Cincinnati Metropolitan Area

Also known as Greater Cincinnati, this metro area includes counties in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Its population of nearly 2.3 million makes it the largest metro area in Ohio. It has a significant economic and social presence in Kentucky and Indiana. Nearby metro areas include Columbus and Indianapolis.

Together, these three metros comprise the Great Lakes Region. Spanning such a wide area, background checks in the Cincinnati metropolitan area demand more care and attention. To explore the reason for this, we must first consider the full extent of the area. Constituent counties in Ohio include:

• Brown
• Butler
• Clermont
• Hamilton
• Warren

Counties in Indiana include:

• Dearborn
• Franklin
• Ohio

Meanwhile, the metro region also includes counties in Kentucky such as:

• Boone
• Bracken
• Campbell
• Gallatin
• Grant
• Kenton

A background check process must factor in the size of the area. With so many people spread over such a wide area, small businesses may be more likely to encounter people from farther away, even in Cincinnati. That fact points to the heart of the issue. Why should you have a metro-specific background check policy?

Metro Regions Demand More Care in Screening. Why?

The interconnected nature of metropolitan areas makes movement more likely. People may relocate more frequently within a metro area. Likewise, they may spend time in different metro areas for personal reasons. All this movement and migration makes it increasingly likely for someone to have a criminal record in multiple places. When we consider the nature of the Cincinnati metro, we can see how that’s possible.

Greater Cincinnati is a regional crossroads. Three interstates connect here, allowing for a very mobile workforce. Employers may encounter applicants from nearby counties or even across state lines. The area continues to experience some economic growth that encourages such movement. After all, there are nine Fortune 500 companies in the region. These include such prominent names as Macy’s, Kroger, and Procter& Gamble. Major automakers run manufacturing plants here, and all these conditions drive movement, complicating how you conduct background checks.

Pre-employment background checks must take these conditions into account. For example, if you only examine records from Ohio, you may miss critical records elsewhere. An applicant might have a serious record in Indiana or Kentucky. However, you could overlook those records by keeping your search too narrow. To avoid the risks of negligent hiring, you need background check options that enable you to scan whole metro regions.

However, before you can do so, you must understand the relevant rules for fair hiring in the region.

Navigating Rules, Regulations, and Compliance When Screening

Federal rules are the primary applicable law for private employers in this region. Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana do not have ban the box rules for private employers. Hiring managers may continue to ask questions about criminal history on the job application. You may also begin conducting a background check at any time. There is no need to wait for an interview or to make a conditional job offer.

Some states, such as Ohio, allow employers to consider arrest records. However, it is unlawful for such records to appear on a background report in Indiana. Considering non-conviction arrests is risky—it is even potentially discriminatory. At backgroundchecks.com, our records do not contain arrests, and we do not report arrest records. Background checks for employers should prioritize conviction information that proves guilt—an arrest alone does not indicate guilt.

Federal guidelines such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) are essential. These rules regulate background checks as consumer reports. You are required to request the applicant’s consent before using a background check. You must also follow specific procedures to take adverse action against an applicant based on check results. Review these obligations and follow the guidance published by the EEOC on how to vet applicants appropriately via background check reports.

Finding the Data You Need

With a legally-sound policy, the next step is to secure the right tools for research. With background check companies like backgroundchecks.com, you can access flexible solutions to meet your needs. These products can lend greater clarity to informed hiring decisions. These products include the US OneSEARCH. This instant multi-jurisdictional search yields results across the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Find criminal record results for Ohio, Dearborn, and Franklin counties in Indiana. You can also locate records from Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties in Ohio.

Counties in Kentucky, including Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, and Kenton, require direct county courthouse searches to yield their records. For deeper insight, employers may also wish to use state-level criminal record checks in any state where an applicant lived before. We also have a solution for you: include the region’s other metro areas and cover a wider area. Use a custom regional search to add multiple states, up to 5 in total.

What Can a Metro Background Check Reveal?

Information for criminal background checks in this region originates from several sources. In Ohio, these include:

• The Department of Corrections (updated monthly)
• Common pleas and municipal courts (updated monthly)
• The state sex offender registry (updated bi-weekly).

Criminal convictions pulled from these systems to generate a background check report may include the subject’s:

• Name and date of birth
• County of offense and offense description
• Sentence and sentencing date

Information from systems in Kentucky and Indiana yields similar information from law enforcement agencies and courts in those states.

Empower Your Hiring Managers With Better Screening Tools

Background checks in the Cincinnati metropolitan area have a fundamental role in hiring. With them, employers can make smarter decisions about whom they hire. Red flags are easier to spot. Potentially troublesome hires are easier to avoid. At the same time, you can confirm the trustworthiness of the most talented individuals. Improve your hiring processes without taking on too much risk. Metro areas demand metro-specific solutions. With backgroundchecks.com, you can access innovative solutions designed for today’s complex hiring environments.