Even if your company has never conducted a national criminal records search on a job applicant, the chances are it will at some time in the future. More employers are moving toward screening all potential employees for criminal activity before making job offers. This is a smart business trend. People with criminal records for such things as theft and assault have a high rate of recidivism, and their relapses can happen on the job. Some employers even find themselves in the embarrassing position of having hired wanted criminals without knowing it—until the police come knocking.

A national criminal records search can help you know just what your job applicants have done in the past. You wouldn’t exclude someone from employment if he has paid his debt to society and seems to be rehabilitated. In fact, there are some laws that prevent this type of discrimination. However, you're perfectly within your rights to refrain from hiring someone whose criminal background would make him a high risk for the position for which he is being considered.