Background check checklist: References, addresses, and financial disclosures (F-3) for Randolph County Jail applicants

Form F-3 is the State of Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training Personal History Statement. It's part of the background process, and everything you write will be checked. The instructions are direct: fill it out completely and accurately. Incorrect statements can disqualify you from the job - or get you removed later.

One section asks for five people who can speak to your character, ability, experience, and personality. These can't be relatives or past employers. Think mentors, long-time friends, teachers, coaches, clergy, or neighbors - people who actually know you well enough to answer detailed questions about you.

• ✓ Full name
• ✓ Current address
• ✓ Telephone number
• ✓ How they know you (relationship)
• ✓ How long they’ve known you (years)

The residences section covers the past 10 years. Start with your current address at the top, then work backward. The goal is a clean timeline with no gaps - every move accounted for, in order.

1. Pull records that show where you lived - leases, mortgage paperwork, and old utility bills can help you confirm exact street addresses and the months/years you lived there.
2. Write your current address first - then work backward through the last 10 years so the timeline stays in the order the form expects.
3. Use your best dates if you can’t remember the exact month - the form is organized by “from” and “to” month/year, so estimate carefully and keep the sequence consistent.
4. Add landlord information when you have it - the residences table includes a landlord field, so include it if it’s available to you.
5. Account for every gap - if there’s a stretch where you stayed with family, couch-surfed, or moved around, list what you can so the 10-year history is continuous.

The F-3 includes financial and work-related disclosures that go faster if you gather details beforehand. You'll answer whether you own or are buying your home, whether there's a mortgage, and list the bank or company along with city and state. There are also questions about business ownership - whether you've ever been an owner, partner, or corporate board member - and whether you've been discharged or forced to resign due to misconduct or unsatisfactory service. Both require explanations if applicable.

• ✓ Home ownership/buying status and whether there is a mortgage
• ✓ Mortgage lender/bank or company name, plus city and state
• ✓ Any business involvement details (owner, partner, or corporate board member)
• ✓ Any discharge or forced resignation details tied to misconduct or unsatisfactory service

There's also a question about whether any immediate family member has been arrested for or convicted of a felony. If yes, you'll need to provide details: date, location, charge, and disposition. If no, mark it and move on.

Practical Checklist

• ✓ Five non-relative, non–past employer references (name, address, phone, relationship, years known)
• ✓ A 10-year address timeline (present address first), with supporting records if you have them
• ✓ Landlord information for each address (when available)
• ✓ Home ownership/buying status and mortgage details
• ✓ Mortgage bank/company name and the city/state

1. Gather your reference list - pick five responsible people who aren’t relatives or past employers, then confirm their current contact details.
2. Build your 10-year address history - start with your present address at the top and work backward, using records to confirm addresses and dates.
3. Write down your mortgage and bank/company details - the form asks for the lender/bank or company and the city/state.
4. Draft your business and separation explanations - if you’ve been an owner/partner/board member, or if you were discharged or forced to resign for misconduct or unsatisfactory service, prepare the details so you can answer cleanly.
5. Review for completeness and accuracy - the instructions emphasize that statements are verified and incorrect statements can affect employment, so do a final pass for missing dates, gaps, or skipped questions.

Before submitting your F-3, take time for a final accuracy check. The instructions are clear: complete it fully, expect verification, and understand that incorrect statements can cost you the job - now or later.