Accessing Criminal Records
In Iowa, it is legal for private and public employers to conduct inquiries about an applicant’s criminal history as part of the pre-employment background screening process; this includes reviewing conviction records. NCS makes reading reports easy. Our criminal background checks report convictions and serious pending cases that belong to your applicant.
Employers are not allowed to ask about or consider arrest records that have been expunged, pertain to charges that have been dropped or dismissed or did not lead to conviction may not access sealed records, or require candidates to disclose details regarding arrests or convictions that were expunged from their criminal record. In fact, employers are required to specifically inform candidates that they are under no obligation to share any information regarding expunged charges.
In 2019, Iowa passed an expungement law that states people with certain misdemeanor convictions on their criminal records can petition for expungement if eight years have passed since the convictions, they have no pending criminal charges, and they have paid all associated court fines and fees. When expungement is granted, applicants can say they do not have any misdemeanor convictions if asked by prospective employers. Expunged misdemeanors will anot be reported on background checks.
Healthcare Employers
Employers in the healthcare industry must perform fingerprint-based criminal background checks through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and a child and dependent adult abuse and neglect background check through the Department of Human Services.
Hospital employers are also required to conduct criminal background checks on all prospective employees.
Law Enforcement and Security Employers
Law enforcement and security agencies must complete state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks.