Top Facts About Background Screening

Fingerprinting alone isn't enough. Not all crimes require fingerprinting, and some information may be missed when relying solely on fingerprint reports. The government recommends using fingerprinting combined with consumer reporting agencies like Research Services, because local reporting to fingerprint databases is often infrequent or incomplete.

Single-state fingerprinting misses out-of-state records. If your applicant previously lived or worked in another state, a fingerprint check limited to one state won't surface records from elsewhere. A national criminal search through a CRA covers a much wider net.

We cover all known aliases at no additional charge — in Connecticut. Research Services searches all aliases associated with a Connecticut applicant without charging per-alias fees, and our records go back to the 1980s. Some other states allow this as well, but many charge a separate fee per additional name searched. It's worth asking your provider how they handle aliases, because missed aliases mean missed records.

The National Criminal Index is more than a criminal database. Our National Criminal Index search includes Homeland Security checks, Global Sanctions, the Sex Offender Registry, FBI Most Wanted, and several additional protective databases — all in one search.

International background searches are available. We offer international background searches including criminal records and employment and education verifications for applicants with history outside the United States.

Criminal and federal records require separate searches. A standard criminal search and a federal criminal search are not the same thing. Federal courts maintain a separate record system. If your role carries federal exposure, a federal-level search should be part of your package.

Connecticut Private School employment verifications are available. We offer employment verifications compliant with Connecticut Public Act 16-67 — required for private, charter, and public school hiring in Connecticut.

DCF reports are available for high-volume hiring. Organizations that regularly hire staff working with children or vulnerable adults can access DCF reports as part of a comprehensive screening package.

You talk to a real person. Research Services provides live customer support during business hours. You're not routed to an automated system or an offshore call center. When you call, someone picks up.

No minimum search volume. Whether you run one check a year or hundreds per month, you're a client. We don't set minimum thresholds to access the service.

No client signup fee. Setting up an account with Research Services costs nothing. You pay only for the searches you order.

No annual fees and no long-term contracts. There are no recurring fees and no commitment required. You use us when you need us, on your terms.

We're PBSA accredited. Research Services is a PBSA-accredited background screening provider — independently audited for regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and reporting integrity. That accreditation isn't self-declared; it's earned through a third-party audit process.

We've been doing this since 1996. Research Services has served Connecticut employers and clients nationwide for nearly three decades. Background screening is all we do, and we do it right.