Maine system aids in background checks

Ruth Lunn is a busy woman.

As supervisor at the State Bureau of Identification, she has overseen the computerization and development of a statewide reporting system for criminal charges, court findings, convictions and incarcerations in Maine.

The automated system, now three years old, has made it easier for anyone to do background checks. The volume of checks would indicate that the new system is being used. Inquiries handled at Lunn’s Civic Center Drive office in Augusta increased from 200,000 in 2002 to 458,000 in 2005. More than half of the checks came from officials such as district attorneys, court officers and police. But 190,000 came from the public, mostly businesses.

The background checks are often used by employers who want to make sure they hire trustworthy people. But there are all kinds of requests, including those from a Portland dating service that seeks to ensure it makes good matches.

Any member of the public can obtain a record of criminal convictions for anyone if they have the person’s full name and date of birth. Lunn said she has had parents call for that information about a daughter’s date.

Lunn also has seen an increased number of out-of-state requests as companies find it prudent to do nationwide checks.

Lydia Sy, manager of the Bangor office of Manpower, a national employment agency, isn’t surprised that Lunn is busy. Many of Manpower’s clients want checks done on people placed in their businesses. Job applicants are asked to give the agency permission to make the inquiries.

“There is great disparity in what companies find acceptable and there aren’t a lot of written policies,” Sy said. For example, a few traffic tickets probably wouldn’t keep an applicant from getting most jobs, but it might keep someone from getting a job as a truck driver.

Employees who handle sensitive information, like credit card data, or who handle cash, often are required to have background checks. Even manufacturing workers can be subject to checks. Most notable are warehouse workers, who might be tempted to steal, and people who operate expensive or dangerous machinery.

Sy said conviction of a felony eliminates people from a lot of jobs.

Lunn said nationwide checks are difficult because of varying methods of reporting, not only between states but within states.

According to Sy, nationwide checks can cost well over $100. Companies that want nationwide checks often must face two difficult questions: Are they willing to pay what it costs, and how long are they willing to wait?

Most typically in Maine, she said, expensive checks are done only when an employer knows it wants to hire a particular person.