Covid-19's impact on applicant screening services.

Updated 03/23/2020

In these unusual times of the Covid-19 pandemic, every industry will experience unique effects on their daily operations and capabilities. At SafeScreener we are prioritized on the wellbeing of our employees. Those who are able to work from home within the parameters of our security protocols will do so to take care of their children and for mandated social distancing. We anticipate remaining fully staffed.

In regards to service delays. We are monitoring possible delays for the following services…

Education Verifications: As many states are requiring schools and universities to close or temporarily adopt an e-learning platform, we expect some delays. We will have a clearer picture in days to come as to what percentage of schools maintain staff to assist our researchers.
Employment Verifications: Currently most businesses are staffed either on-site or remotely. We are hoping that this service will not be greatly impacted but will update our clients as we know more.
County Court Research: We are receiving many notices from around the United States regarding county courts restricting on-site services for an undetermined amount of time. Many of these courts can be accessed remotely but some will inaccessible for an undetermined length of time. Please see the following list of court closers around the United States that we are aware of at the time.

KNOWN COURT CLOSURES AS OF 03/23/2020

STATE		UPDATE
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas		As of now, the following county courts are closed (Clerk’s window is closed). Searches can still be done, but files cannot be ordered until further notice: *Benton, Pulaski, Washington*
California		As of now, the following county courts are closed until further notice: *Los Angeles, Ventura, San JoaquinThe following counties PAT are inaccessible to public. They will not reopen until further notice: Humboldt,* *Lake, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Sierra, TehamaThe following counties PAT are accessible, but clerk counters are closed: Alameda, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Lassen, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacremento, San Benito,* *San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Sierra, Solano, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo*Puolumne: Has PAT, clerks are still availableStanislaus: Has PAT, clerks available, limited hours starting this week, 8a-12p.
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware		All county courts that are closed to the public with no access for researchers until 4/15/2020
Florida		The following county courts that are closed to the public with no access for researchers until further notice: Bay, Charlotte, Clay, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Leon, Putnam, St. Lucie, UnionThe following county courts that are closed to the public with no access for researchers until 3/27/2020: Miami Dade, OrangeThe following county courts that are closed to the public with no access for researchers until 3/30/2020: BrowardThe following county courts that are closed to the public with no access for researchers until 4/6/2020: Volusia
Georgia		As of now, the following counties PAT are inaccessible to the public. They will not reopen until further notice: Baker, Brooks, Bullock, Burke, Clinch, Crawford, Dawson, Evans, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Hancock, Haralson, Henry, Jefferson, Liberty, Long, Marion, McIntosh, Mitchell, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Peach, Pickens, Polk, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Terrell, WashingtonFor the following counties the PAT is still accessible. However, the clerk counters are closed. So, for now, searches that are clear on the PAT can still be done and will be returned. Records and possible records cannot be completed until the clerk counters are reopened. There is no eta for when this will happen: Bibb, Bryan, Butts, Catoosa, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Dade, Dougherty, Fayette, Gordon, Grady, Gwinnett, Harris, Heard, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Lamar, Lee, Liberty, Lowndes, Madison, Oconee, Richmond, Spalding, Toombs, Walker, Whitfield
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois		As of now, the following counties courts are closed to the public (clerk’s window is closed). Searches can still be done, but files can not be ordered until further notice: *Kane, Cook*
Indiana		Most county courts are open, but on a limited basis. Clerks are in their office.
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky		All county courts are closed to the public effective immediately, and all hearings will be done remotely, until further notice. Clerks will continue to work. It is up to the individual counties as to whether the public access terminals will remain open. The following county courts that are closed to the public with no access for researchers until further notice: Allen, Barren, Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Breckenridge, Bullitt, Butler, Calloway, Carter, Christian, Clark, Clinton, Crittenden, Davies, Estill, Floyd, Franklin, Grant, Graves, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Hancock, Hardin, Harlan, Harrison, Hopkins, Jefferson, Knox, Knott, Lincoln, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McCracken, McCreary, McLean, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nicholas, Ohio, Owen, Pendleton, Powell, Robertson, Rowan, Scott, Simpson, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster,Woodford
Louisiana		The following county courts that are closed to the public with no access for researchers until further notice: *Allen, Assumption, Bossier, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson Davis, Livingston, Pointe Cope, Rapides, St. James, St. John the Baptist, WashingtonThe following county courts are closed to the public. Searches can still be done. However, files cannot be ordered until further notice: Orleans*
Maine		All courts in all counties are closed until further notice.
Maryland		All courts are closed to the public. Searches can still be done. However, files cannot be ordered until further notice.
Massachusetts		All courts closed until further notice. No searches are possible at this time.
Michigan		The courts in the following counties are closed to the public effective immediately, until further notice: Allegan, Alpena, *Bay,* *Delta, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Iosco, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, Luce, Marquette, Muskegon, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Ottawa, Roscommon, Saint Joseph, Tuscola, WashtenawThe following counties the PAT are still accessible. However, the clerk’s counters are closed. So, for now, searches that are clear on the PAT can still be done and will be returned. Records and possible records cannot be completed until the clerk counters are reopened. There is no eta for when this will happen: Atrim,* Calhoun, Cass, Cheboygan, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Gratioit, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Leelanau, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Montmorency, Muskegon, Presque Isle, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Van Buren, WayneThis court has seen a great reduction in staff, causing delays, until further notice: *Schoolcraft*
Minnesota		All Minnesota Courthouse PAT are inaccessible to the public by Minnesota Supreme Court administrative order ADM20-8001. This order went into effect as of today 3/23/2020 and will be in effect until at least 4/22/2020.
Mississippi		As of now, the following county courts PAT are inaccessible to the public. They will not reopen util further notice: *Itawamba, HarrisonAs for now, the following county courts are either greatly restricting the number of researchers using public terminals, or they are closing PAT and making all searches clerk assisted searches, causing delays, until further notice: Hinds, Leake*
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey		All courts are closed to the public and no searched can be done until further notice.
New Mexico
New York		The courts in the following counties are closed to the public, and no searches can be done until further notice: *Albany, Cattaraugus, Franklin, Otsego, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Washington, YatesFor this county, court staff has been reduced significantly. This will delay results significantly: Rensselaer*For NY OCA searches – staff has been reduced in numbers, causing severe delays.
North Carolina		The courts are closed but researchers will have the ability to obtain public access remotely so the only delays will be on orders that require clerk assistance.
North Dakota
Ohio		The courts in the following counties are closed to the public, and no searches can be done until further notice: Hamilton, Harrison
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania		The following counties the courts are closed to the public .(Clerk’s window is closed.) Searches can still be done. However, files cannot be ordered until further notice: *Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia*
Rhode Island		All counties the courts are closed to the public. Searches can still be done. However, files cannot be ordered until further notice.
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee		The courts in the following counties are closed to the public effective immediately, and no searches can be done until further notice: Benton, Bradley, Cheathanm Coffee, Gibson, Grainger, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin. Henderson, Hickman, Lake, Lauren, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, Madison, Marshall, McMinn, Moore, Polk, Sequatchie, Stewart, WayneThe following counties the PAT is still accessible. However, the clerk counters are closed. So, for now, searches that are clear on the PAT can still be done and will be returned. Records and possible records cannot be completed until the clerk counters are reopened. There is no eta for when this will happen: *Giles, Robertson*
Texas		The courts in the following counties are closed to the public effective immediately, and no searches can be done until further notice: *Callahan, Camp, Comal, OrangeThe following counties the PAT is still accessible. However, the clerk counters are closed: Potter*
Utah
Vermont		For all counties, public access to court records has been greatly restricted. Turnaround times will be adversely affected.
Virginia		The following county courts are closed to the public. (Clerk’s window is closed.) Searches can still be done. However, files cannot be ordered until further notice: *Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Hanover, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Richmond, Wise*
Washington
West Virginia		The courts in the following counties are closed to the public, and no searches can be done until further notice: Callahan, Camp, Comal, Jefferson, Kanawha, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Pendleton, Putnam
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Many of the additional searches that make up our client’s various screening packages are database driven and should remain unaffected. Of course, if you have questions or concerns reach out to us. We’re here to help! You can reach us at support@safescreener.com or 888-578-8600x100. Please be safe and keep washing those hands!

Covid-19’s impact on applicant screening services.