Smart Screen™ Powered by Equifax® Helps New York Employers Cut Background Check Fees

ClearStar – a global Human Resources (HR) technology company that has specialized in background checks, drug testing, and occupational health screening for 30 years – is proud to offer Smart Screen™ Powered by Equifax®, a transformative criminal background check solution that can reduce screening costs for employers, especially those in New York State.

Employers using background checks for hiring in New York State must pay a $95.00 fee for a New York State Office of Court Administration (NYS OCA) Criminal History Record Search for each job candidate. Smart Screen pre-screens candidates and instantly determines if they have no records in incarceration or sex offender registry databases, avoiding NYS OCA fees.

Smart Screen is a first-of-its-kind screening solution that can provide a more efficient first step to criminal background checks. By leveraging expansive proprietary networks for U.S. incarceration data and sex offender registry data, Smart Screen delivers a consumer report instantly for candidates who have no associated records in these networks. Smart Screen helps employers:

• Hire Faster – Smart Screen helps speed up time-to-hire by moving a job applicant forward within seconds as opposed to traditional methods that may require days or even weeks of research.
• Reduce Work – Smart Screen helps reduce the need for additional manual research for individuals without incarceration and sex offender records in the associated networks, saving time and money.
• Simplify Processes – Smart Screen leverages unique datasets and incorporates consumer identity information, in a separate output alongside the consumer report output, where available.
• Hire with Confidence – A Smart Screen consumer report is governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A Smart Screen report of “no incarceration or sex offender records found” is a consumer report and may only be used for an FCRA permissible purpose.

When Smart Screen indicates more research is needed due to coverage, risk, or other key factors, ClearStar’s implementation of Smart Screen facilitates a more thorough research process, ensuring a more holistic and efficient approach to criminal background screening. Smart Screen enables employers to make informed hiring decisions more quickly and confidently.

Smart Screen’s incarceration data network covers approximately 1,900+ County jails, 30+ State prison systems, and 185 million records in the database. Smart Screen’s sex offender data network covers approximately 50+ Sex Offender Registries. To learn more or request additional information about Smart Screen, please visit www.clearstar.net/smartscreen.

“The relationship between ClearStar and Equifax combines ClearStar’s extensive market reach and customer relationships with extensive data resources and technological innovation from Equifax to deliver Smart Screen to ClearStar’s clients, a compelling offering for businesses seeking more streamlined and efficient background checks,” according to a ClearStar press release.

“The synergy between ClearStar and Equifax is transforming the background screening landscape,” said ClearStar CEO Michael Pritts. “With unparalleled capabilities from Equifax and our dedication to excellence in human resources technology, we are delivering a groundbreaking solution that helps redefine how employers conduct criminal background checks.”

A founding and accredited member of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA), ClearStar has provided background screening solutions to the Human Capital Management (HCM) industry from its corporate offices in Alpharetta, Georgia, since 1995 and is celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary in 2025. To learn more, please contact ClearStar.

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At ClearStar, we are committed to your success. An important part of your employment screening program involves compliance with various laws and regulations, which is why we are providing information regarding screening requirements in certain countries, region, etc. While we are happy to provide you with this information, it is your responsibility to comply with applicable laws and to understand how such information pertains to your employment screening program. The foregoing information is not offered as legal advice but is instead offered for informational purposes. ClearStar is not a law firm and does not offer legal advice and this communication does not form an attorney client relationship. The foregoing information is therefore not intended as a substitute for the legal advice of a lawyer knowledgeable of the user’s individual circumstances or to provide legal advice. ClearStar makes no assurances regarding the accuracy, completeness, or utility of the information contained in this publication. Legislative, regulatory and case law developments regularly impact on general research and this area is evolving rapidly. ClearStar expressly disclaim any warranties or responsibility or damages associated with or arising out of the information provided herein.