Nevada Sex Offender Registry Alert

Dear Clients,

Universal Background Screening has been informed that the Nevada Department of Public Safety is prohibiting the use of their public sex offender registry information for "commercial purposes" and any "distribution for business purposes will be prosecuted under the law." We are extremely disappointed that the Nevada Department of Public Safety is, in our opinion, taking a stance that may actually harm both the public and employers.

Based on the Nevada Department of Public Safety's policy, Universal Background Screening is no longer able to provide records from the Nevada Sex Offender Registry as part of our USA OffenderSearch and USA CriminalSearch PLUS databases.

Please also be advised that Nevada Revised Statutes 179B.270 also restricts the use of sex offender registration information obtained from the registry for "employment" and "housing or accommodations" and imposes a penalty of $25,000 for violations. We encourage you to seek the advise of your legal counsel before searching the registry directly and/or using registry information in conjunction with an employment decision.

I encourage you to contact the State of Nevada to share any concerns you may have about their policy to restrict use of this important information as part of a background check. We have established a form below that makes it easy to send an email to the Nevada Legislature and Nevada Sex Offender Registry.

Universal Background Screening is working with our colleagues and our industry group, the National Association of Professional Background Screeners, to review what additional options may be available to provide this vital public safety information to our clients. We will keep you advised of any new developments.

Sincerely,

Ryan Krostue
Chief Executive Officer
Universal Background Screening, Inc.