When you apply for a job, you may or may not have to tell a prospective employer about your criminal record. But first things first: If your criminal record is expunged, you do not have to tell anyone that you ever had a record. You can say you’ve never been convicted of a crime.
Here’s what you need to know about telling prospective employers about your criminal record.
Do I Have to Tell Prospective Employers About My Criminal Record?
Some employers are allowed to ask you about your criminal records. However, the circumstances can vary.
Employers can ask you about your criminal record if you’re applying for a job that requires a fingerprint-based background check, an EMS license or a fidelity bond. Other than that, check out the sections below to find out what employers can and can’t ask you.
Applying for a Job in Chicago
When you apply for a job, employers in the city of Chicago cannot ask you about:
Arrests that never led to a conviction
Juvenile records
Sealed or expunged records
They can’t ask you about your criminal record at all until you’re scheduled for an interview or when they’ve given you a conditional offer of employment.
Applying for a Job With an Employer That Has 15 or More Employees
Whether in or out of Chicago, when you apply for a job, employers with 15 or more employees cannot ask you about:
Arrests that never led to a conviction
Juvenile records
Sealed or expunged records
They can’t ask you about your criminal record at all until you’re scheduled for an interview or when they’ve given you a conditional offer of employment.
Applying for a Job Outside Chicago at a Company That Has Fewer Than 15 Employees
If you apply for a job with an employer that has fewer than 15 employees, and that employer is outside of the city of Chicago, the employer can ask you about your criminal record when you apply. However, the employer can’t ask you about arrests that never led to a conviction, your juvenile record, or a sealed or expunged record.
Again, though, if you’re applying for a job that requires a fingerprint-based background check, the employer can ask you – no matter how many employees it has.
Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Expungement So You Don’t Have to Tell Employers About Your Criminal Record?
If you want to see if you qualify for criminal record expungement or criminal record sealing, we can help you. Call us at 847-920-4540 for a free case review right now. If you qualify, we can get the ball rolling – and if your record is expunged, you don’t have to tell most prospective employers that it ever existed.
What felonies can be sealed in Illinois? If you’re like most people, you’ve wondered the same thing – and although you know you’re not eligible for expungement, you could still be eligible for criminal record sealing.
Sealing means your record is hidden from the general public. If your record is sealed, it’ll still be available to law enforcement and people working in the court system, and it’ll be available to
Domestic violence – what Illinois law technically calls domestic battery – goes on your permanent criminal record. But can you expunge a domestic violence charge in Illinois? Here’s what you need to know.
Can You Expunge a Domestic Violence Charge in Illinois?
Whether you can expunge domestic violence from your criminal record depends on whether:
You were arrested but not charged with the crime of domestic battery
If you’re like many people, you want to know: Do I qualify for expungement in Illinois?
The good news is that many people do qualify for expungement in Illinois – but only some records and offenses can be cleared from your record. Here’s what you need to know.
Do I Qualify for Expungement in Illinois?
You might qualify for immediate expungement if you were arrested and released with no charges,