Can Background Checks See Pending Charges

In many states, employers are not allowed to consider arrest record information when making hiring decisions. The idea is that convictions offer proof of guilt while arrests offer no such concrete evidence. As a result, laws often bar hiring managers from considering arrests or dismissed charges when deciding whether to hire a candidate. When happens when a candidate has pending charges on his or her record? Do those charges show up on a background check report, or are they considered arrest information and consequently unusable in many hiring situations?

Criminal Acts by Professional Care Workers Highlight Widespread Hiring Concerns

Incidents in two states have put the spotlight on some of the current dangers enabled by hiring practices for healthcare support professionals.

How Far Back Do Criminal History Checks Go?

How far back do criminal history checks go? If you have a criminal conviction on your record, you might be wondering how likely it is that conviction will impact your employment chances. The recency of the conviction matters: most employers will consider criminal history based on how relevant it is to the job at hand, how long ago it occurred, and whether there have been any repeat offenses since. An older conviction is not only less likely to influence a hiring manager’s decision but also less likely to appear on a background check at all.