What is Primary Source Verification (PSV)?
Primary Source Verification (PSV) involves verifying information directly from the original source to ensure accuracy. For criminal background checks, this means obtaining records directly from local county courts, rather than relying solely on instant database searches.
PSV includes two main types of searches:
- County Court Searches: We start by searching the counties where your candidate has lived. These searches cover the candidate’s residential history.
- National Criminal Database Search (Multi-State Search): This search pulls information from various sources, including county courts, exclusion sites, and the department of corrections, to find records outside the candidate's residential counties.
By combining these searches, we provide the most accurate and comprehensive information on your candidate.
PSV is necessary in several situations:
- For initial verifications in counties of residence.
- When the multi-state search pulls potential records for your candidate, ensuring the records are accurate, up-to-date, and relevant.
The duration of PSV can vary due to:
- Public Access: Some county courts offer public access sites, allowing us to perform PSV in-house almost instantly.
- Court Requests: In other cases, records must be obtained by dispatching a researcher to the court. This process depends on the court clerk’s availability and workload. If records are archived, it may take even longer.
Despite potential delays, our team is trained to handle these processes efficiently and track requests to obtain records as quickly as possible.
Accurate, up-to-date information is crucial for making informed hiring decisions. While some PSVs may take longer than expected, they are essential to ensure the integrity of the background check process and help you secure the best candidates for your company.
