What does a LEO review in a background check?
This is a question for LEOs....
When a CLEO does a "background check", what information is he generally looking at?
I'm not a CLEO, but generally speaking they run a CCH (computerized criminal history) and if there is a local system, check the person through that as well. In North Carolina at least, misdemeanor arrests often to not appear on criminal histories, but the records of them are available at a local and state level.
I am not a LEO either but when they did mine the officer ran the check based on my name and birthday. I remember him saying your name came back clean but a lot of people with my birthday had a lot of felony convictions. We both had a chuckle at that and then he issued my town carry permit.
Originally Posted By Landric:
I'm not a CLEO, but generally speaking they run a CCH (computerized criminal history) and if there is a local system, check the person through that as well. In North Carolina at least, misdemeanor arrests often to not appear on criminal histories, but the records of them are available at a local and state level.
So a CCH only documents felonies and misdemeanors?
Most departments will run a III NCIC criminal history checking for any arrests/convictions.
Originally Posted By T-800:
Originally Posted By Landric:
I'm not a CLEO, but generally speaking they run a CCH (computerized criminal history) and if there is a local system, check the person through that as well. In North Carolina at least, misdemeanor arrests often to not appear on criminal histories, but the records of them are available at a local and state level.
So a CCH only documents felonies and misdemeanors?
Generally speaking yes. I have never seen a civil offense/infraction on a CCH, the way a record gets onto a CCH is through fingerprinting. When someone is arrested (or convicted, some fingerprinting is post-conviction rather than at the time of arrest) and is fingerprinted, the information is transmitted (to the FBI IIRC) for entry onto the CCH. Many jurisdictions in NC don't fingerprint for misdemeanors, so it is possible to have multiple misdemeanor convictions in NC and have no criminal history on a CCH. A local/state record check would show them however.
Originally Posted By Landric:
Originally Posted By T-800:
Originally Posted By Landric:
I'm not a CLEO, but generally speaking they run a CCH (computerized criminal history) and if there is a local system, check the person through that as well. In North Carolina at least, misdemeanor arrests often to not appear on criminal histories, but the records of them are available at a local and state level.
So a CCH only documents felonies and misdemeanors?
Generally speaking yes. I have never seen a civil offense/infraction on a CCH, the way a record gets onto a CCH is through fingerprinting. When someone is arrested (or convicted, some fingerprinting is post-conviction rather than at the time of arrest) and is fingerprinted, the information is transmitted (to the FBI IIRC) for entry onto the CCH. Many jurisdictions in NC don't fingerprint for misdemeanors, so it is possible to have multiple misdemeanor convictions in NC and have no criminal history on a CCH. A local/state record check would show them however.
No printing of Misd ??? Wow. We print all arrests with the exception of civil body attachments.
My sheriff dept types "reviewed only, no background check performed" on my forms before signing. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that I have a valid CCW permit, although I suspect they do the quick felony check.
Originally Posted By Chesh97:
Originally Posted By Landric:
Originally Posted By T-800:
Originally Posted By Landric:
I'm not a CLEO, but generally speaking they run a CCH (computerized criminal history) and if there is a local system, check the person through that as well. In North Carolina at least, misdemeanor arrests often to not appear on criminal histories, but the records of them are available at a local and state level.
So a CCH only documents felonies and misdemeanors?
Generally speaking yes. I have never seen a civil offense/infraction on a CCH, the way a record gets onto a CCH is through fingerprinting. When someone is arrested (or convicted, some fingerprinting is post-conviction rather than at the time of arrest) and is fingerprinted, the information is transmitted (to the FBI IIRC) for entry onto the CCH. Many jurisdictions in NC don't fingerprint for misdemeanors, so it is possible to have multiple misdemeanor convictions in NC and have no criminal history on a CCH. A local/state record check would show them however.
No printing of Misd ??? Wow. We print all arrests with the exception of civil body attachments.
Yeah, when I worked in Virginia we printed all arrestees except those for drunk in public. I know it would be more work for us, but I am trying to get my department to mandate printing for all misdemeanor arrests (except traffic and drunk and disruptive). We are allowed to if we want to, but not required to do so. So, as you may suspect, very few misdemeanor arrestees get fingerprinted.
My CLEO stated that he checked CCH and also checked to see if I was part of any criminal investigation that was ongoing within his agency.
YMMV
In my part of Florida they run a local background check. That's what the CLEO checks.
