Industry Terms
Database Searches
Social Security Number Trace - Search of credit bureau files or other aggregate database files to authenticate the subject's SSN and name. Search may show prior addresses and other names (including maiden/ alias/ aka) associated with the subject. This search may also uncover evidence of identity theft and/or deceased numbers.
Social Security Number Validation - The Social Security Number Validation will validate the social security number by comparing the applicant's SSN to the Social Security Administration's formula for order of issuance.
Credit Report - A search of the credit bureau files. Search may show consumer credit activity covering a seven year period detailing overdue or slow accounts, charge off, collections, suits, tax liens, public records, judgments and bankruptcies.
Drivers License Abstract/ MVR - Search of the state Bureau of Motor Vehicle records for driver information including status, accidents, suspensions and violations.
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) Sanction List - A search of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) list of sanctioned and excluded parties.
General Services Administration (GSA) Excluded Parties List - a search of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) list of excluded and debarred parties.
Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) Search - A search of the most recent, master list of "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons" that is made available by OFAC.
Criminal Record Searches
Municipal Criminal Conviction Search - A search conducted at the appropriate municipal court adjudicating crimes against a city code. Courts are searched directly at the source in person, via the court's Internet web site, or direct connection into the court's index.
Federal Criminal Conviction Search - A search for criminal convictions at the appropriate federal district court adjudicating crimes against the United States Code. Courts are searched directly at the source in person, via the court's Internet web site, or direct connection into the court's index.
Megan's Law - This is the name that is used for numerous laws that require information about sex offenders be made public. This information is made available through state registries and usually includes name, photo, address, incarceration date and nature of the crime.
National Criminal Database Search - A search of multi-geographical, aggregate criminal databases.
State Criminal Database Search - A search of any number of criminal databases available in a particular state. Databases range from state department of corrections databases to proprietary criminal databases built by private entities.
State Repository Criminal History Search - A search of a state's official criminal repository managed by a State Agency. Not available in all states.
Sex Offender Database Search - A search of any number of sex offender databases or registries. Databases may be national, state or local in scope and provided by both private and public governmental entities.
Verification / Reference Interview Services
Application - A form that is filled out by a potential tenant or employee that acts as a formal request for a rental or job.
Education Verification - The process of verifying a person's scholastic history by contacting the educational institutions or any of the automated verification systems available.
Employment Verification - The process of verifying a person's past and/or present work history by contacting their past and/or present employers or any of the automated verification systems available.
FICO Score - A FICO score is a credit score that is derived from complex, proprietary formulas. These formulas are based on the amount of debt carried relative to your available credit, the time frame in which you pay, and the type of debt carried. Based on these factors, your score can range form 300 to 850, with 850 being perfect.
Professional Trade License / Certification Verification - The process of verifying a person's occupational certification or licensing by contacting the various state agencies that maintain and coordinate the licensure process.
Professional Reference - Questioning of a candidate's professional reference via phone interview, in-person interview, or faxed, mailed or electronic questionnaire.
Personal Reference Interview - Questioning of a candidate's personal reference via phone interview, in-person interview, or faxed, mailed or electronic questionnaire.
Resume' - A brief written summary prepared by a job applicant that includes personal, educational, and professional experience which usually is attached to a job application.
Legal Terms
Acquittal - The legal and formal certification of the innocence of a person who has been charged with crime; a deliverance or setting free of a person from a charge of guilt; finding of not guilty.
Arraignment - Procedure whereby the accused is brought before the court to plead to the criminal charge against him in the indictment of information.
Capias - The general name for several species of writs, common characteristic of which is the requirement of an officer to take a named defendant into custody.
Conviction - The result of a criminal trial which ends in a judgment or sentence that the accused is guilty as charged.
Criminal Complaint - In criminal law, a charge, preferred before a magistrate having jurisdiction, that a person named, has committed a specific offense, with an offer to prove the fact, to the end that a prosecution may be instituted.
Criminal Plea - The defendant's response to a criminal charge (guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere).
Defendant - The party against whom relief or recovery is sought or the accused in a criminal case.
Discovery - The pre-trial devices that can be used by one party to obtain facts and information about the case from the other party in order to assist the party's preparation for trial.
Dismissal - An order of judgment finally disposing of an action, suit, motion, etc., without trial of the issues involved.
Dismissal Without Prejudice - Term meaning dismissal without prejudice to the right of the complainant to sue again on the same cause of action.
Dismissal With Prejudice - Term meaning an adjudication on the merits, and final disposition, barring the right to bring or maintain an action on the same claim or cause.
Evidence - Any species of proof, or probative matter, legally presented at the trial of an issue, by the act of the parties and through the medium of witnesses, records, documents, exhibits, concrete objects, for the purpose of inducing belief in the minds of the court or jury as to their contention.
Expungement of Record - Process by which record of criminal conviction is destroyed or sealed after expiration of time.
Felony - A crime of a graver or more serious nature than those designated as misdemeanors.
Grading of Crime - Higher or lower in grade or degree, according to the measure of punishment attached and meted out on conviction and the consequences resulting to the party convicted, for example first, second, or third degree murder.
GrandJjury - Body of citizens, the number of whom varies from state to state, whose duties consist in determining whether probable cause exist, that a crime has been committed, and whether an indictment should be returned against one for such a crime.
Indictment - A formal, written accusation originating with a prosecutor and issued by a grand jury against a party charged with a crime. An indictment is referred to as a "true bill", whereas failure to indict is called a "no bill".
Information - An accusation exhibited against a person for some criminal offense, without an indictment. A written accusation made by a public prosecutor, without the intervention of a grand jury.
Judgment of Conviction - A judgment conviction shall set forth the plea, the verdict or findings, and the adjudication and sentence.
Magistrate - An inferior judicial officer, such as a justice of the peace.
Misdemeanor - Offenses lower than felonies and generally those punishable by fine, penalty, forfeiture or imprisonment otherwise than in penitentiary.
Nolle Prosequi - A formal entry upon the record by the prosecuting attorney in a criminal action, by which he declares that he will no further prosecute the case, either as to some of the defendants or altogether.
Nolo Contendere - A plea in a criminal case which has similar legal effect as pleading guilty. Type of plea which may be entered with leave of court to a criminal complaint or indictment by which the defendant does not admit or deny the charges; complaint may not be brought before a Civil court at a later date, should no criminal conviction result (section in italics not included in definition provided by below referenced source)
Parole - Release from jail, prison, or other confinement after actually serving part of sentence. Conditional release from imprisonment which entitles parolee to serve remainder of term outside confines of an institution.
Plaintiff - A person who brings an action. A person who seeks remedial relief for an injury of rights; it designates a complainant.
Prosecute - To proceed against a person criminally.
Quash - To vacate or make void as in to quash an indictment.
Summons - In criminal law, a written order notifying an individual that he or she has been charged with an offense, directing the person to appear in court to answer the charge.
Suspended Sentence - In criminal law, a suspended sentence means, in effect, that the defendant is not required at the time sentence is imposed to serve the sentence.
Warrant for Arrest - A written order of the court which is made on behalf of the state or
Reference: Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition. By: Henry Campbell
Black, Published: St. Paul, MN, West Publishing Co, 1990.
