What You Could Be Missing

Wednesday, February 18th, 2026

Does your background screening package include a search of Federal records? If not, you could be missing vital information.

In your commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, it would be important to know if a potential staff member or volunteer has been convicted of distributing child pornography, using the internet to entice a minor, or drug trafficking. These types of crimes, among others, would be prosecuted at the Federal level & may not show up on a county level background check.

A case is filed in federal court if the defendant has violated a federal statute. An offense can also fall under federal jurisdiction if the offense occurred on federal property or if state lines were crossed during the commission of the crime.

Each state has its own U.S. District Court that is part of the U.S. federal judiciary. Some states have multiple U.S. District Court locations. There are 94 total U.S. District Courts in the United States.

Common examples of federal crimes include drug trafficking across state lines, distribution of child pornography, mail or wire fraud, bank fraud, tax evasion, public corruption, certain firearms offenses, and enticing a minor over the internet. This list is not all-inclusive; Misdemeanor crimes such as trespassing and driving under the influence can also be federal crimes if the offense occurred on federal property, such as a military base, national park, or federal building.

A comprehensive background check should include a federal records search, every time.

Safe Gatherings’ Approval Package includes this vital component. If you would like to learn more about our Approval Package, or would like to upgrade your current package, please send a message to info@safegatherings.com.