San Mateo County, California

San Mateo County is a part of the San Francisco metro area with a population of about 760,000. Adjacent counties include Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco. Vital San Mateo County employers include Facebook, Oracle, and Visa. 

Home to a dizzying array of tech companies, San Mateo County consistently attracts talented individuals from throughout California. Businesses based here have a vibrant labor market to draw on whenever they open new positions.  

With so many individuals pulling up their stakes and resettling in San Mateo, there’s no immediate way for a business to know whether an applicant is trustworthy. An applicant arriving with a stellar resume may not have such a flawless history. Interviews will only go so far—hiring managers must supplement this information with hard data that they procure through criminal background checks. 

Smart hiring choices only come through examining criminal history data and using it as one critical factor among others in your considerations. Making a fair, fully-informed decision is your right as a business owner and a choice that reduces negligent hiring liabilities. 

Where can you find the job applicant data that you need? It’s easier than you think: start by looking locally, searching for records held by the courts in San Mateo. If you find that your subject has a relevant rap sheet at this level, you may consider moving to another applicant. Keep in mind that a lack of local records isn’t conclusive proof: thoroughness in hiring demands an additional search of nationwide records. 

Before taking any of these steps, ensure that you understand California’s “ban the box” law and its prohibitions. You may not ask a subject about their criminal history during interviews or on paper applications. To conduct a background check on a subject, you must extend a conditional offer of employment first. With the applicant’s consent, and after determining their suitability, you may conduct a background check for additional insights.  

If you uncover a criminal history, you cannot immediately disqualify the candidate. You must consider factors including any potential relationship between the crime and the position, efforts made towards rehabilitation, and the age of the conviction. If you issue a rejection for a criminal history, applicants can appeal. 

With an understanding of these obligations, equip yourself with the tools for fast online vetting through backgroundchecks.com. Explore San Mateo County’s records quickly with our county-level background check, then move to the entire nation via our US OneSEARCH. Reach each stage of the hiring process without introducing additional delays. 

These background check products draw upon information sourced from state and local authorities unaffiliated with backgroundchecks.com. Data is subject to change. For sensitive job roles requiring the most current information, we offer on-site courthouse record searches upon request. We make results available within three working days. 

These tools source their data from the: 

• California Department of Corrections – Felony records for paroled offenders, updated semi-annually
• California Sex Offender Registry – Updated bi-weekly
• San Mateo County Superior Court – Felony and misdemeanor records from 1999-present, updated monthly  

These reports may contain a subject’s: 

• Name
• Offense
• Sentence  

Tap into San Mateo County’s vibrant labor market faster and more easily with innovative tools from backgroundchecks.com.

Learn more about our county background check options