What exactly is a comprehensive background check?

Question

It's for a job I might be getting at a police station, but not as a cop, in the office, they said if I passed the first interview the next one will be the comprehensive background check. I know they will be checking to see if I have a criminal record or not, which I do not. I've never been in trouble with the police at all. My question is, do they just check me, or do they check my family, how far back do they go and what exactly are they looking for? Both of my brothers have records that are over 25 years old and I'm just wondering if some of that will come up. What they did when they were young has nothing to do with me and I don't want anything held against me for something I didn't do. Does anyone know what they do actually check? I'm Canadian by the way, so it might be a bit different from the States.

Answer 1

Well, in the U.S. what your relatives have done, usually would not affect whether or not you get a job somewhere.  If you have no criminal record, you pretty much have nothing to worry.  Below is what a comprehensive background check is.

Answer 2

Yes, they will do background checks on family members and friends.  They may even interview some them to find out about your character.  They are not going to hold a crime someone in your family did 25 years ago, but has a good record since.  They would pass you up if they found out someone in your family was currently selling drugs or something like that.