There are a variety of reasons why employers will want to conduct fingerprinting services for prospective employees, including checking for criminality which could impact a firm’s trust and security with clients.
In some situations, fingerprinting is mandatory, such as federal employment and for others working on federal contracts. For civil matters, including employment, it’s a matter of managing and avoiding unnecessary risk.
Until fairly recently, the process of conducting criminal background checks, managed by the RCMP, was done on a name-based process. The Mounties, the lead agency responsible for police inquires, has since retired that system in favour of a new criminal record check, using biometric fingerprinting services rather than a name to establish a person’s background.
“Fingerprint-based verification is not a higher level of screening, but rather an improvement over the existing process. The results of name-based searches are not as accurate as those determined from fingerprint-based searches,” according to a government source.
“Name-based checks are not always reliable due to errors in spelling, common surnames, use of nicknames and name changes. The RCMP (had) used name-based checks for criminal record verifications because the technology could not meet the demand to support fingerprint checks. The RCMP now has a biometric (fingerprint) system capable of supporting the demand for all criminal record checks.”
RCMP Maintains National Database of Fingerprint and Criminal Record Data
The RCMP, through its Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS), maintains the national databank of fingerprint and criminal record information, with a mandate to support national and international partners for a range of immigration purposes. The resource also serves as the lone source of criminal record verification for court purposes, civil and criminal court.
“The RTID system will continue to enhance the ability of Canadian law enforcement, government departments and international law enforcement agencies to meet their mandates for public safety, national security and economic prosperity,” says an RCMP source.
“RTID is a significant contributor to providing Safe Homes and Safe Communities (and) will also benefit Canadian citizens requiring a Criminal Record check to support their application for a security clearance in order to obtain employment or travel internationally.”
Fingerprinting services can be required for employment purposes, but also for foreign travel, passports, work permits and visas, citizenship, permanent resident and immigration, record suspension (formerly referred to as pardons), US entry waivers, adoption (foreign and domestic), controlled goods program, security license applicants, and volunteers.
All these services are provided by Investigative Solutions Network (ISN), an accredited fingerprinting agency and certified by the CCRTIS to electronically submit fingerprints and supporting data.
Our specially trained fingerprinting analysts use the latest digital technology to ensure high quality fingerprinting services. The results of the fingerprint report are sent directly from the RCMP’s processing center to the individual or, if specified, to a third-party organization.
For more information on our fingerprinting services, click here.