State Laws for Background Screening
Background screening laws vary from state to state, and understanding these differences is essential for maintaining compliance. Each state may have its own requirements regarding what criminal records can be reported, how far back background checks can go, and what restrictions apply to employers and consumer reporting agencies.
To help you navigate these regulations, we've compiled a state by state guide outlining key background screening laws, reporting limitations, and restrictions across all 50 states.
State
Regulations
Alabama
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Alaska
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Arizona
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Arkansas
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
California
- Hard 7 Year Scope - Convictions can be reported for 7 years
- Non-Convictions cannot be reported except for pending charges. Also, unlawful detainer (evictions) where consumer prevailed or where action is resolved by settlement cannot be reported.
- Criminal record information must be current and up-to-date.
Colorado
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Connecticut
- All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
- Any criminal record reported must be current as of the date the report is sent to the User
- CRAs shall disclose such erased records.
Delaware
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Florida
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Georgia
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Hawaii
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Idaho
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Illinois
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Indiana
All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years
Iowa
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Kansas
Hard 7 Year Scope - Conviction and non-conviction records may only be reported for 7 years
Kentucky
Non-convictions are not to be reported
Louisiana
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Maine
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Maryland
7 Year Scope - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years
Massachusetts
7 Year Scope - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years
Michigan
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Minnesota
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Mississippi
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Missouri
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Montana
7 Year Scope - Records of Arrest or Convictions cannot be reported outside 7 years
Nebraska
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Nevada
7 Year Scope - Non-Convictions and Civil Judgments are still limited to a strict 7 Year Scope.
New Hampshire
7 Year Scope - Records of Arrest or Convictions cannot be reported outside 7 years
New Jersey
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
New Mexico
- Non-Convictions cannot be reported
- Pending cases, indictments and arrests can be reported for 7 years
- Convictions can only be reported for 7 years
New York
- Convictions can only be reported for 7 years
- Satisfied Judgments can only be reported for 5 years
- Non-Convictions cannot be reported unless there has been a criminal conviction or the charges are still pending
North Carolina
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
North Dakota
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Ohio
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Oklahoma
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Oregon
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Pennsylvania
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Rhode Island
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
South Carolina
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
South Dakota
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Tennessee
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Texas
7 Year Scope - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years
Utah
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Vermont
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Virginia
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Washington
7 Year Scope - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years
Washington D.C.
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
West Virginia
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Wisconsin
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered
Wyoming
No Restrictions Beyond FCRA - All Convictions, Non-Convictions, Civil suits, Civil judgments and Records of Arrest can be reported for 7 years or longer, if an extended scope is ordered