Criminal Record - Common Questions Answered

Are juvenile criminal records available for employers to see?

When a juvenile (anyone beneath the age of eighteen) is arrested and charged with a crime, that crime is added to their criminal record. In most cases the record becomes expunged when they reach the age of eighteen and it is simply as if the record does not exist. There are however some exceptions as law enforcement personnel can always have access to previous juvenile records especially if the teenager is repeating erroneous behavior such as those that got him or her into trouble to begin with. Felonies may remain on the record even past eighteen especially if the person has been charged as an adult.

What is a criminal record used for in the United States?

A criminal record is used to record any criminal activities that an individual has participated in and been convicted. It allows the authorities to have a detailed criminal background of the individual. There are some jobs that require a clear criminal background such as those with the government. Many jobs can deny a person based on this criminal background if security is an issue.

Can a job discriminate due to me having a criminal record?

Most job applications have an area where you are to check whether or not you have a felony conviction. Many jobs are now requiring you to mention if you have a misdemeanor as well. Jobs are not supposed to discriminate based on any information but there will be some jobs that you may not be able to obtain with a criminal record. If you have a DUI on your record, you may not be able to obtain a job in the transportation industry. If you are a known bank robber you can probably count out a bank job.

What different types of databases are used for criminal records?

There are several different databases used for criminal records. A criminal record can be obtained through fingerprints, DNA or through a paper background. The different databases are: NCIC, NICS, IAFIS, and CODIS. That might seem like a lot of acronyms but once you get them down you will understand what each does. The NCIC is the National Crime Information Center. This is the database used to see if you have a criminal record that is on file with the FBI. The NICS (the National Instant Criminal Background Check System) is used to determine qualifiers for gun ownership. The Integrated Automated Fingerprint System (IAFIS) is a national database that houses fingerprints from not only citizens of this country but those who come over into the United States and have been fingerprinted. CODIS (Combined DNS Index System) is used to identify DNA samples from convicted felons. It also stores unidentified DNA as well when it is discovered at a crime scene.