Criminal Records - Who Checks Them

By Crime Prevention Editor

It is now common for someone looking for work to learn that an employer checks criminal records of prospective new employees ...

Since 9/11, the American public has become much more conscious about security. It is now common for someone looking for work to learn that an employer checks criminal records of prospective new employees. Criminal background checks are now being done by some companies on current employees. As a result, some people are finding that offenses committed many years ago are causing trouble in the present. Additionally, most states have laws requiring professional licensing boards to do criminal record checks to for occupation-related convictions. This practice is leading to youthful offenses, making it difficult for workers to find jobs. Some people are even losing jobs that they have worked at for years.

A company must obtain a prospective employee's written consent before it can run a check and get criminal record information. Read your application carefully. Often the wording for obtaining consent for a criminal record check is written into the job application, though some companies use a separate consent form. Many states have laws limiting how far back they can check for convictions, or limiting the types of convictions they take into account for business or job-related offenses. Even if your record has been expunged, these types of offenses may still come up in a criminal records search. You may want to check with a lawyer to find out how far into the past an employer can look for arrests or convictions.

A state board checks criminal records for license applicants in many occupations. If you are applying for a license as a teacher, health care worker, childcare worker or elder care worker, then you may be subject to a criminal record check. The licensing agency may limit the background check to occupation-related offenses. Having a larceny conviction should not be a problem for someone applying for a license for massage therapy, yet a conviction of prostitution or a sex offense would. If you are trying to obtain a license to work with vulnerable persons, such as children, the sick or the elderly, then criminal record checks can create special problems.

A past criminal offense can create problems for a person who is looking for work. This is true whether an employer is doing a criminal records search or it is a state licensing board that checks criminal records. If the arrest or conviction was in the distant past, then having a clean criminal record in the years since can work in your favor. Having the conviction expunged from your record can also help in getting a job or a professional license. In either case, if you have had a past brush with the law, you should talk to an attorney to find out how offense will affect your being able to find work.

Next article: Blocking Your Records From Becoming County Public Records

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