Article Highlights:
In 2024, background investigation software is a non-negotiable in public safety hiring. Why? Let’s start with the basics.
A background investigation is an intensive examination of an individual’s history, usually as a condition of employment. It begins with a review of the candidate’s submitted forms and then dives deep into vetting that information along with all other available information. A background investigation includes in-depth analysis of the following:
Many sectors use background checks as part of their hiring processes, but only a few use background investigations. The main differences between the two are depth and scope.
A background check will cover the candidate’s provided information (such as verifying the employment history on their resume) and usually includes a criminal history report. But typically, background checks are limited to public records and databases, and they provide just a surface level overview of a candidate’s background.
In contrast, a background investigation goes deeper. It includes more details about more areas of the candidate’s life, and it can provide information that is not available to the general public.
In sectors like public safety, screening applicants so thoroughly is vital because the safety of others depends on it. When applied to roles in social work, law enforcement, emergency response, corrections, and some healthcare settings, a pre-employment investigation can shape the future of community protection. Uncovering anything that might make a candidate unfit for a public safety role before they are employed can even save lives—it’s that important.
Police officers in particular undergo a very thorough police background investigation before employment. Why? These individuals are entrusted with the safety of our communities, friends, and family. They uphold our laws, hold power over others, and often carry weapons. Obtaining a complete candidate history is imperative to help ensure that the person hired can handle the pressure of the position and be trusted to act with integrity.
A police background investigation is one of the most in-depth variations of a background investigation. The exact order of the steps can vary, but this type of investigation typically includes:
A police officer background investigation looks for any information that might identify an individual as unfit for work in a public safety role. Immediate red flags are a history of domestic violence, gang affiliations, extremist views, criminal behavior, drug use, certain mental health concerns that can affect job performance, poor reference checks, and falsification of application information.
On the flip side, a police background investigation can uncover information in the candidate’s favor—such as a clean criminal record, a great credit report indicating financial responsibility, volunteer work and community involvement, and more.
Having a thorough, accurate police background investigation for every candidate is important because it does the following:
Unfortunately, traditional methods of carrying out background investigations (paper, spreadsheets, fillable forms) can lead to inaccuracies and compliance issues. Shared drives, paper forms, and other non-secure technologies can easily become accessible to employees without a need-to-know—putting your agency at risk.
Additionally, pre-employment investigation processes should be fair and consistent across the board. If a candidate is not chosen, it’s critical that the selection and investigation process was consistent and well-documented—along with the reasons for disqualification. Traditional background investigation methods aren’t designed for this type of compliance, and not having a thorough documentation system in place puts your agency at risk of liability.
A background investigation can take weeks—even months—to complete. To properly vet candidates for public safety roles, the process must be thorough. But the speed at which an agency completes a background investigation greatly impacts time-to-hire.
A recent report from Harvard Business Review shows that nearly 62% of candidates lose interest in a position and an organization if they haven't heard back within two weeks of their initial interview—while the current average time-to-hire in the public safety sector is 119 days. A prolonged hiring process can lead to candidate disengagement and loss of top talent. And in an environment where finding qualified candidates is the top recruitment challenge for 86% of public safety agencies, you can’t afford to lose them.
Fortunately, there are simple ways to reduce time-to-hire and gain a competitive edge over other agencies seeking the same candidates.
Background investigation software is a digital tool designed to streamline the process of conducting background investigations on individuals.
Background investigation software offers many benefits, especially to hiring agencies in public safety. With the right background investigation software, it’s possible to:
It’s true—some background investigation software is more reliable than others. Cases of inaccuracy, data breaches, and even legal compliance problems have arisen due to the use of background investigation software that doesn’t meet high standards of data integrity and security. These issues can emerge from outdated databases, inadequate encryption methods, or poor algorithm design, which can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, and the violation of privacy laws.
The key here is for agencies to thoroughly vet their software providers and select the right background investigation software. What should you look for? A strong history of demonstrated expertise providing reliable software, and consistent adherence to industry best practices, up-to-date and comprehensive data sources, and compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. By doing so, agencies can mitigate risks and make more informed, fair, and secure hiring decisions.