How far in your past does a company do criminal background check for employment purposes?

A criminal background is a criminal background. If you were prosecuted in the same judicial circuit as you’re applying for a job, it’ll show up whether it was last week or twenty years ago. This is a general rule, but your circuit may have a lower-tech database, or no electronic database at all, in which case old cases may be difficult to track down.

If the crime was in another jurisdiction, it won’t show up on a really quick check, but most employers go deeper in a background check. If the crime was unrelated to your position, though, or was relatively minor, it might not even make a difference.

My advice, painful as it may be, is do not lie or omit. That will guarantee you won’t be employed. Criminal convictions often will not bar you from jobs. Getting caught in a lie will—even after you are employed successfully.

Alos, in today’s connected world of databases, the background checks go pretty far and pretty deep.

When I do background checks, it goes back to birth, including juvenile, and it is nationwide.

We deal with a lot of personal information as well as handling thousands of dollars belonging to the customers, so we are very careful who we hire.

Depends on the job.
And even if there is something in your background, some employers give you a chance to explain or consider how far in your past it was or how serious. Just don’t lie.

When we look at background, we will allow some spotted past, and still hire. One lie or deception and your gone. It is more important to be honest.