Criminal Background Checks for Employers

A criminal background check searches court records for a candidate’s criminal history. Fast Track starts at $8 for a nationwide database search and $25 for unlimited county court searches in every county your candidate has lived in, with 90% of criminal checks completed in under an hour.

Which criminal search do you need?

 

National databases are broad but incomplete, because not every county reports to them, and some report months late. County searches go straight to the source, so they’re the most current and complete. That’s why Full Picture includes every county.

Federal crimes are tried in federal court, not county court, so they don’t appear in a county search. If the role handles money, sensitive data or government contracts, add a federal search.

How a criminal background check works

1. You order. Choose a package in your dashboard, or send the candidate an invitation.
2. The candidate consents online. They review the required FCRA disclosure, sign the authorization, and enter their details. You don’t handle any paperwork.
3. We find where to search. An SSN trace lists every county where the candidate has lived, and the national database search flags any other places records may exist.
4. We search and verify. Each county court is searched directly. Any database hit is confirmed at the source court before it appears on the report, so you aren’t acting on an outdated or mismatched record.
5. You get the report. You’re notified in your dashboard the moment it’s ready. 90% of criminal checks are done in under an hour.

What can delay a criminal check?

• Courts without online access. Some county courts require a clerk to pull records by hand, which can take 1–3 business days.
• Possible records that need confirming. If a record might belong to the candidate, we confirm identifiers such as full name and date of birth with the court before reporting it.
• Common names. A name like John Smith returns more possible matches to rule out.
• Court closures. Holidays and weather closures pause clerk searches.

You can follow every search’s status in your dashboard.

How far back do criminal checks go?

Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally can’t be reported after 7 years for jobs paying under $75,000 a year. Convictions can be reported regardless of age under federal law, but several states limit them, often to 7 years. Fast Track applies the stricter of federal or state rules.

Arrests vs. convictions

A conviction means the person pleaded guilty or was found guilty. An arrest alone means they were charged or detained, not that they committed a crime. The EEOC advises employers not to deny a job based on an arrest record alone. Pending cases (charges not yet resolved) appear on the report with their current status.

Using criminal records in a hiring decision

The FCRA sets out the steps when a report affects your decision:

1. Send a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and the “Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA.”
2. Wait a reasonable period, commonly at least 5 business days, so the candidate can respond or dispute anything that’s wrong.
3. Send a final adverse action notice if you decide not to hire, including our contact details and the candidate’s right to dispute.

The EEOC also recommends looking at each record in context: how serious the offense was, how long ago it happened, and whether it relates to the job. Fast Track’s platform sends both notices for you.

State and local rules to know

Many states and cities have “ban-the-box” or fair-chance hiring laws. These often require you to wait until after a conditional job offer before running a criminal check, and some limit which records you can consider. Rules vary widely, so check the laws where the job is located, or ask our support team.

How Fast Track compares

Competitor pricing is based on publicly listed all-county packages as of October 2026. Court access fees may apply with every provider.

Who uses criminal background checks?

Employers of every size, especially staffing firms, healthcare, hospitality, retail, transportation, and any business whose employees work with customers, money or vulnerable people.

Often ordered with

• Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) for any role that drives
• Drug Testing for safety-sensitive jobs
• Employment Verification to confirm work history
• Healthcare Sanctions for healthcare employers

Frequently asked questions

How much does a criminal background check cost?

$8 for a nationwide database search, or $25 for unlimited county searches. Court access fees are passed through at cost, with no markup.

How long does a criminal background check take?

90% of criminal checks finish in under an hour. Some county courts require a clerk to pull records by hand, which can take 1–3 business days.

What’s the difference between a county and a national criminal search?

A national search scans 2,000+ databases quickly but can miss counties that don’t report. A county search pulls records directly from each court, so it’s the most complete.

Does a county search include federal crimes?

No. Federal cases are tried in federal court, so they need a separate federal criminal search.

Will dismissed charges show up?

Only records that are legally reportable under the FCRA and state law appear on the report.

Do I need the candidate’s permission?

Yes. The FCRA requires a written disclosure and the candidate’s signed authorization before you run a check. Fast Track collects both online.

What if the candidate says a record is wrong?

They can dispute it with us directly, and we reinvestigate with the court, typically within 30 days as the FCRA requires. Hold your final decision until the dispute is resolved.

Can I check a candidate who lived in another state?

Yes. We search all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Start running criminal record checks today!