My dire background!

October 18, 2007 6:50 AM

I'm applying for jobs that require a local law enforcement background check, and I suspect that it's turning up information that's [really] detrimental to being hired! What kind of information could they be finding? How could I find out what's on my background check? Finally, is there any way to delicately address these issues in job applications/cover letters without digging myself into a hole?

I'm primarily worried about mental health records. Is it possible for them to access records from my college's student health services? Will they be able to find out what prescriptions I take? Or that I've been going to the county mental health services for years (which doesn't quite look as innocuous as seeing a private therapist, though they both provide the same services--it's a matter of what I'm able to afford).

Additionally I've smoked plenty of pot in my past, and also been involved in typical teenage hijinks (breaking into abandoned buildings, shoplifting, etc), but have never been caught at either. I surely have bad credit, and my first bout with college yielded a lousy transcript (though for what it's worth, this time around I have excellent grades and recommendations.

I'm not looking to be told I'm entering the wrong line of work (it's a field I'm passionate about); I'm hoping for find out more about my background check, and get some practical advice re: damage control.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (18 answers total)

Well, you don't say where you live, but I can tell you with certainty that in Canada none of that stuff would be on a police report. But it doesn't sound to me like you're sure what a "local law enforcement background check" entails. Do you mean a police report? Or are you talking about your credit report and more? Law enforcement wouldn't be involved in that.

In any case you should be able to request the same reports as anyone else. If you are talking about a police report then talk to your local police department. For your credit talk to the credit reporting agencies in your country (in Canada this is Equifax and TransUnion). Your mental health records should be strictly private but maybe laws aren't strict where you are. It is really very wise to be aware of what kind of information there is out there about you, especially your credit!
posted by loiseau at 7:18 AM on October 18, 2007

It depends on how serious their background checks are. If we're talking security clearance stuff, where they send people around to actually sit down and interview your neighbors, then they'll find things.

Otherwise, barring an arrest history, I doubt they're actually turning up anything on you.

Medical records should be private, but there have been some recent experiences in my own life that indicate this is emphatically not private info.
posted by aramaic at 7:19 AM on October 18, 2007

I'm applying for jobs that require a local law enforcement background check, and I suspect that it's turning up information that's [really] detrimental to being hired!

I'm curious why you think this. Have you called the HR department of the place that ostensibly rejected you?

What kind of information could they be finding?

Typically- criminal records, driving records, educational records, sex offender listings, and/or credit report.

How could I find out what's on my background check?

You can run one on yourself online. It'll cost you around $50.

Is it possible for them to access records from my college's student health services? Will they be able to find out what prescriptions I take? Or that I've been going to the county mental health services for years (which doesn't quite look as innocuous as seeing a private therapist, though they both provide the same services--it's a matter of what I'm able to afford).

No. Medical records are confidential.

Additionally I've smoked plenty of pot in my past, and also been involved in typical teenage hijinks (breaking into abandoned buildings, shoplifting, etc), but have never been caught at either.

Irrelevant.

I surely have bad credit, and my first bout with college yielded a lousy transcript (though for what it's worth, this time around I have excellent grades and recommendations.

I think this may be what's raising red flags.
posted by mkultra at 7:20 AM on October 18, 2007

For the things you haven't been caught doing, unless if their search is intensive (say interviewing everyone that knows you), they probably won't find out about it.

As far as damage control, forewarned is forearmed. If you can, find out who they use to do the background check and, if it's a private agency, pay them to perform the same service for you. If it's a government agency, you should be able to request any records they have on you through open records laws.

If you know what dirt they have on you, then you can address those issues in your cover letter or interview.
posted by drezdn at 7:22 AM on October 18, 2007

if you didn't get caught smoking pot or breaking and entering, it isn't on there. credit is a seperate check than just plain old background. without knowing what they ordered, i don't know if that will turn up. i would be really surprised if your grades show up - unless you lied about where you went to school or what degree you have I wouldn't worry about that. Unless you signed over medical records, they aren't getting a peek at that either.

why do you think bad things are showing up? not getting any offers?

I have friends who are state troopers that by no means walked the straight and narrow when they were young. they didn't have a bunch of stuff on their records, but for law enforcement jobs they ask people who know you - not just your references. Are they interviewing people about you? It might be what is being said not what they are pulling that is the problem. The trick to them being hired was that they are outstanding people who did not lie about their "teenage hijinks" and demonstrated the fact that they are no longer teenagers. YMMV - I am in a rural area and everyone knows everyones business. You couldn't lie about that stuff if you wanted to.
posted by domino at 7:22 AM on October 18, 2007

No. Medical records are confidential.

Depending on the job, there's the chance that they make you sign something that gives them the ability to search these. Read everything before you sign it.
posted by drezdn at 7:23 AM on October 18, 2007

A good place to talk to cops about what to get hired and where to get into the field, if you're really passionate about it, is the Cop Talk forum over at www.glocktalk.com ... they'll give you a good idea what kind of chances you have.

The main thing is to make sure you're honest in the applications and background checks. Admit to things that you don't think you've ever been caught for, and point out that it's in your past and you know what to look for to catch people in similar hijinks.
posted by SpecialK at 7:23 AM on October 18, 2007

With regards to the credit report, you can request a copy of it yourself. The last time I had to do it, the fee was @$10. It might be worth it to request your credit report (depending on the time of year/what state you live in it might be free right now).
posted by drezdn at 7:25 AM on October 18, 2007

Well, interestingly, I had thought that mental health records were totally confidential (as though ought to be, in my opinion) but apparently I was wrong - this article states that, if you've used insurance to help pay the cost of mental health care, there's a paper trail that can and often will be followed during background checks for, say, life insurance policies. Of course, when you sign a paper authorizing a background check, you're often authorizing them to follow the trail. The author there suggests paying cash for mental health services. It's unfortunate that this be necessary.
posted by koeselitz at 7:34 AM on October 18, 2007

This might be relevant.
posted by SpecialK at 7:34 AM on October 18, 2007

As others said, the best thing to do is just get a report on yourself so you can stop with the paranoia.

I did this about ten years ago, as part of an "all new employees" thing. I was exempt but curious. The criminal check was $10 right from the PD, and had to be approved by the person being screened. Credit checks are free if you can wait for a paper report, or from $10-30 if you need instant online gratification.

(The police report showed nothing at all, to my disappointment. Not even any childhood indiscretions. The credit check was full of info and full of errors, though, inspiring me to correct them. So there were spinoff benefits.)

This was Vancouver, Canada, 1996ish.
posted by rokusan at 7:39 AM on October 18, 2007

Also, there aren't that many jobs that deny applications on the basis of a credit check, on the simple grounds that lots of people have bad credit and it doesn't generally enter into the job description. I know people with horrendous credit scores who have security clearance in the NSA. It actually seems to be common, from what a friend of mine says. But then, I don't know what jobs you're applying for.
posted by koeselitz at 7:40 AM on October 18, 2007

I think it's the Credit Check. I 've seen this be the case before - I think an employer's philosphy on this may be related to "desperate times call for desperate measures". People on the verge of bankruptcy are often stressed enough to risk doing something they might not do in other circumstances. Teenage hijinks are par for the course and they really would have no access to mental health records. Work on cleaning up your credit.
posted by readery at 7:50 AM on October 18, 2007

I've had these issues, only I got caught, so I DO have a record. Something they don't tell you, but should, is that your record DOES NOT SHOW WHAT YOU WERE CONVICTED OF, but rather EVERYTHING YOU WERE ARRESTED FOR. In my case, that's a difference of more than 20 felonies. Ouchie.

MOST jobs don't do credit checks unless you'll be handling business finances, including business credit cards and etc. I don't mean using them, I mean paying them.

HIPAA says your medical records are supersecret. Unless you got arrested while out of your mind and it actually *stuck* (being Manic is a helpful ticket to getting things dismissed, but that's a bad way to phrase it), this will never show up anywhere.

The way that I have dealt with all these things in my career is being upfront about them. They happened when I was young, and they do not define me. I'm in social work, and I feel that if anyone can have beneficial sympathy for a client, it's someone who has been through the system. But, that's me. I'm sure in a different field I would never have landed an interview.
posted by TomMelee at 8:06 AM on October 18, 2007

We need to know your location. In California they're required by law to send you a copy of the background check if you request it. Mine was very dull.

But, yes, I agree with those who say it's probably the credit check. It's disgusting how many different industries use it and how much stock people put in it, when it's so easy to mess it up and so hard to correct it. Literally the only thing my landlord did to check up on me in my old place was run a credit check; she didn't even look at my references and wouldn't have if the credit check had failed either (I asked).
posted by crinklebat at 8:08 AM on October 18, 2007

A few years ago I was good buddies with a recruiter for a law enforcement agency, and had a conversation with him about the recruit's background checks. He narrowed it down to the background check being ONLY about prior records with law enforcement agencies, fingerprint records, and a credit report (IF needed for the position). Not every job is going to do a credit report, but if this is federal job you are applying for you can almost guarantee a credit report will be run. If your job needs or wants to know about your medical status they will have to send you for a physical that will evaluate you where the medical staff can ask about prior history. About the drug use in the past, you should be good to go for urine samples as long as you haven't smoked in 30 days.
posted by Mardigan at 8:17 AM on October 18, 2007

Read everything before you sign it.

I think drezdn nailed it here. At least in the US, you need to give permission in writing for each aspect of a background check. Check out pages 12 and 13 of Standard Form 86 to get a feel for what kind of release is required for the most thorough type of standardized background check.

I also concur with others that, if you're getting rejected because of the background check, it's the credit report that is a problem. More and more employers are routinely checking credit scores before making an offer. Nothing else you list would show up on a background check unless you're dishonest about your past when applying for jobs (i.e., leaving your bad college experiences off your resume) or have some really boneheaded references.
posted by backupjesus at 9:32 AM on October 18, 2007

I didn't read many of the comments above, but just to ease your mind about going into the wrong line of work, more than two of the dirtbag druggies I grew up with wound up working in law enforcement. I have a theory that law enforcement actually likes these people because they can understand the criminals better, but that's unfounded as yet. I have witnessed one of my oldest friends doing just about every drug available in the suburbs of the late 80s (as well as many other skatepunk activities such as the ones you mention), and he now works for the DEA. Go figure.
posted by rhizome at 10:38 AM on October 18, 2007