Chain of Custody in Criminal Background Checks

Criminal background checks are crucial for safeguarding your organization, employees, customers, and reputation. However, the effectiveness of these checks hinges on the integrity of the process behind them. Unfortunately, many companies rely on background check reports submitted directly from independent contractors, introducing significant risks. Without a strong chain of custody, your organization is exposed to fraud, data tampering, and costly errors. As highlighted in a recent case where a former daycare director was charged with forging background checks, bad actors impact security anywhere in your supply chain. Think it can’t happen to you? Think again.

That’s why maintaining a solid chain of custody in your background check process is not just important—it’s critical. It’s your first and best line of defense against fraud and deception, ensuring that the information you receive is reliable, accurate, and untainted by tampering. Let’s explore why chain of custody is so crucial and how it can protect your organization from the hidden dangers of data manipulation.

The chain of custody is a secure, documented process that tracks the handling of sensitive information at every step of the background check. From the moment the applicant’s data is collected to the delivery of the final report, every touchpoint is logged and verified. This process ensures that the data is safeguarded against unauthorized changes, mishandling, or loss.

In a world where editing documents is as easy as clicking a button, this secure chain of custody is what keeps your background checks from being compromised. Each step in the process is carefully documented, creating a trail that guarantees the information you receive is exactly what was originally pulled, and nothing less.

Think about how easy it is to edit a PDF file—just a few clicks, and the content of a document can be altered to say anything. This ease of editing makes background check results particularly vulnerable to manipulation if the chain of custody is not properly maintained. Imagine receiving a background check report that shows a clean record, but in reality, it was doctored to remove a serious criminal conviction. Without a strong chain of custody, this type of fraud can slip through undetected, leading to disastrous consequences for your organization.

Whether it’s a falsified criminal record, altered identity information, or tampered verification documents, fraudsters are more equipped than ever to manipulate the data in ways that are hard to spot—unless you have airtight protocols in place.

ShieldHub’s Background Check report sharing feature helps you keep background check data secure and trustworthy from start to finish. In addition to a ShieldScore, candidates can easily share their background check report securely from their network connections screen. With ShieldHub, you download the final results directly from the Consumer Reporting Agency of record. You can be confident that your reports are delivered exactly as they should be—no tampering, no unauthorized access.

By prioritizing chain of custody in your background check procedures, you’re not just preventing fraud—you’re safeguarding your organization, its reputation, and its future. Don’t leave it to chance—make chain of custody your best weapon against the growing threat of fraud.