Information & Resources

Because we know your time is valuable, CII has provided a comprehensive resource of background check information, including a glossary of public record terms, a link to the full text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and links to legislative updates and some of the best employment screening compliance websites available.

Glossary of Public Record Terms

Educational Articles

How to Read a Criminal Background Report

Preventing Violence In The Workplace

Using Credit Reports To Make Hiring Decisions: What You Need To Know

Using Consumer Reports: What Landlords Need to Know

Why Your Free Background Check Is Costing You More

E-Verify - The Complete Guide

Small Business Owners Guide to Background Checks

Pre-Employment Verification - An Employer's Guide To Outsourcing Employment Verifications

EEOC Files Lawsuits for Use of Criminal Record Information (June 2013)

What To Do When An Empoyer Wants to Pull Your Credit Report (March 2014)

New: FTC Tips for Job Applicants (November 2014)

FCRA Compliance

Consumer Right to Security Freeze

Full Text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

Notice to Users of Consumer Reports:  Obligations of Users Under the FCRA

FTC Guidance - Keep Required Disclosure Forms Simple

SSA-89 Form

SSA-89 form (Spanish)

Summary of Consumer Rights Under the FCRA

Summary of Consumer Rights Under the FCRA(Spanish)

Your Access to Free Credit Reports

Placing a Fraud Alert on Your Credit File

NYC Fair Chance Act Notice

FTC Guidance What Landlords Need to Know

Legislative Updates

New York Enacts Amendments to the New York City Fair Chance Act (January 2021)

New Mexico Joins the Ban the Box movement and will allow expungement of some criminal records next year (June 2019)

South Carolina is the latest state to address the expungement of criminal records (March 2019)

Effective January 2019, Hawaii joins other states in banning inquiries about a candidate's salary history (July 2018)

Effective July 2018, Vermont Employers can no longer inquire about a candidate's salary history (June 2018)

San Francisco has amended their Fair Chance Ordinance with changes to go into effect October 2018 (April 2018)

New Washington Statewide Ban the Box Law goes into effect June 2018 (March 2018)

California Statewide Ban the Box Law goes into effect January 1, 2018 (November 2017)

The Final Rules and Regulations for New York City's Fair Chance Act go into effect August 5, 2017 (August 2017)

The California Fair Employment and Housing Council has approved new regulations, effective July 1, 2017, to limit employers' use of criminal history when making employment decisions (April 2017)

Philadelphia City Council amends Fair Credit Ordinance to prohibit employers from inquiring about a candidate's wage history (January 2017)

City of Los Angeles passes Ban the Box Ordinance Similar to New York City and Philadelphia - Effective January 1, 2017 (December 2016)

New Massachusetts Senate Bill 2119 - Effective July 1, 2018 Prohibits Employers from Screening Applicants Based on Wage History (August 2016)

Philadelphia Updates Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards - to go into effect March 14, 2016 (January 2016)

New York City Passes Fair Chance Act - to go into effect October 27, 2015 (June 2015)

Oregon is the latest State to enact Ban the Box Legislation (June 2015).

Nevada Removes 7 Year Conviction Reporting Limitation (June 2015).

NEW EEOC Guidance Regarding the Use of Criminal Record Information (May 2012).