Counties fail to update cases in Texas’ crime database
This article is a very scary reminder that the so-called statewide criminal databases are enough of a check for employment purposes. Far too often, employers rely on these “statewide” systems to make important hiring decisions and are not aware of the huge holes left in the system.
In this instance, the database is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and still only has about 69% of criminal records statewide. This is alarming if you think about how many employers do not realize the deficiencies. Now imagine a private company that maintains a database: how accurate can that be if the DPS in a state can’t get it right?
The reason for the lack of data is due to the burden being on the county courts. The county court is the only true record keeper. If the county court has to maintain the records, why then should they have to send that data to the state? That is a question that many counties have asked and simply do it when they get around to it.
I am not saying these checks are worthless, but I am saying they are not perfect! In my opinion, we should be conducting a county by county search for every applicant, based upon their residential history and perhaps couple it with the “statewide” search.
AUSTIN – The state’s criminal database, riddled with holes four years ago, has just as many gaps today.
Although officials in Dallas and other poorly reporting counties promised in 2004 to do better, the Department of Public Safety says counties in the most recent assessment submitted outcomes on just 69 percent of criminal charges – the same percentage as before.
“That’s astonishing. That’s leaving a substantial total number of criminals unreported in the system,” said John Bradley, Williamson County district attorney. “That’s the biggest threat to public safety that you can imagine, particularly in a post-9/11 time when we rely on databases to protect the public.”
