Across the Hudson River and just to the north of New York City and its metropolitan area, Rockland County is a dense suburban zone with a population of about 338,000. Nearby counties include Orange, Putnam, and Westchester in New York, and Bergen and Passaic counties in New Jersey. Notable employers include Costco, UPS, and Pfizer.
Because of its proximity to New York City, Rockland County often attracts people who want to live near the city but not within its boundaries. As a result, the county continues to see consistent growth and an influx of new job-seekers. For employers, this presents a dilemma. On the one hand, it is easier to fill open positions and scout for new talent. On the other hand, you will be more likely to encounter individuals who may not be suitable to work in your business. Screening applicants carefully is critical, and the criminal background check process is vital for understanding who to hire.
Though Rockland County is just up the Hudson River from New York City, it is not a formal part of the city's government structure. Since it is not an element of the city itself, NYC's "ban the box" and "fair chance" laws do not apply here. Employers within the city, however, should review their extensive obligations under the law. In Rockland County, there are no such rules. There is not yet a statewide law banning the box for private employers.
Even so, you must take care to comply with other rules and regulations regarding background checks and hiring. This includes the requirements set forth by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA. You must obtain an applicant's written consent and provide them with a standalone disclosure containing standardized information about their rights. You must also follow all the rules regarding taking adverse action.
One important note about other forms of pre-employment vetting: New York state does not allow employers to drug test candidates for the presence of marijuana. Additionally, you cannot deny someone a job solely based on a positive test for marijuana.
Many hiring managers prefer to cast a wide net to start the vetting process, looking for records in as many places as possible. The US OneSEARCH is an excellent fit for this task. It provides nearly instant results from our constantly-maintained criminal records database sourced from law enforcement and courts nationwide. See our online coverage map for full source information. However, not every jurisdiction is included in this tool, and you may need to take extra steps in some places. Rockland County is one such place.
To access criminal records from Rockland County itself, you must use the service provided by the New York State Office of Court Administration. The OCA's statewide search of criminal history records includes Rockland and costs $95. Please note that a separate background check package exists explicitly for the New York City area. Request these reports online from the OCA, or mail in your request.
Background reports sourced from county court records may include the subject's:
Make the most of every hiring opportunity in Rockland County. Start building a better background check process for operating in the New York City metropolitan area today with our help.