The background screening process with our CRA (credit reporting agency) partner involves a search of a database composed of sources from in-state and out-of-state agencies. It is currently the largest online database in the country.

In-state sources for Texas include the DPS, Texas Dept of Criminal Justice, Texas Sex-Offender Registry and County sources that report to DPS. Out-of-state sources include criminal history from 49 other states, the District of Columbia and numerous Federally maintained lists.

The common method for searching all these sources is the applicant's Name and Date of Birth. While DPS may use TxDL for arrests through their agency, not all in-state agencies in Texas report arrest/prosecution/disposition associated with a TxDL, but ALL do report with Name and Date of Birth.

When there's a duplicate of Name and Date of Birth, then an additional identifying piece of information is required. In the case of our CRA partner that information is the SSN of the volunteer. However, since duplicate Name and Date of Birth situations are rare (typically 1 - 2% of a database), we do not require an SSN for all volunteers. We only require an SSN when our CRA alerts us to a duplicate.