Hiring the right people and/or approving them for employment, membership or association with your company brand are only the first steps in protecting your organization. But what happens after they are hired or approved? Far too often, businesses, clubs, associations, franchise brands, property management companies and nonprofits assume that a one-time background check at the point of hire or approval is enough. The reality is that circumstances can change at any time — and those changes can put your organization, your customers, the public and your reputation at serious risk.
One striking example involved a Goldman Sachs employee in Ireland. A colleague, who had worked alongside the employee for years, was sentenced to two years in prison by Dublin’s Central Criminal Court in June after pleading guilty to eight counts of sexual assault.
In another case, a broadcast company discovered that a studio manager had continued working at the company for five months after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
That is where criminal monitoring comes in. By continuously monitoring employees, volunteers, franchisees, residents/tenants or members for new criminal convictions, you can reduce risk, respond quickly to red flags, and create a safer environment. Here are five reasons why it truly matters:
- A One-Time Background Check is Not Enough
People’s lives don’t stand still after they are hired. An employee, volunteer, franchisee, member, tenant or contractor with a clean record today could be convicted tomorrow for theft, fraud, violence, or another serious offense, and oftentimes with prison overcrowding, only receive probation Without monitoring, you may never know until it is too late.
- Protecting Customers, Communities, and Reputations
If someone in your workforce engages in egregious behavior, the consequences can ripple beyond your business. Clients, patients, students, or vulnerable populations may be harmed. Beyond that, lawsuits, media coverage, and reputational damage can devastate an organization. Monitoring helps you stay one step ahead.
- Faster Response to Potential Threats
Criminal monitoring gives organizations timely alerts when new criminal convictions occur. Instead of waiting for the next rescreening cycle (or worse, for an incident to happen on the job), you gain the ability to intervene quickly, investigate, and take action.
- Demonstrates a Culture of Safety and Accountability
Employees, customers, franchisees, members and stakeholders want to know that you take safety seriously. By implementing continuous criminal monitoring, you send a clear message: our organization values trust, safety, and proactive risk management. That builds confidence both internally and externally.
- Cost Savings Through Risk Reduction
The financial toll of negligent retention lawsuits, settlements, or compliance penalties can far exceed the cost of criminal monitoring. By preventing incidents before they occur, you reduce liability, protect insurance standing, and avoid costly crises.
Final Thought
Screening at the point of hire or applicant approval is a necessary foundation — but it is not enough. Continuous criminal monitoring ensures you are continually protecting your business, employees, franchise brand, club, apartment and those you serve. In today’s environment, where risk can emerge at any time, continuous criminal monitoring isn’t just a compliance step — It is an act of responsibility.
Posted by: Rudy Troisi, L.P.I., Founder, CEO, Reliable Background Screening and Dr. Alan Lasky, SVP Client Success & Partnerships.
