What is the difference between Live Scan and a standard background check?
A Live Scan and a background check are related but distinct processes:
- Live Scan:
- Live Scan is a digital method of capturing and submitting your fingerprints electronically to a government agency (e.g., the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, California DOJ, or FBI). It involves taking your fingerprints using a digital scanner, which then sends the fingerprint data to the relevant agency to perform a background check.
- The Live Scan process itself does not provide background check results; it simply collects your fingerprints as part of the overall background check procedure.
- Background Check:
- A background check is the process of reviewing an individual’s criminal history, employment history, or other relevant records, often for employment, licensing, or regulatory purposes.
- The background check may be triggered by the submission of fingerprints via Live Scan, but it involves reviewing a person’s criminal records, court documents, or other databases to determine if they have any disqualifying history.
- Background checks can also be conducted based on personal information alone, without the use of fingerprints, but fingerprints are more reliable for confirming identity.
Summary:
- Live Scan is the fingerprint capture method used to submit your fingerprints electronically for a background check.
- A background check is the broader process of reviewing an individual’s records, often using the fingerprints collected through Live Scan to ensure accuracy.
