Comparative Productivity of Criminal Record Checks by Federal Investigators and Contractors
Abstract
This study empirically examined differences in how federal employee and contractor background investigators access criminal records and the rate at which they identify offenders in the course of national security clearance background investigations. Differences were found in strategies employed for conducting record checks across the different states. Federal agents relied more often on statewide checks than contractors. But, when statewide checks were not used, both federal agents and contractors relied more on local law enforcement agencies, following up with court checks only as needed. Overall, federal agents were more likely to surface records in many more states than were contractors. Based on where enough subjects were investigated to permit analysis, and relative to the proportions of subjects identified with records by federal agents, as of early 2002, contractors may have been missing 15% to 46% of subjects with at least misdemeanor-type arrests, charges, or convictions, depending on whether subjects self-disclosed information on security questionnaires and on the type of investigation (Initial Secret or Confidential, SSBI, or Periodic Reinvestigation).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA428678
Entities
People
- Kelly R. Buck