Background investigation management service

Abstract

A web based software system generally designed for processing pre-employment background investigations is described. The software system allows an organization the ability to create and customize electronic documents to be sent to their applicants to complete via the web based software system, and returned in the same fashion. The subject matter turns much of a common pre-employment background investigation electronic, so that fewer hardcopy documents are necessary, thus creating more efficient management of individual background investigations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for a computing device with a processor and a system memory to assist an investigator in conducting a background investigation of an applicant for a position within a first organization, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a first set of program data comprising information identifying the applicant, the position, the first organization, and the investigator;   storing a new applicant entry in the system memory, the new applicant entry associated with the first set of program data; and   generating a suggested reference list of one or more law enforcement agencies around a selected address, wherein the selected address is one of an applicant current residential address, an applicant past address, and a reference source address associated with a reference source, wherein the reference source is a person.   
     
     
         2 . A method for a computing device with a processor and a system memory to assist an investigator in conducting a background investigation of an applicant for a position within a first organization, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a first set of program data comprising information identifying the applicant, the position, the first organization, and the investigator;   storing a new applicant entry in the system memory, the new applicant entry associated with the first set of program data;   searching for a previous applicant entry in the system memory associated with the applicant and a second organization different from the first organization, the previous applicant entry having a second set of program data, the second set of program data comprising information regarding the applicant, the second organization, the position the applicant applied for in the second organization, and status of a previous application the applicant applied for in the second organization; and   presenting the second set of program data to the investigator.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 transmitting an applicant hyperlink to an applicant email address associated with the applicant, the applicant hyperlink for viewing an applicant set of electronic documents; and   presenting to the investigator, prior to transmitting the applicant hyperlink for viewing the applicant set of electronic documents, an option of changing one or more documents in the applicant set of electronic documents.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein one document of the applicant set of electronic documents is an inter-active questionnaire in which a next question presented to the applicant is based on a response to a prior question. 
     
     
         5 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computing device with a system memory, cause the computing device to perform the steps of a method to assist an investigator in conducting a background investigation of an applicant for a position within a first organization, the steps of the method comprising:
 receiving a first set of program data comprising information identifying the applicant, the position, the first organization, and the investigator;   storing a new applicant entry in the system memory, the new applicant entry associated with the first set of program data; and   generating a suggested reference list of one or more law enforcement agencies around a selected address, wherein the selected address is one of an applicant current residential address, an applicant past address, and a reference source address associated with a reference source, wherein the reference source is a person.   
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computing device with a system memory, cause the computing device to perform the steps of a method to assist an investigator in conducting a background investigation of an applicant for a position within a first organization, the steps of the method comprising:
 receiving a first set of program data comprising information identifying the applicant, the position, the first organization, and the investigator;   storing a new applicant entry in the system memory, the new applicant entry associated with the first set of program data;   searching for a previous applicant entry in the system memory associated with the applicant and a second organization different from the first organization, the previous applicant entry having a second set of program data, the second set of program data comprising information regarding the applicant, the second organization, the position the applicant applied for in the second organization, and status of a previous application the applicant applied for in the second organization; and   presenting the second set of program data to the investigator.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , having stored thereon additional instructions which, when executed by the processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform the steps of:
 transmitting an applicant hyperlink to an applicant email address associated with the applicant, the applicant hyperlink for viewing an applicant set of electronic documents; and   presenting to the investigator, prior to transmitting the applicant hyperlink for viewing the applicant set of electronic documents, an option of changing one or more documents in the applicant set of electronic documents.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 ,
 wherein one document of the applicant set of electronic documents is an inter-active questionnaire in which a next question presented to the applicant is based on a response to a prior question.