Accessing Criminal Records
In Washington, D.C., 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 prohibited from asking about or considering 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.
With a few exceptions, Washington, D.C. employers are prohibited from requesting or utilizing a current or prospective employee’s credit information when making an employment decision.
Ban the Box Policies – Washington, D.C.
The ban-the-box law applies to all employers in the District of Columbia who employ more than 10 people within the District. Under the law, employers in the District of Columbia may only inquire into criminal history after making a conditional offer.
