Reasons to Run a Nanny Misdemeanor Criminal Record Check

What information appears on a criminal record check will be determined by how the check is conducted.

Misdemeanors are typically referred to as less serious crimes, such as petty theft, but can include other crimes such as trespassing, public intoxication, simple assaults and indecent exposure.  Being convicted of a misdemeanor can result up to a one year jail sentence, although fines, probation and community service are other penalties commonly prescribed.

Since misdemeanors are considered minor crimes, local reporting agencies may not send the records to the state repository or FBI, so the best place to search for misdemeanor records is at the jurisdiction’s lower courts. However, in some states, the lower courts aren’t consolidated so the records in several lower courts within the jurisdiction must be checked to ensure that there are no misdemeanor records.

When conducting a criminal search for misdemeanors it is important that the individual conducting the search is familiar with the court system in the area they are searching so that they check the appropriate courts for misdemeanor records.

While most nannies will be free from a criminal past, those who do have one are more likely to have a misdemeanor record than a felony one.

Conducting a misdemeanor records check can provide insights into a nanny’s background. The results from a misdemeanor records check can help parents to make an educated and informed hiring decision. In some cases, however, misdemeanor records can be sealed and they may or may not appear on a records search after a set number of years.

With a misdemeanor check, parents can:

  1. Learn about criminal convictions. While the offense may be minor in the eyes of the law, to any parents, hiring a nanny with a criminal record can be a major faux pas.
  2. Can learn about a nanny’s character. A nanny convicted of writing bad checks or petty theft may not be someone you want caring for your children.
  3. Discover drug problems. Convictions for drug possessions can appear as misdemeanor offenses.
  4. Discover alcohol issues. Public intoxication, driving while intoxicated and possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle can appear in a misdemeanor record. Since nannies transport children this information would be especially important to know.
  5. Learn if a nanny makes bad choices. Even if the crimes are considered lesser ones, a pattern of decision making can disqualify a nanny candidate from getting a job.
  6. Discover any questionable behavior. By gathering information about a nanny’s misdemeanor offenses parents can identify a history of undesirable behavior.
  7. Determine if a nanny was honest about her history. If a nanny says she has no criminal convictions yet one turns up, her ability to be honest is at best, questionable.
  8. Gain additional insight into the nanny’s background. A nanny who presents a squeaky clean image but was found to have criminal records for her college days may provide you with information to ask additional questions about her past.
  9. Avoid negligent hiring. Parents should use all tools available to properly vet a nanny. Ensuring the appropriate misdemeanor records checks are completed can help them do just that.
  10.  Avoid a risky hire. Parents want to minimize the risk to their children, family and home can avoid hiring a caregiver with a criminal pasts.

Conducting a misdemeanor background check should be part of your candidate’s screening. The more information you can gather about a candidate the more informed your hiring decision will be. When conducting any background check it’s essential it is complaint with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which requires a nanny to provide authorization to conduct the records search.

For more information on background screenings please review our Guide to Nanny Background Checks.