In Maryland, you can check records for the district and circuit courts yourself to do a preliminary criminal and credit screening. You can access those records through the Maryland court system or you can do an online court record search.
* Just be aware that you should request permission to do the background checks first and make sure you get that permission in writing. (Look for a generic employment application that has a background check notification on it.)

* Also, remember that this only covers Maryland courts. Someone who moved to the area recently could have a long rap sheet in another state and you wouldn’t discover any record of it. You should have a professional background check done on your final candidates.

* Driving violations are included and should be considered if the caregiver you are hiring is going to be transporting the patient to the doctor’s office.
* If you’re searching for records on a common name, your best bet would be to use a professional background screening company from the start. Most of these records don’t include birthdates or descriptions.

Posted by on 11.17.2006 • Caregiver Support