Criminal records & background checks
What Shows Up on a Criminal Background Check?
Last updated June 16, 2026
Criminal background checks can show convictions, pending charges, arrests, and active warrants — but what actually appears depends on the check level and your state's rules.
Find the best criminal defense attorney for your case
Compare criminal defense attorneys ranked by their actual court-record activity and disciplinary standing — objective public record, no paid placement. Then verify any name against the official bar roster before you hire.
- Convictions — both felony and misdemeanor — are the core of what appears.
- Pending charges and, in some states, arrests without a conviction can show up.
- Active warrants and, on deeper checks, some infractions may surface.
- Sealed or expunged records generally do NOT appear on standard checks.
- Different levels — county, state, federal — return different results.
What usually shows up
- Criminal convictions (felonies and misdemeanors).
- Pending or open cases that haven't been resolved.
- Active warrants, including bench warrants for missed court dates.
- In some states, arrests that did not lead to a conviction (subject to FCRA/state limits).
What usually does NOT show up
- Properly expunged or sealed records (removed from most standard databases).
- Most juvenile records (typically confidential).
- Dismissed charges in states that restrict reporting them (this varies).
- Non-conviction items older than the FCRA 7-year window on consumer reports.
How to see your own record
Order your own criminal background report before an employer or landlord does. Review it for errors (wrong-person matches and outdated dispositions are common) and dispute anything inaccurate. If an old item is eligible for expungement or sealing, clearing it removes it from most future checks — an expungement attorney can confirm whether you qualify. Verify any attorney's standing for free first.
attorney records across 45 states are searchable on this site right now.
Source: official state bar registration rosters.
Frequently asked questions
Do arrests without a conviction show up?
Sometimes. It depends on your state and the type of check — some states restrict reporting non-conviction arrests, and the FCRA limits how long screening companies can report them, but deeper or government checks may still show them.
Does a dismissed case show up?
It varies by state. Some states prevent screeners from reporting dismissed charges; in others they can appear until you have them sealed or expunged.
Will expunged records appear?
Generally no on standard background checks. Expungement or sealing removes the item from the databases most employers and landlords use.
Related guides
- Do Warrants Show Up on Background Checks?
- How Far Back Do Background Checks Go?
- Criminal Record Expungement: Costs, Timelines & How to Check
Numbers on this page are computed from official rosters — see our data sources & methodology. This guide is part of the criminal records & expungement series.
This site republishes official public records and is not legal advice, a lawyer referral service, or a consumer reporting agency. Information here may not be used to make decisions about employment, tenancy, or credit (FCRA). Records are shown as published by their official sources and may contain errors or be out of date; consult the linked official source to verify. To correct or dispute a record, contact the licensing authority of record.