Criminal background ― State-specific notices
California Applicants
Do not identify any misdemeanor conviction for which probation has been successfully completed or otherwise discharged and the case has been dismissed by a court. Also, do not identify marijuana-related convictions entered by the court more than two (2) years ago that involve: unlawful possession of marijuana; transportation or giving away of up to 28.5 grams of marijuana, other than concentrated cannabis, or the offering to transport or give away up to 28.5 grams of marijuana, other than concentrated cannabis; possession of paraphernalia used to smoke marijuana; being in a place with knowledge that marijuana was being used; or being under the influence of marijuana. Also, do not identify any arrest or detention that did not result in a conviction or any record of a referral to, and participation in, any pretrial or post trial diversion program.
San Francisco Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question until after the first interview. When answering the question, do not disclose any misdemeanor and felony convictions that occurred more than seven (7) years prior to the inquiry or: (a) arrests other than those which charges are still pending, (b) completion of any diversity program, (c) sealed or juvenile offenses, or (d) infractions that are not felonies or misdemeanors.
Los Angeles Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Connecticut Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question on an initial employment application. You are not required to disclose the existence of any arrest, criminal charge, or conviction, the records of which have been erased under Section 46b-146, 54-76o or 54-12a of the Connecticut General Statutes. Criminal records subject to erasure under Section 46b-146, 54-76o or 54-142a of the Connecticut General Statutes are records pertaining to a finding of delinquency or that a child was a member of a family with service needs, an adjudication as a youthful offender, a criminal charge that has been dismissed or nolled, a criminal charge for which a person has been found not guilty or a conviction for which a person received an absolute pardon. Any person whose criminal records have been erased under Section 46b-146, 54-76o or 54-142a of the Connecticut General Statutes shall be deemed to have never been arrested within the meaning of the general statutes with respect to the proceedings so erased and may so swear under oath.
District of Columbia
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment. Do not identify convictions or arrest records that occurred more than ten (10) years before the date of this application.
Georgia Applicants
Do not identify verdict or plea of guilty or nolo contendere that was discharged by the court under Georgia's First Offender Act.
Hawaii Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment. Please limit your responses to any convictions within the past ten (10) years, excluding any period of time when you were incarcerated.
Illinois Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have been notified of selection for an interview, or if no interview, unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Chicago Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have been notified of selection for an interview, or if no interview, unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Maryland Applicants
Baltimore Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Montgomery County Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Prince George's County Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Massachusetts Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment. An applicant for employment with a sealed record on file with the commissioner of probation may answer 'no record' to an inquiry about previous arrests, criminal court appearances or convictions. An applicant for employment with a sealed record on file with the commissioner of probation may answer 'no record' to an inquiry about previous arrests or criminal court appearances. In addition, any applicant for employment may answer 'no record' to any inquiry about previous arrests, court appearances and adjudications in all cases of delinquency or as a child in need of services which did not result in a complaint transferred to the superior court for criminal prosecution. You do not have to identify first conviction for any of the following misdemeanors: drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray, or disturbance of the peace, or a conviction for any misdemeanor where the date of conviction or the completion of any period of incarceration was five (5) or more years ago, unless there have been subsequent convicts within those five (5) years.
Michigan Applicants
Do not identify any misdemeanor arrests, detentions or dispositions that did not result in conviction.
Minnesota Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have been notified of selection for an interview, or if no interview, unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Missouri Applicants
Columbia Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Nebraska Applicants
Do not identify a sealed juvenile record of arrest, custody, complaint, disposition, diversion, adjudication or sentence.
Nevada Applicants
You must disclose all felony convictions, but may limit disclosure of misdemeanor convictions to those that occurred within the last seven (7) years and resulted in imprisonment. The discharge and dismissal of certain first-time drug offenses, after the accused has completed probation and any required treatment or educational programs, does not constitute a “conviction” for purposes of employment.
New Jersey Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question until after being interviewed in person or by telephone.
New York Applicants
You may answer "no record" concerning any criminal proceeding that terminated in your favor, per section 160.50 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law; any criminal proceeding that terminated in a "youthful offender adjudication," as defined in section 720.35 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law; any conviction for a "violation" that already has been sealed by the court, per section 160.55 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law; and any conviction that was sealed pursuant to section
160.58 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law in connection with the licensing, employment or providing of credit or insurance.
Buffalo Applicants
You are not required to respond until after being interviewed in person or by telephone.
New York City Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Rochester Applicants
You are not required to respond until after being interviewed in person or by telephone.
Ohio Applicants
Do not report any arrest or conviction for a minor misdemeanor drug violation as defined under Ohio Rev. Code § 2925.11.
Oregon Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question until after being interviewed in person or by telephone, or if no interview, unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Portland Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Pennsylvania Applicants
Do not identify convictions for summary offenses.
Philadelphia Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Rhode Island Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Texas Applicants
Austin Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question unless you have received a conditional offer of employment.
Washington Applicants
Do not identify any conviction entered by the court more than ten (10) years ago unless some period of incarceration resulting from that conviction took place within the last ten (10) years.
Seattle Applicants
Do not answer the criminal history question until after completing an initial screen.