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Organizations, governments and corporations around the globe are faced with a growing need to ensure that people with access to vulnerable populations or valuable assets do not have something in their past that might create a risk.  Both biographic and biometric background checks are now being debated by legislatures in the creation of laws that would enable better protection through a stringent adjudication process.  Child care, elderly care, banks and HR departments are just some of the entities currently using fingerprint based and name based checks to protect citizens and assets from athletic fields to bank vaults.  Daon Trusted Identity Services (DTIS) has worked closely with our customers to develop applications, based on best practices and process flows, to address these needs.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) had a requirement to conduct electronic criminal history record checks on department employees as well as daycare workers, providers of care for the elderly, parents seeking to adopt and others in direct contact with vulnerable individuals.  Following a competitive procurement, DTIS was selected to provide equipment and services to the State of Alabama to meet the needs of the DHR addressing multiple payment and requirement types, each with their own workflows. 

We installed applicant processing workstations equipped with fingerprint card readers in 31 DHR offices throughout the state. Operated by DHR employees, trained by DTIS, the workstations are also used to collect biographic information from the applicants.

Data collected at the DHR workstations is securely transmitted to Daon via the internet where it is checked for quality and accuracy.  It is then sent to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) where it is checked against the State criminal history fingerprint database and then on to the FBI Automated Fingerprint Identification System.  A Criminal History Record Information (“rap sheets”) is returned to DTIS where it is then securely posted on a special access website for review by the DHR authorities who make final determination to accept or reject the applicant.  Using electronic funds transfer, a DHR account is automatically debited for use of the service, and then DTIS distributes the required payments to the ABI and FBI. 

In addition to the primary background checking service, we provide the DHR with a comprehensive set of utilities and reports to assist them in managing the program.  For example, upon results review a DHR representative can automatically generate acceptance/rejection letters and mailing envelops in any of a number of pre-defined and customizable formats.  We operate a Help Desk that allows both state employees and program applicants to call and get assistance or information concerning any aspect of the service, the system, and application status.

The DTIS system allows the DHR to quickly, efficiently, and cost effectively comply with regulations for background checking of employees and program participants.   By utilizing the Daon Trusted Identity Services platform, the citizens of Alabama can be assured of the privacy of their personal information and the State can depend on a service that can grow and expand as their needs evolve.  This system allows for the processing of applications to minimize the workload for DHR while providing the highest level of convenience for state employees.  As a “fee for use” service, the DHR costs are minimized and are more predictable from year-to-year.