Quick Answer
A federal criminal background check searches U.S. District Court records for federal criminal cases, such as fraud, embezzlement, drug trafficking and other federal offenses. Because federal cases are separate from state and county court systems, a Federal Search fills a gap that other criminal searches miss.
What Federal Records Include
Federal criminal cases involve violations of federal law, for example mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, tax crimes, certain drug and firearms offenses, and crimes on federal property. These cases are filed in the 94 federal judicial districts. Searches cover the federal districts tied to where the applicant has lived.
Who Should Include a Federal Search
- Roles that handle money, financial data or sensitive information.
- Government contractors and regulated industries.
- Any employer that wants a complete criminal picture, since federal cases are not in county or state results.
Included in Every Standard Package
All SaffHire standard packages include SSN Trace, Address History, National Criminal Database, Global Security Watch List and Federal Search. See Standard Packages & Turnaround. There are no setup fees and no minimums.
Before ordering, the employer gives the applicant a standalone written disclosure and gets written authorization; SaffHire's invitation workflow collects both electronically. Employers remain responsible for their own hiring decisions and legal compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Federal Search included in SaffHire packages?
Yes. All standard packages include a Federal Search, along with SSN Trace, Address History, National Criminal Database and Global Security Watch List.
Why isn't a federal case in a county search?
Federal cases are filed in U.S. District Courts, which are a separate court system from state and county courts.
How long does a package with a Federal Search take?
Standard Packages 1-3 average 1 day, Package 4 averages 1-2 days, and Packages 5 and 6 average 2-5 days. Individual results can vary.