Cohousing-L Mailing List: Background check Screening of Prospective Members

[Jim Bronson (jimbronsonashland]

Thanks to others on this listserv for reflecting on their financial
screening approach.  A similar, currently hot topic for us at River Song is
screening for behavior history, so-called background checks.  We probably
all have encountered the numerous websites that promise to find your person
of interest, investigate their interactions with the law and government,
and give you a report of their misdeeds, including arrests, convictions,
fines, etc.  At RSC we wonder if these sites are accurate, and whether it
is ethical and appropriate to use them to screen for prospective members.

For reference, here is a link to a Seattle Weekly article that suggests 8
sites they have investigated.

https://www.seattleweekly.com/marketplace/top-8-background-checks-sites-to-search-criminal-records-social-media-accounts-educational-history-and-more/

There are many more back-ground check sites advertising through Google
which will pop up when you enter a name search.  I would love to hear from
cohousing membership team folks about this topic.  Thanks.  Jim Bronson -
River Song Cohousing, Eugene, OR