In the State of California, background screening is quickly becoming a standard practice in many workplaces and businesses. Even across the world, this is also done in most organizations. Organizations are incessantly on the sentry for new ways to lessen their risk, and conducting background screening is an effective and easy way to do so. Anyone doing a background check will tend to rely greatly on criminal records, although court records can be used as well. California criminal records can be requested from the Department of Justice or California Attorney General.