Does your Oregon-based company have openings you need to fill?
Reviewing resumes and conducting interviews helps, but these steps are not always enough.
This is why it is essential to conduct pre-employment background checks during the hiring process.
In this guide, you’ll learn about state laws, guidelines for employers, and how to get accurate information on your potential employees.
What is a Typical Employment Background Check in Oregon?
While an individual’s criminal history is often what employers are most interested in, depending on how in-depth you want the search to go, background checks typically show the following:
1. Employment history
Employment verifications show all of the employers for which your candidates have worked. You will see their job titles and their employment dates at each company. Employment verifications allow you to ensure you hire trustworthy employees who have the qualifications and experience they need for their jobs.
2. Education history
When you ask iprospectcheck for education verifications, your pre-employment background screens will report every educational institution your applicants attended, when they attended, and any diplomas or degrees awarded.
This type of information can help to ensure you hire qualified candidates and prevent potential negligent hiring liability claims.
3. Criminal history
For applicants with criminal records, you will see the following types of information on your pre-employment background checks:
- Type of offense
- Date of offense
- File date
- Offense level – misdemeanor or felony
- Disposition of the offense
- Disposition date
- Sentence information
4. Identity verification
Identity verification helps you to ensure you receive information for the right candidate. You will see whether a Social Security number is valid and whether the applicant’s provided information and birthdate match the provided SSN.
You will also see addresses associated with the Social Security number and other names that have been used such as maiden names.
5. National sex offender registry
A national sex offender registry search will reveal information if a candidate is registered as a sex offender in any state. If a candidate appears on the registry, you will see the offense of conviction and other relevant details, allowing you to make fully-informed hiring decisions.
Knowing this information will help you verify that the person you intend to hire is who they say they are and that they have the experience needed to perform the duties of the job well.
If you decide to take this step and run a background check on a potential employee, you’ll want to ensure you follow Oregon’s state and local laws regarding background checks.
An Overview of Oregon’s Employment Background Check Laws
When an employer decides to run a pre-employment background check in Oregon, there are specific regulations that must be followed to ensure compliance.
Oregon has specific laws regarding background checks, including who can conduct them and how the information can be used in the employment process. Anyone can request an Oregon background check, but employers must follow specific steps in order to ensure compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, “Ban the Box,” and Oregon’s Pay Equity Law.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal regulation that Oregon employers must follow when running employment background checks. According to the FCRA, when an employer decides to run a background check on a candidate, the employer must inform that job candidate.
This intent to run a background check must be submitted to a candidate in writing before the background screening process is started.
If you decide to save yourself time and energy by partnering with a third-party background check company like iprospectcheck, you’ll need to provide the candidate with the background check company’s information in writing ahead of time as well.
But that’s not all.
Employers also have to follow specific laws when it comes to what they do with the information they learn on the background check report.
If you decide you no longer want to hire a candidate as a result of what you discovered during this process, this is considered taking adverse action, and you must follow these steps to stay compliant when denying employment:
- Provide applicant with a pre-adverse action letter, outlining the reasons you are choosing not to hire them based on their background information;
- Wait a reasonable amount of days, allowing the applicant time to dispute or correct any false information on their background check report;
- Decide whether or not you will hire the candidate after they’ve fixed or altered their background check information;
- Send applicant an official adverse action letter if you decide you still do not want to hire the candidate.
Following these adverse action procedures, using clear and concise language, and providing the appropriate notices to the candidate at the right time will help ensure you stay compliant throughout the background check process.
“Ban the Box”
As an employer, it is important for you to know about a potential employee’s criminal history: if they have a criminal background, how long ago a criminal act occurred, and what type of charges were given.
While all this information is beneficial, the state of Oregon does have specific policies around when and how an employer can obtain this information.
Oregon is one of 35 “Ban the Box” states, meaning employers cannot ask about a candidate’s criminal background on the job application. In fact, in Oregon, an employer must wait until after the initial interview is started or conditional job offer is extended before asking the candidate to disclose this type of information. And while not the case in every state, in Oregon, the “Ban the Box” regulation applies to both public and private sectors.
Even with “Ban the Box” in place, Oregon employers are still able to run a criminal background check on a potential employee, as the background screening process usually occurs after an initial interview or conditional job offer.
Pay Equity Law
Similar to criminal history, there is another protected category which Oregon employers cannot ask about or consider during the hiring process: past salary.
When you run a background check on a potential employee, you have the option to verify an individual’s employment history. Employers choose to do this to make sure the applicant’s resume holds true and to ensure the candidate has the experience needed to perform well in the potential position.
While this is completely legal in Oregon, due to the state’s Pay Equity Law, employers cannot seek information regarding a potential employee’s past salary or wages prior to extending a job offer that includes an intended amount of compensation.
And while an applicant can disclose past salary information to the interviewer on their own accord, an employer still cannot consider this information when proceeding through the hiring process.
How to Get a Background Check in Oregon
Now that you are familiar with the laws and regulations surrounding Oregon background checks, it’s time to start the process of actually obtaining one. There are multiple ways to get the information you need for an employment background check in Oregon.
According to the Oregon Secretary of State, under Oregon’s Public Records Law, the public has a right to view and copy certain public records, while some records remain confidential and therefore cannot be viewed by the public.
To obtain public records, you will need to submit a request form through the appropriate state department website. Depending on the type of record you wish to view, you may have to submit multiple forms on various websites.
Along with the Secretary of State, you can also request to obtain public records through the Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon Health Authority. For court case information, you would need to submit a request through the Oregon Judicial Department.
However, going this route will only provide you with limited case information and non-official records, which may not be sufficient for a complete history on a candidate. Lastly, criminal background checks are processed through Oregon’s Criminal Justice Information Services for a fee.
While it may be possible to get the information you desire by requesting background information from these various state departments, the fastest and easiest way to run an Oregon background check on a potential employee is to use a third-party background screening partner like iprospectcheck.
Instead of having to visit different websites and pay multiple fees, you can get all the information you need in one place, while ensuring you stay compliant.
How Far Back Does a Background Check Go for Employment in Oregon?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act puts federal regulations on all states regarding how far back a background check can go. That regulation is seven years. According to theFair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), reports cannot include records of arrest for a crime which does not result in a conviction that is more than seven years old.
However, there are some exceptions to this general rule.
First, if an employer is hiring for an executive or management position, the report can go back further. The same goes for federal contractor positions. Secondly, the seven-year rule does not apply when a potential employee is set to make an annual salary greater than $75,000. In that case, a report can also surpass seven years.
When you go through Oregon’s Criminal Justice Information Services to obtain a criminal background check on someone, they do not go back seven years, so you may not receive all the information available regarding a candidate’s criminal past.
According to their website, you will only receive an Oregon record of conviction and arrest that is less than one year old. And if an individual has been acquitted or their case dismissed, you will not see the information at all.
For this reason, it’s much more beneficial to partner with a third-party employment screening provider like iprospectcheck to ensure you receive a complete report when screening a potential employee.
How Long Does a Background Check Take in Oregon?
The time it takes to obtain a background check report on your potential employee depends on the route you choose to take when running the report.
If you decide to gather the information on your own by submitting requests through various state department websites, it may take you longer to compile a full report on an individual.
For example, when you submit a request through Oregon’s Criminal Justice Information Services for a criminal background check, you have to wait 14 days before you can obtain the report.
This is another reason to partner with a third-party company like iprospectcheck. You will get the information you desire in the shortest amount of time. With iprospectcheck’s fast background check services, you won’t have to wait long before you have all the information you need to be confident in hiring your next employee.
iprospectcheck: the Oregon Background Check Partner of Choice
Finding the right person to fill your open job position can be hard. Fortunately, the background check process doesn’t have to be.
When you partner with iprospectcheck to run your Oregon background check, you can be confident you and your candidate will receive high-quality customer service and you’ll get the detailed reports you need, all while following the state’s laws and staying compliant.
You deserve to know a candidate’s history before hiring them to work for your company, and iprospectcheck is here to help you with that.
Contact us today to learn more about our complete background check services and to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
DISCLAIMER: The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult your counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.
County Resources
Baker County
Baker County lies along the eastern border of Oregon. It was founded in 1862 and named after a former senator killed in the U.S. Civil War. Baker City is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Baker County:
- Baker County website
- Public records requestin Baker County
- Baker Countycourt case records
Benton County
Benton County is located in western Washington. It was founded in 1847 and named after former U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Benton County’s population is almost 97,000 people. Corvallis is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Benton County:
- Benton County website
- Public records requestin Benton County
- Benton Countycourt case records
Clackamas County
Clackamas County is located in northwestern Oregon. It was founded in 1843 and named after the Clackamas tribe. The county’s population is more than 423,000 people. Oregon City is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Clackamas County:
- Clackamas County website
- Public records requestin Clackamas County
- Clackamas Countycourt case records
Clatsop County
Clatsop County is located in the northwestern corner of Oregon on the state’s border. It was founded in 184 and named after the Clatsop tribe. The county has a population of almost 42,000 people. Astoria is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Clatsop County:
- Clatsop County website
- Public records requestin Clatsop County
- Clatsop Countycourt case records
Columbia County
Columbia County is located in far northwestern Oregon along the state’s border. It was founded in 1854 and named after the Columbia River. The county’s population is almost 54,000 people. Saint Helens is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Columbia County:
- Columbia County website
- Public records requestin Columbia County
- Columbia Countycourt case records
Coos County
Coos County is located on the state’s border in southwestern Washington. The county’s population is almost 65,000 people. It was founded in 1853 and named after the Coos Tribe. Coquille is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Coos County:
- Coos County website
- Public records requestin Coos County
- Coos Countycourt case records
Crook County
Crook County is located in central Oregon. It was founded in 1882 and named after George Crook, who served as an officer in the Civil War. Crook County has a population of slightly more than 26,000 people. Prineville is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Crook County:
- Crook County website
- Public records requestin Crook County
- Crook Countycourt case records
Curry County
Curry County is located in the southwestern corner of Oregon on the state’s border. It was founded in 1855 and named after a former governor of the Oregon Territory. The county has a population of almost 24,000 people. Gold Beach is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Curry County:
- Curry County website
- Public records requestin Curry County
- Curry Countycourt case records
Deschutes County
Deschutes County is located in central Oregon. It was founded in 1916 and named after the Deschutes River. The county has a population of almost 207,000 people. Bend is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Deschutes County:
- Deschutes County website
- Public records requestin Deschutes County
- Deschutes Countycourt case records
Douglas County
Douglas County is located in southwestern Oregon. It was founded in 1852 and named after former U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas. The county’s population is almost 113,000 people. Roseburg is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Douglas County:
- Douglas County website
- Public records requestin Douglas County
- Douglas Countycourt case records
Gilliam County
Gilliam County is located on the northern border of Oregon. It was founded in 1885 and named after Cornelius Gilliam, a pioneer who was important to Oregon’s early history. The county’s population is just over 2,000 people. Condon is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Gilliam County:
- Gilliam County website
- Public records requestin Gilliam County
- Gilliam Countycourt case records
Grant County
Grant County is located in east-central Oregon. It was founded in 1864 and named after Ulysses S. Grant. The population is slightly more than 7,200 people. Canyon City is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Grant County:
- Grant County website
- Public records requestin Grant County
- Grant Countycourt case records
Harney County
Harney County is located in south-central Oregon and touches the state’s border. It was founded in 1889 and named after a cavalry officer who was involved in the Pig War. The county’s population is slightly more than 7,500 people. Burns is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Harney County:
- Harney County website
- Public records requestin Harney County
- Harney Countycourt case records
Hood River County
Hood River County is located on Oregon’s northern border. It was founded in 1908 and named after the Hood River. The population is slightly over 24,000 people. Hood River is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Hood River County:
- Hood River County website
- Public records requestin Hood River County
- Hood River Countycourt case records
Jackson County
Jackson County on Oregon’s southern border. It was founded in 1852 and named after Andrew Jackson. The county’s population is slightly more than 221,000 people. Medford is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Jackson County:
- Jackson County website
- Public records requestin Jackson County
- Jackson Countycourt case records
Jefferson County
Jefferson County is located in central Oregon. It was founded in 1914 and named after Mount Jefferson. The county’s population is slightly more than 25,300 people. Madras is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Jefferson County:
- Jefferson County website
- Public records requestin Jefferson County
- Jefferson Countycourt case records
Josephine County
Josephine County lies along the southern border of Oregon. It was founded in 1856 and named after a female settler. The county’s population is slightly more than 87,000 people. Grants Pass is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Josephine County:
- Josephine County website
- Public records requestin Josephine County
- Josephine Countycourt case records
Klamath County
Klamath County is located in southern Oregon and touches the state’s border. It was founded in 1882 and named after the Klamath Tribe. The county’s population is slightly over 70,200 people. Klamath Falls is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Klamath County:
- Klamath County website
- Public records requestin Klamath County
- Klamath Countycourt case records
Lake County
Lake County is located on the southern border of Oregon and extends into the central portion of the state. It was founded in 1884 and named after the county’s many lakes and hot springs. Lake County’s population is just under 8,400 people. Lakeview is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Lake County:
- Lake County website
- Public records requestin Lake County
- Lake Countycourt case records
Lane County
Lane County lies along the Oregon’s western border. It was founded in 1852 and named after the Oregon Territory’s first governor. The county’s population is more than 382,000 people. Eugene is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Lane County:
- Lane County website
- Public records requestin Lane County
- Lane Countycourt case records
Lincoln County
Lincoln County is located on Oregon’s western border. It was founded in 1893 and named after Abraham Lincoln. The county’s population is a little more than 51,000 people. Newport is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Lincoln County:
- Lincoln County website
- Public records requestin Lincoln County
- Lincoln Countycourt case records
Linn County
Linn County lies along the eastern border of Oregon. It was founded in 1847 and named after a former U.S. senator. The county has a population of slightly more than 130,000 people. Albany is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Linn County:
- Linn County website
- Public records requestin Linn County
- Linn Countycourt case records
Malheur County
Malheur County lies along the eastern border of Oregon. It was founded in 1887 and named after the Malheur River. The county’s population is almost 32,000 people. Vale is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Malheur County:
- Malheur County website
- Public records requestin Malheur County
- Malheur Countycourt case records
Marion County
Marion County is located in northwestern Oregon. It was founded in 1843 and named after a former general in the U.S. Revolutionary War. The county’s population is almost 348,000 people. Salem is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Marion County:
- Marion County website
- Public records requestin Marion County
- Marion Countycourt case records
Morrow County
Morrow County is located on Oregon’s northern border. It was founded in 1885 and named after a former state representative. The county has a population of slightly more than 12,000 people. Heppner is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Morrow County:
- Morrow County website
- Public records requestin Morrow County
- Morrow Countycourt case records
Multnomah County
Multnomah County lies along the northern border of Oregon. It was founded in 1854 and named for a Native American village. The county has a population of nearly 796,000 people. Portland is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Multnomah County:
- Multnomah County website
- Public records requestin Multnomah County
- Multnomah Countycourt case records
Polk County
Polk County is located in western Oregon. It was founded in 1845 and named after James Polk. The county’s population is slightly more than 89,600 people. Dallas is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Polk County:
- Polk County website
- Public records requestin Polk County
- Polk Countycourt case records
Sherman County
Sherman County is located in northern Oregon along the state’s border. It was founded in 1889 and named after Civil War General William Sherman. The county has a population of slightly less than 2,000 people. Moro is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Sherman County:
- Sherman County website
- Public records requestin Sherman County
- Sherman Countycourt case records
Tillamook County
Tillamook County is located in northwestern Oregon along the state’s border. It was founded in 1853 and named after the Tillamook Tribe. The county has a population of slightly less than 25,600 people. Tillamook is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Tillamook County:
- Tillamook County website
- Public records requestin Tillamook County
- Tillamook Countycourt case records
Umatilla County
Umatilla County is located along Oregon’s northern border. It was founded in 1862 and named after the Umatilla River. The population is slightly more than 80,200 people. Pendleton is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Umatilla County:
- Umatilla County website
- Public records requestin Umatilla County
- Umatilla Countycourt case records
Union County
Union County is located in northeastern Oregon. It was founded in 1864 and named after the town of Union. The county’s population is slightly more than 26,000 people. La Grande is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Union County:
- Union County website
- Public records requestin Union County
- Union Countycourt case records
Wallowa County
Wallowa County is located in the northeastern corner of Oregon. It was founded in 1887 and named for a Nez Perce word meaning “tripod”. The county’s population is just over 7,600 people. Enterprise is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Wallowa County:
- Wallowa County website
- Public records requestin Wallowa County
- Wallowa Countycourt case records
Wasco County
Wasco County is located in northern Oregon. It was founded in 1854 and named after the Wasco Tribe. The county’s population is slightly more than 26,500 people. The Dalles is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Wasco County:
- Wasco County website
- Public records requestin Wasco County
- Wasco Countycourt case records
Washington County
Washington County is located in northwestern Oregon. It was founded in 1843 and named after George Washington. The county has a population of more than 600,000 people. Hillsboro is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Washington County:
- Washington County website
- Public records requestin Washington County
- Washington Countycourt case records
Wheeler County
Wheeler County is located in central Oregon. It was founded in 1899 and named after Henry Wheeler, a mail stage line operator. The county’s population is slightly more than 1,400 people. Fossil is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Wheeler County:
- Wheeler County website
- Public records requestin Wheeler County
- Wheeler Countycourt case records
Yamhill County
Yamhill County is located in northwestern Oregon. It was founded in 1843 and named after members of a native tribe who lived along the Yamhill River. The county’s population is slightly more than 108,000 people. McMinnville is the county seat.
Employers can benefit from the following resources in Yamhill County:
- Yamhill County website
- Public records requestin Yamhill County
- Yamhill Countycourt case records