Background Investigation

[AlmostHalo]

I am just curious to know how a background investigation works.  I am assuming the look at arrest records and call previous employers, but do they interview people and what not? If so do you provide a list of refrences?  any info will be helpful thanks!

[dimas]

This varies greatly from department to department.  Some will actually send out an investigator to make face to face contact with prior employers and references, while others rely on the phone and written letters/ questionaiires about you.

NCIC/ Fingerprint checks are pretty much used for all departments.

It all depends on who you are applying with.

[alice]

what about credit report, does that hurt an applicant if there are things that havent been paid due to be in college for seven years, student loans in deferment now..but stuff on there needing to be paid and also have good stuff paid on time..

if arrested and charge dismissed for theft of money can that be used against me since no conviction/

[polyscam]

what about credit report, does that hurt an applicant if there are things that havent been paid due to be in college for seven years, student loans in deferment now..but stuff on there needing to be paid and also have good stuff paid on time..

if arrested and charge dismissed for theft of money can that be used against me since no conviction/  

A credit report may vary well hinder an applicant.  Agencies look to credit reports to help determine responsibility.  Bad credit may equal lack of responsibility.

A dismissed charge should be reported on you background packet.  Be sure to provide a copy of the court's dismissal to the agency.  Since the charge was dismissed it should only be the formality of providing the court documentation proving dismissal.

[alice]

those requests have to be in writing? It will take time to get the two..esp since one was 30 yrs ago and the other 20 yrs ago...what do I do about having the docs when i go to background next week?

isnt the fact that having been in school the last ten years and no income reasonable to understand about any credit deficiencies, esp since I have a few good ones over the last 2 years?

[alice]

Well, I should have looked at my credit report before I bothered anyone with the question..

Pulled it and only a couple of negatives ..and many postives...

thanks all...

[yatittle]

Well, I should have looked at my credit report before I bothered anyone with the question..

Pulled it and only a couple of negatives ..and many postives...

thanks all...

It isn't really a matter of having bad credit or good credit. If you have good credit, then no problem. If you have a bad credit, then they will look at the severity of the bad credit. Then they will look at what you have done, proactively, to resolve the bad credit.

Two people with 20,000 in debt on credit cards can be judged differently, if one has met with creditors and working out a payment plan, and the other has said F it, I'll just file bankruptcy.

It is not only responsibility, but character that is judged. Someone who looks to 'right a wrong' or take responsibility to resolve the issue is much more valuable in law enforcement than someone who does wrong and doesn't care either way.

Randy

[alice]

oh yes...the place i owed 2k to has my calls annoted to work on paying..

rest are student loans in deferment and consolidation

[G Scalabr]

Credit history is an important determinant in background investigations, and rightfully so. Agencies put tremendous stock in credit reports because they are an indicator of responsibility, which is one of the most important desirable traits in a law enforcement officer.

Still, good background investigators are not making decisions simply based on FICO scores. They are looking at what credit has been used for and what attempts (if any) were made to pay them money back.

One of the most sure-fire ways to get yourself disqualified for credit issues is to open up a bunch of credit cards at a time when you have no real income (college, etc.) maxing them out at bars, Abercrombie, and Structure, and making no attempts whatsoever to pay the bills.

In contrast, you can also have an applicant with bad credit that stems from a situation where he had two kids, is working two jobs, and has a bunch of late payments on his report.

The former situation is sure to be viewed in a far more negative light than the latter.

If you are in the former situation, the first thing you should do is get a copy of your credit report and pay any debts you owe. This is the first step in cleaning up your credit. Most agencies will overlook a majority of credit situations as long as they are far enough in the past and you paid the debts and did everything possible to clean up your credit.

Also, do not get sucked into hiring an expensive credit repair service. You can do just as much as these people can yourself—just look around on the Web for info on government (i.e. not commercial) sites.

Lastly, some employers (especially intelligence agencies) look at high debt (even if your credit is flawless) as a potential DQ. The logic is that applicants in serious debt will not be able to get out of it with the employer's salary alone, making the applicant a possible bribery target.

[nunyun]

The one thing none of you hit on is the fact that bad credit or a high debt ratio could lead to the potential for taking a bribe if put in the right circumstance or the old "drug bust with the 50 grand lying on the table and you are the first responding officer"  what would you do?

[yatittle]

Having high debt is not, in itself, a reason to think someone is at risk of being bought off, or at risk of taking money during a drug bust.

I would argue that having high debt and not doing anything to resolve it (working with creditors, changing spending habits) is what makes having high debt more of a possible reason for someone to be at risk of being bought off or stealing money.

No one is perfect. Having debt could be because you were in an accident, divorce, or other unforeseen event. If you work to resolve it, that is extremely important and can heavily mitigate a sticky situation.

Randy

[nunyun]

well unfortunately in so cal that is one thing that is frowned on and being bought off, or the risk of, is one reason for a DQ........

That comes from IA.......

[alice]

i looked at new credit report today
only 2 small amts wrote off...one for 2,000 owed and arranging payments and 2 small ones..totalling 300 for accident that has a claim against a small school which is being worked on now and then student loans which consolidated and deferred and not negative..

so i do not think that is bad...passed poly..BG started..

[alice]

just talked to BI...said bout done...only took 2 wks...just has to check with neighbors and references ..
then I am clear...