Criminal check

[Joan Dickey]

Hi Chrissy,
We are owners of a community and would like to obtain past criminal conviction information from prospective tenants. How do we word the question and what are we allowed to ask?

Thanks.

[Chrissy]

First, let me suggest that you have everything approved by your attorney, as this is a legal area. Then, that said, here are some thoughts for you.

Ask within the application if they are a convicted felon. If they answer "yes" then ask them to provide more information - type of conviction, date, are they on probation, etc.

At the bottom of the application - just above their signature - insert something similar to the following statement: The undersigned hereby gives permission to the community to verify any and all information presented above, including credit, criminal and other background checks as may be required for residency.

Now, look at your policies and procedures. When you decide to check criminal records for a potential resident, you must check that record for everyone. You cannot pick and choose who will have a criminal report run on them. Once you start, it is everyone from then on ..... however, you may well be able to charge an application fee to cover the cost of this check.

[Joan Dickey]

Thanks for the information. It gives me a place to start.
Thanks again.

[KD]

CHECK YOUR STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WEBSITE TO SEE IF THEY
HAVE EVER BEEN CONVICTED. ALL YOU NEED IS A NAME TO BROWSE THE CONVICTED ONES. EXAMPLE: IN GEORGIA YOU CAN GO TO GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND LOOK AT PAST AND PRESENT CRIMINALS, ALL THEIR CONVICTIONS, LOCK UP AND PAROLLE DATES ETC.