Cisive background checks can take time primarily because of their commitment to unparalleled accuracy and the comprehensive nature of the verification process. Ensuring the reliability of information, especially critical adverse criminal records, involves a meticulous, multi-layered due diligence process that naturally extends the timeline.
The Pillars of Cisive's Due Diligence
The primary reason for the thoroughness, and often the extended timeframe, is Cisive's rigorous approach to data verification. They employ extensive layers of verification on adverse criminal records before delivering results to an employer. This painstaking process is crucial for maintaining an extremely high level of accuracy, reported as 99.9993%. Achieving such precision on every single record requires careful, detailed work, which cannot be rushed.
Factors Influencing Background Check Timelines
Beyond the commitment to accuracy, several practical factors contribute to the duration of a background check. Understanding these can help set realistic expectations.
1. Types of Searches Involved
A "background check" isn't a single search; it's a collection of various checks, each with its own complexity and timeline.
- Criminal History: This often involves searching county, state, and federal databases. County court searches, in particular, can be time-consuming due to manual processes or court backlogs.
- Employment Verification: Contacting past employers to confirm dates of employment, job titles, and sometimes reasons for leaving. Delays can occur if HR departments are slow to respond or records are difficult to access.
- Education Verification: Reaching out to academic institutions to confirm degrees, attendance dates, and majors. This can be slowed by university administrative processes, especially for older records.
- Drug Testing: Requires the candidate to visit a collection site and for the lab to process results, which can take a few days.
- Driving Records (MVR): Generally quick, but can sometimes be delayed by state DMVs.
- Professional Licenses: Verification with licensing boards, which can vary in responsiveness.
2. Geographic Scope and Jurisdictional Nuances
The location of records significantly impacts the timeline.
- Multiple Jurisdictions: A candidate who has lived or worked in several states or counties will require searches in each respective jurisdiction, multiplying the time needed.
- International Checks: Background checks that cross international borders are inherently more complex due to varying data privacy laws, language barriers, and less standardized record-keeping systems, leading to longer processing times.
- Court Access and Delays: Many criminal record searches depend on direct access to court records. Courts operate on their own schedules, can have backlogs, or may experience closures due to holidays or other events, directly impacting how quickly information can be retrieved.
3. Candidate Responsiveness
The applicant's promptness in providing necessary information, consent forms, or completing required actions (like drug tests) plays a critical role. Any delay from the candidate's side will directly extend the overall timeline.
4. Manual Verification and Data Availability
While technology streamlines many aspects, some parts of a comprehensive background check still require manual human intervention.
- Undigitized Records: Older records or those from smaller jurisdictions might not be digitized and require manual retrieval.
- Discrepancies: If discrepancies or unclear information arise during a search, a human verifier must conduct additional research to clarify, ensuring accuracy before reporting.
5. External Factors
External elements beyond Cisive's control can also cause delays:
- Holidays and Weekends: Court houses, HR departments, and educational institutions often operate on reduced schedules or close entirely during public holidays and weekends, slowing down verifications.
- Volume of Requests: During peak hiring seasons, the sheer volume of requests can strain the resources of data providers, leading to longer queues.
Typical Timelines for Background Check Components
While overall timelines vary greatly, here's a general idea of how long different components might take:
| Component | Typical Processing Time | Potential Delays Due To: |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Verification | 1-2 hours | Data entry errors, lack of sufficient identifiers |
| Social Security Trace | 1-2 hours | Data entry errors, complex address history |
| National Criminal Search | 1-24 hours | False positives requiring deeper county searches |
| County Criminal Search | 1-5 business days | Court backlogs, manual retrieval, specific court operating hours |
| Federal Criminal Search | 1-3 business days | Court administrative processes |
| Employment Verification | 1-3 business days | Unresponsive HR departments, complex employer history |
| Education Verification | 1-3 business days | Unresponsive registrars, older records, university specific processes |
| Drug Test | 1-5 business days | Candidate scheduling, lab processing volume |
| Motor Vehicle Records | 1-2 business days | State DMV system issues, specific state processing times |
By prioritizing accuracy through rigorous, multi-layered verification and navigating complex data sources across various jurisdictions, Cisive ensures employers receive precise and reliable background check results, which is why the process, while thorough, can take time.
