Everything you need to know about our screening services.
Browse our FAQs to learn how Moore Information Services makes hiring safer, faster, and more reliable.
A. General
Background screening has become an essential part of the hiring process. It encourages honesty, reduces turnover, lowers insurance premiums, and helps prevent workplace theft, violence, and injury. It also demonstrates due diligence in the event of legal action.
Negligent hiring occurs when an employer hires someone who has a known history of harmful or dangerous behavior, and that employee causes injury. Employers are responsible for using reasonable care in screening candidates, and can be held liable not only for what they knew but also what they should have known. Ignorance is never a defense.
Screening in-house is time-consuming and complex. Outsourcing allows employers to avoid tedious tasks such as contacting schools, employers, and county courts, and lets them focus on their core business.
Moore Information Services, Inc. offers over 20 years of nationwide experience, with a trained team that provides accurate, fast, and cost-effective screening results to help clients make confident hiring decisions.
Typically less than the cost of a new employee’s first day of work. The cost of pre-screening is far lower than the cost of hiring and training someone who is unqualified or potentially risky.
Standard turnaround is 1–3 business days. Delays may occur due to employer/mail-only verifications, school closures, courthouse backlogs, or slow state motor vehicle departments.
Seven years is standard. Certain industries or positions may require searches beyond seven years.
MIS provides nationwide access to all district/county courts and motor vehicle departments, plus substantial international coverage.
Yes, but state repositories often contain incomplete or outdated data. A statewide search should always be paired with a county-level search.
No. There is no public nationwide criminal database. Some companies advertise one, but these should only supplement county searches. Only law enforcement has access to NCIC.
B. Nationwide Criminal Database Search
It includes instant records for felonies, upper-level misdemeanors, sex offender registries, inmate records, and some arrests from 50 states + DC. Not all states report all data to MIS.
Reasons include:
the applicant was arrested but not convicted
the court with the record does not report to MIS
the applicant lived in a county not included in direct reporting
The recommended solution is the Power Search, which pulls data from all reporting states/counties and reduces the chance of missing records.
Not all sources report all information. Contact Client Services for assistance.
An arrest is a citation where the individual was released — not a conviction.
A conviction is the final disposition resulting from an arrest.
Charge descriptions are usually listed next to the code. If not, contact Client Services for assistance.
No. Requirements vary by state. Some only require registration for high-risk offenders.
Fields may be blank due to:
incomplete reporting
old systems
human error
transitions between record systems
The California Index often lacks DOB and specific charge info. A single-county search ensures accurate matching and full details.
Updates vary by state/county — monthly in most areas, sometimes weekly or daily.
Yes. Turnaround time is 10–14 days, excluding New Brunswick, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories.
MIS obtains county-level criminal records by conducting direct, hands-on searches at the source—your applicant’s local county courthouse. Depending on the county, this search is performed by:
Live court researchers who physically visit the courthouse to pull records
Authorized court clerks who access the official index and provide results
Verified digital portals where counties allow secure online access to their criminal databases
This method ensures the most accurate and up-to-date information, since county courthouses are the primary and original source of criminal records. County-level searches also reduce the risk of missing records that may not be reported to statewide or national databases.
Possible reasons:
data entry mistakes
identity theft
someone used the applicant’s SSN to obtain services (phone, utilities, etc.)
Same reasons as above: data entry errors, identity theft, or purchases made under the applicant’s SSN for another person.
Look at the charge level code:
M = Misdemeanor
F = Felony
T = Traffic
U = Unknown
Civil offense: non-criminal violation (e.g., speeding). Penalty = fine only.
Criminal offense: punishable by fine or jail. Misdemeanors are less severe; felonies can carry multi-year prison terms and large fines.