Why do police departments ask this question

[wolve]

Police departments normaly ask applicants there past residences from before. Is there any particular reason why law enforcement agencies ask this from an applicant. Ive been living in my residence for about 16 years. I was just curious why this question is asked.

[mcsap]

For the following reasons..

1. Moving around a lot may be an indicator of a problem, not paying rent, constant domestics, getting evicted. All of these would not be favorable in your background.

2. They may want to interview your neighbors, they know more about you than you think.

3. Some arrests are local and are not archived on a FBI criminal history. The only way to find out about them is to ask the local PD where you lived. This would include some summary criminal violations as Public Drunk, Disorderly Conduct, etc.

[ogdogg16]

Geez I don't know if I like that...I just graduated college and for a semester I lived off campus. One side was students, the other side was a shady family, and the three houses across the street are known drug houses. If the po-lice show up there I don't know what they would say or do lol!

[rdp]

We also archive all of our events.....this gives us the ability to search an address to see if we have been there before.