Florida Private Investigator Practice Exam

How is the criminal history check for an applicant conducted?

1. By a local law enforcement agency

2. By the Department of Licensing only

3. By the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI via fingerprints

4. By the applicant providing a self-disclosure

The correct answer is: By the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI via fingerprints

The criminal history check for an applicant is conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the FBI via fingerprints. This method is comprehensive and ensures accuracy by providing a national and state background check based on biometric data, which includes the unique fingerprints of the individual applying for a private investigator license. This process allows for the identification of any past criminal activity, ensuring that individuals with serious offenses are appropriately screened out, upholding public safety and the integrity of the profession. Utilizing fingerprints minimizes the risk of errors that might arise from self-reported disclosures or checks limited to local agencies, as it captures a more complete picture of the applicant's criminal history on both the state and federal levels. Local law enforcement agencies can perform checks but may not have access to all relevant national criminal history information. Meanwhile, the Department of Licensing alone does not conduct these checks, and relying solely on self-disclosure would not provide a satisfactory level of verification, making these options inadequate compared to the fingerprint-based check conducted by FDLE and the FBI.