指纹背景调查通常被认为是员工背景调查中犯罪历史筛查的黄金标准。许多人认为所有犯罪记录都与指纹数据相关联，因此指纹识别可以产生广泛、近乎全面的背景调查结果，而简单的基于姓名的调查可能不会。然而，指纹背景调查与其他类型的背景调查 有许多相同的限制——包括它们可以追溯到多远。 

最常见的指纹背景检查类型是通过 FBI 的集成自动指纹识别系统 (IAFIS) 运行的类型。IAFIS 是美国本土最大的指纹信息数据库，涵盖超过 7000 万条犯罪记录。它包括有关因非犯罪原因采集指纹的个人的信息——例如，受雇于联邦政府或在美国军队服役的人员通常会进行指纹采集。 

尤其是在 FBI 指纹数据库的背景下，回答指纹背景调查可以追溯到多远的问题很复杂。大多数州都有法律限制任何 背景调查可以追溯到 多远。在进行员工背景调查时，雇主必须遵守所在州的法律——其中许多法律不允许报告超过七年的犯罪历史信息。 

从技术上讲，FBI 指纹检查可以追溯到一个人的记录。支票只是提取与相关指纹相关的任何数据——包括个人信息（姓名、地址、家庭成员等）或犯罪历史信息。没有联邦法律限制刑事检查可以追溯到多远，这导致了对 FBI 指纹检查和报告限制的一些混淆。 

另一个复杂因素是，并非任何雇主都可以访问 FBI 数据库。该数据库最初是为执法目的而设计的，目前仍主要供警察部门和其他政府实体（如许可机构和公立学校系统）访问。 

如果您的企业打算进行指纹背景调查以筛选潜在员工，请在审查结果时遵守所有州法律。如果报告中显示的定罪存在于您所在州强制执行的报告时限之外，您不应将其视为招聘决定的一部分。

have many of the same limitations that other types of background checks do—including in how far back they can go. 

The most common type of fingerprint background check is the type run through the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). IAFIS is the largest database of fingerprint information on United States soil, spanning more than 70 million criminal records. It includes information on individuals who have been fingerprinted for non-criminal reasons—for instance, those employed by the federal government or serving with the U.S. military will typically go through fingerprinting. 

Especially in the context of the FBI fingerprint database, answering the question of how far back a fingerprint background check goes is complicated. Most states have laws that restrict how far back any background check can go. When conducting employee background checks, employers must comply with the laws in their state—many of which do not allow reporting of criminal history information that is more than seven years old. 

Technically, an FBI fingerprint check can go back as far as a person’s record goes. The check simply pulls any data associated with the fingerprint in question—be in personal information (name, address, family members, etc.) or criminal history information. There is no federal law that limits how far back criminal checks can go, which leads to some confusion regarding FBI fingerprint checks and reporting limits. 

Another complicating factor is that not just any employer can access the FBI database. The database was initially intended for law enforcement purposes and is still mostly only accessible to police departments and other government entities (such as licensing bodies and public school systems). 

If your business intends to conduct fingerprint background checks to screen potential hires, adhere to all state laws in reviewing the results. If a conviction shown on the report exists outside of the reporting time limit enforced by your state, you should not consider it as part of your hiring decision.