Fingerprinting Services

What Is Fingerprinting?

While they are often associated with the wider background screening process, fingerprinting with Live Scan technology has specific value to employers only in identifying any history of criminality. See our background check services to learn about InstaScreen and how to develop a more-comprehensive screening process for your job applicants.

What Does Fingerprinting Look For?

Civil fingerprints are submitted to the FBI’s national fingerprint and criminal history registry — the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). There, the agency compares an individual’s fingerprint impression against its database to see if the potential employee is known to law enforcement. All information gathered by the FBI is returned to the submitter in a summary of criminal history.

Purpose of Fingerprinting for Employment

Live Scan fingerprinting services have special value for a specific set of employers during the employment screening process. For one, obtaining a record of criminal history is required for the education sector. Especially for organizations that interact directly with children, it is vital to provide safe workplaces and hire the most qualified people possible — fingerprinting provides core information towards making quality hires.

This type of verification is also important to employers and individuals who are seeking professional certifications or licenses of most kinds:

• Liquor
• Camping
• Daycare
• Concealed pistol (CPL)
• Driver education instruction
• Homes for the aged
• Transportation
• And more

How Do Fingerprinting Checks Work?

A successful Live Scan fingerprint begins with scheduling an appointment at one of our corporate offices, where our streamlined process moves from fingerprint collection to transmission speedily and cost-effectively. Once received by the relevant state agency and IAFIS, a fingerprint record generates an electronic receipt and is processed.

Digital Fingerprint Scanners

While traditional ink-and-roll fingerprinting is still available at some providers (including law enforcement agencies), we prefer electronic Live Scan fingerprinting at DK Security. Our sophisticated scanners create a complete and accurate digital image of each fingerprint, which is then sent and processed more quickly by the IAFIS than a physical card. 

How Long Do Fingerprint Checks Take?

Once a digital fingerprint impression is received by the state and the FBI, a summary of results is usually returned to the submitter via email within 24-48 hours.

What to Expect if an Employee’s Fingerprints Come Up

When an individual’s fingerprints match the FBI records found in the IAFIS, any record of criminal history will be matched with a person’s fingerprint submission and confirmed in a final summary.

It is important to note that fingerprinting is a unique step in screening job applicants and is not considered a comprehensive background check on its own. If a criminal history exists, a fingerprint may not return all details of a crime or deliver evidence of every type of crime. Similarly, it does not yield a full account of someone’s personal history. Despite this, a unique fingerprint is still a guaranteed way to verify someone’s criminal history for employment purposes.

For a full and comprehensive background check for employment or renting, see how we use InstaScreen to deliver you with an extensive civil and criminal history for any job applicant or potential renter.