Why Statewide Searches Matter in Hiring
Hiring decisions are high-stakes. Businesses need to reduce risk, liability, and potential reputational harm to your organization. While county criminal searches are essential to any background check, adding a statewide criminal background search can expand your visibility into an applicant’s history.
Think of it like phone coverage: a county search is like having strong service in one city, while a statewide search may reveal activity across the entire state. Both matter—but together, they’re stronger.
The Gaps You Can Close with Statewide Searches
Many employers mistakenly assume that a national criminal database search provides full coverage. In reality, national databases have holes. That’s where statewide searches can help fill in the blanks by identifying records outside of known counties of residence or employment.
When combined with county checks, statewide searches can help you:
- Identify overlooked convictions outside of the candidate’s main counties.
- Confirm broader coverage in states where reporting is consistent.
- Strengthen compliance and due diligence, showing that you’ve gone beyond the basics.
When a Statewide Search May Not Be Enough
It’s important to remember that not all states maintain reliable or complete centralized systems. In some cases, coverage may be outdated or inconsistent. For those states, NCS may recommend relying more heavily on county-level checks.
Conversely, in states with robust statewide repositories, a statewide search can be a cost-effective upgrade—sometimes even more efficient than ordering multiple county searches.
Related Reading: Understanding the Statewide Criminal Search
👉 Not sure what a statewide criminal search really is? Read our article: What is a Statewide Criminal Search?
Why NCS is the Right Partner
At NCS, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We help you design a background screening process tailored to your business and industry. Whether that means combining county searches with statewide searches or focusing only on the strongest databases, our team ensures you get reliable, compliant, and cost-effective results.
Trusted by thousands of employers nationwide, we make background checks simpler, smarter, and safer for your organization.
