EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECKS
Asking About Arrest Records:
Guide To State Laws
Please note that as of November 2016, a of number of states and Cities have passed Ban The Box laws.
Are Employers Permitted to Ask Applicants About Or Consider Arrests That Did Not lead To A Conviction on Job Applications?
It depends on the state. See the following guide to states that have laws regulating these arrest records. Unless superceded by a “Ban The Box” law.
States
| |
Alabama | Yes |
Alaska | Yes |
Arizona | Yes |
Arkansas | Yes for private employers; No for both public employers and occupational licensing agencies (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-1-103(c)(1) and (I).) |
California | No (Cal Labor § 432.7 (f)(1), (2); and Cal. Penal §13203).) |
Colorado | Yes, except sealed records (Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 24-72-308(1)(f).) |
Connecticut | No (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-51i).) |
Delaware | Yes |
District of Columbia | Yes, except sealed records or when applying for government job, occupational license, or nominating commissions D.C. Code § §16-803(m); 16-801(11) |
Florida | Yes |
Georgia | Yes |
Hawaii | No Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 831-3.2(e) and 378-2.5 |
Idaho | Yes |
Illinois | No (775 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/2-103).) |
Indiana | Yes, except expunged records IC 35-38-9-10(a)(6b) |
Iowa | Yes |
Kansas | Yes |
Kentucky | Yes |
Louisiana | Yes |
Maine | Yes |
Maryland | Yes |
Massachusetts | No Mass. Regs. Code tit. 804, §§ 3.01 and 3.02 |
Michigan | Yes, however occupational licensing agencies may not consider arrests not leading to conviction Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 37.2205a(1) and 338.43(1) |
Minnesota | Yes |
Mississippi | Yes |
Missouri | Yes |
Montana | No, except for lawful affirmative action and record keeping purposes (Mont. Admin. R. 24.9.1406(1) and (2) (h).) |
Nebraska | Yes |
Nevada | Yes |
New Hampshire | Yes for private employers; No for public employers and occupational licensing agencies (N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 21-l:51 and 332-A:1).) |
New Jersey | Yes |
New Mexico | Yes for private employers; No for both public employers and occupational licensing agencies (N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 28-2-2 and -3(b)(1).) |
New York | No (N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 296(16).) |
North Carolina | Yes |
North Dakota | Yes |
Ohio | Yes, except sealed records |
Oklahoma | Yes, except sealed records |
Oregon | Yes |
Pennsylvania | No |
Rhode Island | No (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 28-5-6 (7) and -7 (7).) |
South Carolina | Yes |
South Dakota | Yes |
Tennessee | Yes |
Texas | Yes |
Utah | No (Utah Admin. R. 606-2-2(U) and (V).) |
Vermont | Yes, except expunged and sealed records (Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 13 § 7606 (b).) |
Virginia | Yes |
Washington | Yes |
West Virginia | Yes |
Wisconsin | No, unless required for bonding (Wis. Stat. §§ 111.325; .335(1)(a) and .335(1)(b).) |
Wyoming | Yes |
Updated October 2019