At Integras Intelligence, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality services at reasonable fees, with quick turnaround times.
But there’s one big factor that can have a significant impact on background check turnaround time. Unfortunately, that factor is completely beyond our control.
Here’s why you should know about it.
At the Mercy of the Court
Previous blog posts have highlighted factors that can affect the cost of a background check and the amount of time it takes. Most of those factors hinge on how thorough a background check is needed.
But one factor can significantly impact background check turnaround time, and there isn’t much a client or background check partner can do about it.
One of the most common reasons for a slow background check is “mercy of court” jurisdictions. These jurisdictions handle requests for records on an individual in a couple of ways.
At some courts, if an initial search is conducted with no results, there is nothing further to do. However, if a result is found, a request must be submitted to the court clerk for details about the case(s). In some instances, the court clerk has to handle the entire process. Either way, the clerk will conduct all or part of the search and present results to the investigator.
Sounds simple, right? Not always. If the court has a lot of requests or if personnel is limited due to vacations, holidays, etc., delays are highly likely. And if the search turns up multiple findings, expect even more delays.
As an HR Manager, you likely face constant pressure from hiring managers to complete background checks as soon as possible. The candidate needed to start yesterday. So, what can be done? Here’s how to manage expectations:
- Maintain open communications with your background screening provider so that you find out sooner, rather than later, if a mercy of court jurisdiction is involved. They may also be able to provide information on how requests are submitted, average turnaround times, etc.
- Proactively update the relevant parties within your organization or advise them if asked any questions.
In the end, the provider must still wait for the court. Understanding the cause of delays will help equip you to manage expectations. Additionally, if you are hiring in a jurisdiction that is at the mercy of the court, you may need to adjust your process to accommodate potential delays.
For more information on turnaround time for background checks, visit our previous post (“How Long Does It Take to Complete a Background Check”) or download our latest white paper.
