hiring a new employee is one of the most common reasons for using New Jersey 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 New Jersey public 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 that include New Jersey divorce records, past convictions or birth records. These may also be useful in determining criminal history, residency requirements and alimony payments.

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

 

Use New Jersey open public records to get general information on individuals

A New Jersey record can include information on births, deaths and divorces. Many cities and counties in New Jersey have websites with this information that is freely available to the general public.
Try: The Hartford County Health Department provides specific instructions for obtaining a copy of a birth certificate. Bergen County has an online form for requesting all types of government records.

Search state of New Jersey 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: Legal Services of New Jersey provides instruction for retrieving your criminal history record. The New Jersey State Police allows individuals to retrieve criminal history record information for the purpose of performing background checks.

Use public records to conduct a New Jersey background check

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: New Jersey Background Checks provides a variety of search categories including a background check. Private Eye performs background checks in New Jersey by name, address and phone number. It also performs other searches for public records and families.

 

• You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual you are seeking New Jersey public 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.

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