One thing that many people are unaware of is the fact that, in many areas, it is illegal for an individual or a business to conduct a background check on a person without obtaining their permission first.  In most cases, the authorization for criminal background check is provided as part of the employment application process, when an individual is asked to provide their personal information and sign a form consenting to the background check.  

Most companies find their forms for authorizing a criminal background check on the internet, mainly on websites that also offer to conduct the background check for a nominal fee.  This authorization for criminal background check form is placed into the applicant's permanent employment file once they have been hired by the company.

There are many different forms for an authorization for criminal background check and the one that is chosen for use by the company depends on the industry the company belongs to and the level of security needed for the position that is being filled.  Some companies choose to use one form for all employees while some other companies use one type of form for base employees and a more detailed form when hiring for managerial positions.