Background Checks

[BoJackUSMC]

I was just wondering about the background checks procedure when trying to become a police officer or federal agent. What type of stuff do they look for and what kind of stuff are they allow to look for?
I know they check for tickets, any kind of violation, credit score, medical records, and civil law suits. Do they check applicants email message, phone records, and text message??
Just for the information, I have never done any drugs, got arrested, never went to jail, good credit score, and positive work experience records.
thank you all

[yzErnie]

My wife worked backgrounds for a couple years and she said they didn't do it then but some things have changed since 2 years ago when she got transfered out. Unfortunately for the answer to your question, since she does not work that assignment anymore she does not stay current with the changes.

[meangreen46]

I was just wondering about the background checks procedure when trying to become a police officer or federal agent. What type of stuff do they look for and what kind of stuff are they allow to look for?
I know they check for tickets, any kind of violation, credit score, medical records, and civil law suits. Do they check applicants email message, phone records, and text message??
Just for the information, I have never done any drugs, got arrested, never went to jail, good credit score, and positive work experience records.
thank you all

Depends on the agency really. LAPD might require something that LASD doesn't or vice versa. You pretty much have the list. Although, they really don't care about your credit score so much. They care more about late payments, credit to debt ratio (do you over extend yourself), overall credit history being clean. No bankruptcies or reposessions......some places don't mind as long as you can articulate what happened and how you remedied it. Driving record...accidents....drug usage....previous employment....talk to neighbors and co-workers....spousal abuse, etc. I don't think there is much that they are not allowed to look at since you sign a paper that gives them the authority to get info on you. I could be wrong, but in the backgrounds I've been through, they literally left no stone unturned. Just be honest and don't hide anything. You should be good to go.

[Jwood562]

Backrounds for me was everything stated above. They even wanted names of 2 ex-girlfriends. I had to track them down and explain that they would be getting a call from and investigator.

But oh yes, the days of waking up and seeing your backround investigator at your neighbors house. Then another day they show up at your current job or school.

Just be honest and do not try to hide anything, they will find it

[BoJackUSMC]

jezzz, even my ex-girlfriends!!!
No!!!! not them lol
I dump my last ex girlfriend because she was sleeping with someone else while I was in Iraq. I know she is going to say something bad about me.

[Ford8N]

I know someone that did backgrounds. They said they really were not interested in the references put down but really wanted to talk to people who WERE NOT put on the application.

[meangreen46]

jezzz, even my ex-girlfriends!!!
No!!!! not them lol
I dump my last ex girlfriend because she was sleeping with someone else while I was in Iraq. I know she is going to say something bad about me.

Just tell the BI that same thing. I'm sure they'll take what she says with a grain of salt. In other words, if everybody else has nothing but good things to say about you and she says, "He was a #&#@*"......I'm sure they'll take your word. Now, if she says you beat her or raised your hand or verbally abused her.......they will be questioning you again. I know people keep saying this...but just remember to be honest. I have seen people get DQ'd for lieing about the smallest thing. BTW - you will most likely be asked the same or similar questions on your Poly, so just another reaoson to disclose everything and never lie.

[BoJackUSMC]

I never raised my hands to anyone so I am good. I am not worry about my background too much because I never done any drugs or got arrested in my life. I am little worry about my ex because she wanted to get back together and I straight out told her "No." I dont want to share my time with S$(#.

[BigDogatPlay]

I haven't done backgrounds in a number of years and the standards can vary from agency to agency. A lot of agencies these days outsource them to private concerns or to retirees working as consultants. I do, in my current private sector role, have to interface with output from BI on candidates so I still have a bit of an ear to the ground.

The key areas I was always tasked to look at revolved around maturity, responsibility, and deception using the categories from the polygraph card as the guideline. The first rule is that your investigator shouldn't find anything that you haven't told him or her already. Having the investigator get surprised is a recipe for disaster.

Your academic and service records will be verified as will your financial statements. Your references will be contacted but a good investigator will come away from those contacts with more names to contact that you didn't put down.

If you get a discrepancy interview, keep an open mind and be honest. Odds are almost certain in this day and age that you will not get through the background portion without some manner of discrepancy interview.

['Ike']

I was just wondering about the background checks procedure when trying to become a police officer or federal agent. What type of stuff do they look for and what kind of stuff are they allow to look for?
I know they check for tickets, any kind of violation, credit score, medical records, and civil law suits. Do they check applicants email message, phone records, and text message??Just for the information, I have never done any drugs, got arrested, never went to jail, good credit score, and positive work experience records.
thank you all

Having worked Backgrounds for nine (9) years, I will tell you this! Be honest!!! That's all it takes...No we don't check the above, but we will look at Facebook etc...

Good luck!