According to a recent investigative series in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, between 1.9 and 2.7 million felony fugitives (including rapists and murderers) have eluded capture by crossing state lines.
Companies that unknowingly hire felons or fugitives put themselves at increased risk of embezzlement, fraud, lawsuits and workplace violence. Employers should be alert to the possibility that a fugitive criminal may be hiding in their workplace.
Corporations and hiring managers that engage employment screening experts can dramatically reduce their risk of hiring an employee with a hidden criminal record. Accu-Screen’s in-depth criminal background screening services can give employers that additional peace of mind.
Post-Dispatch reporters found a persistent problem with outstanding warrants across the country. If local or county police departments don’t enter all their warrants in the FBI database, fugitives not listed in the database can escape detection for their prior crimes.
“It’s alarming that so many criminals get away with their crimes and go on to victimize new people in another state,” says Kevin Connell, chief executive officer and founder of Accu-Screen. “Our on-the-ground criminal background searches result in a more accurate ‘criminal hit ratio,’ which prevents these law-breakers from endangering companies.”
Key facts about this national crisis include:
A statewide dragnet across Florida last month dubbed “Operation Orange Crush” led to the arrest of 2,497 fugitives, including those of 113 homicide suspects, 255 sex offenders and 55 gang members. The U.S. Marshalls led a sweep targeted towards the “worst of the worst” offenders. According to the Post Dispatch report, 35% of Felony Warrants in Florida are not entered into the FBI Database.
Organizers of Philadelphia’s “Fugitive Safe Surrender” program were astonished when 1,248 felons turned themselves in at a local church in mid-September. Out of the 1,248 participants, 424 of them were wanted on felony matters. The program was designed to encourage non-violent fugitives to settle their outstanding warrants.
More than one third of all felony warrants are not entered into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database checked by police across the country.
Local police often refuse to pick up fugitives from other states, even when they’re wanted for violent crimes.
“Corporations and hiring managers that engage employment screening experts can dramatically reduce their risk of hiring an employee with a hidden criminal record,” said Connell. “Accu-Screen’s in-depth criminal background screening services can give employers that additional peace of mind.”
Accu-Screen has created a complimentary white paper, “Felons Who Cross State Lines Pose A Hiring Threat,” so that hiring professionals may get additional information on this important topic.
