Everyone has some dirt they would rather leave in the past. This could include a criminal record, negative education or employment history, a divorce, mental health records, and so on.
But, you cannot blame people for trying to dig into the past of those around them. No one wants to live or work with someone who has too many skeletons in their closet, which is especially true in environments with vulnerable individuals.
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But, looking into someone’s background can be quite tricky when it comes to privacy laws. So, you may want to consider using professional background check services that abide by all the rules and regulations in Texas.
Services that specialize in background checks for Texas include:
- BeenVerified: Best criminal background checks
- Instant Checkmate: Best reverse phone lookups
- Intelius: Best for people searches
- Checkr (FCRA Compliant): Best for an employment decision
These are some of the best background check websites that make the background screening process faster and easier. Keep reading this article to discover vital information about the different types of background check websites available in Texas and what they’re used for.
Background Checks and Texas Law
What Is a Texas Background Check Used For?
Texas background checks are used for many reasons, including:
- Employer Background Checks: Many companies in Texas conduct employment background checks. These background checks are a crucial part of the hiring process. Most employers want to protect the integrity of the company so they tend to verify the applicant’s criminal and employment history. Keep in mind that this can only be done through FCRA-compliant criminal background check services, like Checkr.
- Criminal Background Checks: These background checks search national, state, and county records from criminal justice agencies and other entities.
- Civil Court Checks: Looks for lawsuits, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and other financial-related events.
- Education Verifications: Check degrees earned and dates of attendance.
What Shows up on a Background Check in Texas?
Various details could appear in Texas background checks – such as court records, past offense information, prison time, arrest records, acquittals, and so on. The Texas Department of Public Safety may also provide details on a criminal background, as well as fingerprint-related information.
Some services may widen their checks nationwide to access a person’s criminal history based on federal law.
However, there are a few sealed records that do not appear on a background check, like an individual’s criminal record as a minor. The Texas legislature also affords state residents the right not to disclose details about any sealed convictions.
Also, the court seals off a person’s criminal records as soon as the pending charges are dropped. For example, if the person was never charged after an arrest or was proven guilty, there will be no record of the case on the applicant’s criminal record.
How to Run a Background Check in Texas
If you run a background check in the state of Texas, you first need to check that the service is compliant with the Texas Department of Public Safety (Texas DPS).
The Texas DPS oversees that all background checks in the state are done legally. It also manages the conviction database for the state, which gives access to all public criminal records. The Texas DPS gets these records from a Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system.
The Computerized Criminal History System contains all sorts of criminal records that have occurred in the state – from both private and public sources. However, only authorized law enforcement agencies and criminal justice agencies have access to private records.
Public records, such as court administration records and criminal histories, are easier to understand in the Texas courts system. All a background check service needs to do is request copies from the Texas Department of Public Safety, which are largely digitized and available online.
While you can only gain access to these public records searches on your own, the process can be time-consuming and tedious. We recommend going through professional third-party services that conduct background checks These services will provide you with the vital records you need.
Here are some providers that can help you run a background check in Texas:
BeenVerified is a credible people search and background check website that allows you to look up all kinds of confidential information that you may not find anywhere else. It combs through a variety of sources, including records from Texas courts to deliver search results that are accurate and readily accessible.
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If you need to perform a Texas background check ASAP, Instant Checkmate is a people search and public records search service that never disappoints. You can learn more about an individual’s arrest and criminal records, including whether they have had a criminal conviction recently. Plus, the results are delivered to you almost instantaneously.
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Intelius
If you have doubts about a new neighbor or coworker and you’d like to perform a thorough background check on them, Intelius has you covered. This background check system works seamlessly in the state of Texas. You can check for a variety of records, such as criminal offenses, arrest records, mental health records, and more.
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Checkr is an FCRA-compliant employee background screening service for companies across the country. They help employers speed up the hiring process by using AI tech to make the background check process more efficient and accurate.
Checkr searches both private and public databases to check for records that match the details of the candidate being investigated. This process is not as fast as some of the other services on this list and may require a manual public records search as well.
Many people use Checkr because it is compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This means that employers can legally run background checks on potential employees with Checkr. The Fair Credit Reporting Act helps to regulate how personal and financial information found in a background check can be used when hiring, screening rental tenants, etc.
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Does Texas Require a Background Check for Guns?
Yes, federally licensed firearms dealers are required to conduct a background check for any handgun purchases in the state of Texas. The Texas DPS requires the purchaser to submit fingerprints to complete the process. Fingerprints are used to run a criminal background check.
The requirements for you to get a handgun license in Texas include:
- You must have stayed in the state for at least 6 months.
- You must be 21 years or older (18 if you are active military personnel).
- You must have no felony convictions.
- You must pay a non-refundable, non-transferable license fee.
- You can’t owe taxes or child support.
- You must be capable of using sound judgment.
However, Texas law does not put specific restrictions on who can carry a long gun, such as a rifle or shotgun. There are still some circumstances in which you can carry a long firearm in Texas. And you can’t take it to public spaces, such as stores, eateries, and so on.
Furthermore, Texas does not require private sellers (those who are not licensed dealers) to initiate a background check when transferring a firearm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a background check take in Texas?
If you need a background check done in Texas, the average amount of time it takes to get your results ranges between 1 to 3 business days. However, this is at the state level. It may take longer at the county level because not all records there are computerized and some may need to be searched for manually. For civil court investigations in most Texas counties, it could take anywhere from 7 to 10 business days.
Digitized records contribute to the speed of a background check in Texas and in many other states. Without digital access to records, there could be delays in the background check process. For example, relying on physical mail could really lengthen the overall process. In some cases, it could take as long as 3 weeks to get the response you need.
How far back does a background check go in Texas?
A background check in Texas goes back seven years. Every background check has a limited time frame depending on the statute of limitations. This is known as the maximum amount of time after an event has occurred in which legal proceedings may be initiated and/or continued.
For instance, when getting an employment background check in Texas, you can only access records that date back as far as 7 years. There are some exemptions, like criminal convictions and bankruptcy records.
Additionally, there is no time limit for checking a person’s education or employment history in the state of Texas.
Does Texas require a background check for guns?
Federal law requires federally licensed firearms dealers to perform a background check on the purchaser prior to sale in Texas. But, this does not pertain to private sellers.
Best Texas Background Check: Key Takeaways
A Texas background check will search for records in the conviction database managed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. While most crimes are tried and convicted at the county level, every state has a central location that collects and manages criminal records from the entire state.
Instead of sorting through individual county court records from Harris County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, Bexar County, and so on, consider using a professional background check service. The best options on the market include BeenVerified, Intelius, Instant Checkmate, and Checkr. These services will provide you with thorough and accurate results – all while abiding by the rules and regulations that Texas mandates.
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Published : March 04,2024
Published : March 04,2024