--- title: Deter Criminals. Do a Background Check. description: Simply having a background screening policy will help deter criminals. --- [Types of Background Checks](https://blog.verifirst.com/topic/types-of-background-checks) [Tenant Background Screening](https://blog.verifirst.com/topic/tenant-background-screening) [Employment Background Screening](https://blog.verifirst.com/topic/employment-background-screening) # Deter Criminals. Do a Background Check. [![Ryan Howard](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/29a1d4bf57e0e03d00a52ef501083a92)](https://blog.verifirst.com/author/ryan-howard) by [Ryan Howard](https://blog.verifirst.com/author/ryan-howard) 1 min read Thu, Feb 12, 2015 ![Deter_Criminals_Do_a_Background_Check](https://blog.verifirst.com/hs-fs/file-2490514975-png/Blog_Images/Deter_Criminals_Do_a_Background_Check.png?width=577&name=Deter_Criminals_Do_a_Background_Check.png) Background checks are typically used during an employer's hiring process or for property managers screening potential tenants. Generally a criminal screen is included to make sure the applicant or tenant will not be a safety risk to your business, fellow employees or tenants. In some cases, the mere fact that you have a stringent background screening policy will deter criminals.  Recently, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced it would [no longer run criminal background checks](http://nypost.com/2015/02/09/mafia-resurgence-feared-after-port-authority-policy-change/) on those businesses applying at regional airports. This move has caused some concern that the mafia and mob-controlled businesses would easily find their way into airports. The background checks were started 25 years ago to weed out this organized crime. Simply having the policy in place created a deterrent effect that lead criminals to reconsider before applying.  A background screening policy should be determined before beginning the hiring process. In fact, your [screening policy should be revisited on a regular basis](https://blog.verifirst.com/is-it-time-to-revisit-your-background-screening-policy) to make sure that you are including the right people and excluding those that are ineligible to meet your needs. Also, [consider the criminal history](https://blog.verifirst.com/does-a-criminal-history-mean-no-hire) of your applicant or tenant, if any, before denying their application. The criminal history may be far enough in the past or a petty crime that can be overlooked in the grand scheme of things.  At VeriFirst, we employ FCRA certified staff who can assist with your background screening policy and your decision matrix to help you create a process that you can feel confident will protect your interests. We help hundreds of hiring managers and property owners while staying within federal guidelines. Let us know how we can help you. [![See How VeriFirst Performs Background Checks and Drug Screening](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/157703/a1a80ef1-a199-4570-a5d6-51ec0c0578e4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/157703/a1a80ef1-a199-4570-a5d6-51ec0c0578e4) #### Share this [Share on X ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://blog.verifirst.com/deter-criminals-do-a-background-check&text=Deter+Criminals.+Do+a+Background+Check.) [Share on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.verifirst.com/deter-criminals-do-a-background-check&t=Deter+Criminals.+Do+a+Background+Check.) [Share on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.verifirst.com/deter-criminals-do-a-background-check&t=Deter+Criminals.+Do+a+Background+Check.) Previous story [← Courting Your Applicant](https://blog.verifirst.com/courting-your-applicant) Next story [5 Ways to Avoid FCRA Class Action Litigation →](https://blog.verifirst.com/5-ways-to-avoid-fcra-class-action-litigation) ### You May Also Like These Related Stories [Tenant Screening: Do Criminal Records Matter?](https://blog.verifirst.com/tenant-screening-do-arrest-records-matter) ![](https://blog.verifirst.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/Tenant_Screening_-_Do_Criminal_Records_Matter.png) [Types of Background Checks](https://blog.verifirst.com/topic/types-of-background-checks) #### Tenant Screening: Do Criminal Records Matter? Fri, Apr 15, 2016 2 min read [Medical Debt Reporting Changes on Background Checks](https://blog.verifirst.com/medical-debt-reporting-changes-on-background-checks) ![](https://blog.verifirst.com/hs-fs/file-2599067096-png/Blog_Images/CreditBureausChangeHowtheyReportMedicalDebt.png) [Types of Background Checks](https://blog.verifirst.com/topic/types-of-background-checks) #### Medical Debt Reporting Changes on Background Checks Fri, Mar 13, 2015 2 min read [Understanding Credit | How to Read a Credit Report](https://blog.verifirst.com/blog/bid/200176/understanding-credit-how-to-read-a-credit-report) ![](https://blog.verifirst.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/Understanding%20How%20to%20Read%20a%20Credit%20Report.jpg) [Types of Background Checks](https://blog.verifirst.com/topic/types-of-background-checks) #### Understanding Credit | How to Read a Credit Report Fri, Feb 18, 2022 2 min read ### Get Email Notifications ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Ryan Howard", "url" : "https://blog.verifirst.com/author/ryan-howard" }, "datePublished" : "2015-02-12T18:29:00.000Z", "headline" : "Deter Criminals. Do a Background Check.", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.verifirst.com/deter-criminals-do-a-background-check", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.verifirst.com/hs-fs/hub/157703/file-1399347280.png" }, "name" : "VeriFirst" } } ```