Pierce County, Washington

Pierce County, a part of the Seattle metro area, has a population estimated at 900,000. Adjacent counties include King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Thurston, and Yakima. Significant employers in Pierce County include Multicare Health System, State Farm, and the U.S. military. 

Home to the city of Tacoma and a short commute away from Seattle, Pierce County experiences fast, ongoing growth. A rising population gives employers access to new talent regularly, but the same conditions that make it easier to find candidates in Pierce County create some complications. Establishing trust requires more than a resume—verifying an applicant’s credibility involves the use of many tools, including criminal background checks.

Even qualified candidates may have checkered pasts. Explore the leads that you find, or you risk future claims of negligent hiring based on an employee’s actions.

The ideal starting place is within Pierce County; look for local court records about your applicant. Easily-uncovered criminal records may shorten your list of suitable candidates, but this local step is only the beginning of your search. Moving forward, you should examine records held by other counties in Washington and other areas of the country.

Conforming to anti-discrimination legislation is essential when using tools such as background checks. Washington state imposes a “ban the box” law on all private employers. You may not conduct any background checks until after determining that a candidate would normally satisfy your criteria for hiring. You may not automatically exclude individuals with criminal records, nor may you use applications with language implying that a criminal record is a disqualifier. 

After they have made the appropriate determination, the FCRA requires employers to secure applicant consent before performing a background check. Employers must also abide by the Civil Rights Act’s anti-discrimination statutes. 

You’ll need the appropriate tools when the time comes to vet an applicant. backgroundchecks.com simplifies the process for SMEs with streamlined solutions suitable for hiring at any volume. Use our county-level background check to start investigating new hires for quick information. Expand your search to the entire nation next with the US OneSEARCH.

All reporting products rely on information obtained from state and local authorities with no affiliation with backgroundchecks.com. When a position requires extra sensitivity in hiring, we offer on-site courthouse record searches at your request, making results available within three working days.

These reports use information from systems such as the: 

• Washington Admin Office of the Courts – Misdemeanor records from 2011-present, updated quarterly
• Washington Admin Office of the Superior Courts – Felony records from 2011-present, updated quarterly
• Washington Department of Corrections – Felony and misdemeanor records from 1995-12/12/2007
• Washington Sex Offender Registry – Updated biweekly

Our reports may include the subject’s: 

• Name
• Offense
• Sentence 

Develop hiring procedures that produce better candidates and a safer work environment in Pierce County with help from backgroundchecks.com. 

Learn more about our county background check options