Free volunteer
background check.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal for a church to run background checks on volunteers?

Yes. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) permits nonprofit and religious organizations to run background checks on volunteers when there is a legitimate duty of care — such as working with children, youth, or vulnerable adults. The volunteer must be informed that a check may be conducted, and the organization must certify permissible purpose before running the report.

What is an SSN address history trace?

An SSN trace (also called address history) uses a person's Social Security Number to verify their identity and return a list of addresses they have lived at over time. It confirms the volunteer is who they say they are and provides the address history needed to run a complete criminal background check in each jurisdiction where they have lived.

What does the free report include?

The free SSN address history report includes all addresses associated with the volunteer's Social Security Number, the state and approximate year the SSN was issued, and whether the SSN appears in any death index. Create a free HolyJot church account to unlock the full report. An optional national criminal background check is available for $9.

Is the SSN secure?

Yes. The SSN is transmitted over HTTPS, used only to run the SSN trace query, and is never stored by HolyJot. The search is processed through Data Divers, a licensed consumer reporting agency that services law enforcement, nonprofits, and background screening companies.

What is the $9 national criminal check?

For $9, HolyJot runs a FCRA-compliant MultistateFull national criminal background check via Data Divers. This covers county, state, and national criminal databases across all 50 states with a 7-year lookback. Results are typically returned within 24–72 hours and exclude arrests, dismissed cases, infractions, and traffic offenses as required by FCRA.