Many background checks start with a database search. Databases are useful, but they are compiled from county and state feeds that can lag behind the courthouse, miss filings, or match records to the wrong person when names are similar. That is why a database hit should be confirmed against the original source record before it is reported.

What the law expects

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires consumer reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information they report. In practice, that means treating a database result as a lead and verifying it with the court or agency that holds the record.

In the courts: Fraase v. Advantage Credit Bureau

In June 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit addressed source accuracy in Fraase v. Advantage Credit Bureau. A court’s own records had combined an applicant with his twin brother under a single case number. The screening company was not held liable, because it had searched an official source accurately and followed documented procedures.

The lesson is not that official records are always right. It is that reliance on an official source protects a screening provider only when its search terms, the source searched, and its matching criteria are documented at the time the search is done.

What this means for employers

• Ask your screening provider how database results are verified before they are reported.
• Expect reports to identify the source of each record.
• Give applicants a clear way to dispute information, because errors can originate at the source.

Horizon verifies material findings through official court records and primary sources whenever reasonably possible. Learn more about our Criminal Background Searches and our Employment Screening Compliance Resources.

General information only — confirm your specific process with qualified employment counsel.

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