
In the United States, 10 year background check states have laws which limit reporting of negative information beyond 10 years, but some exceptions apply since it’s largely dependent on the type of negative information being reported. Furthermore, other states have 7 year background checks and occasionally state and federal laws can overlap so a full list of states and their respective laws are noted below.
To determine whether negative information will appear on a background check after 7-10 years, it is crucial for the person to have knowledge of their state’s local laws, federal laws such as the FCRA, and to understand which law is applicable to their records, as there are differences in the duration that bankruptcies, criminal records, or negative credit remarks are managed.
How Many Years Back Does a Criminal Background Check Go? 10 Year States vs 7 Year States vs Other Laws
What can be included in a background check and how far back the screening can go is determined by state and federal laws. Laws vary from state to state, but each state must abide by the federal statutes surrounding commercial use background checks, including lookback limits and what is covered in those limits.
There are a handful of states that have a strict 7 year lookback rule that aligns with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
The remaining states allow background checks to span 10 years or more when searching a person’s criminal history; however, credit history is still subject to the same rules as 7 years states under the FCRA.
Do these rules vary based on the type of background check performed? It depends on the level of screening requested by the agency or employer.
For instance, level 1 background checks are considered the most basic level screenings a person can undergo and these typically adhere strictly to the 7 or ten year lookback period in the state where the screening occurs.
A level 2 background check is a fingerprint-based screening, but it also typically spans the 7 or ten year limit for criminal records in addition to credit history. Employment and education verifications that can be included in these screenings are not subject to lookback limitations.
A level 3 background check is a much deeper dive into a person’s background, and is usually reserved for positions of much higher authority or a higher base salary. As such, these screenings are not subject to the lookback limitations based on the added responsibility associated with the role.
This type of screening is also done on individuals who may be working with vulnerable populations which means the lookback period is not limited.
A level 4 background check which can include personal interviews with individuals associated with the person is also not subject to the lookback limits since these positions are very high responsibility and may even involve national security, national financing or national health.
Knowing the level of screening a person will undergo can help determine how far back the report will go.
What States Go Back 10 Years on Background Checks? (Full List of 10 Year Background Check States)
There are only a few states that adhere to the same seven-year background check rule outlined by the FCRA guidelines. Most states have a 10 year lookback (or more) period for background checks, and these are listed below:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
In these states, the background check can go back as far as 10 years or more, with the limitations on non-convictions still subject to the FCRA rule that states non-conviction information (when allowed by state law) cannot go back further than 7 years.
Other laws in the states may limit what can show up on a background check as well, or when an employer may inquire about criminal history or run a background check. These laws, called Ban the Box statutes, are designed to give individuals with a criminal record a better chance at employment.
The laws that govern background checks in each of the 10 year states are discussed in the next section.
Laws & Regulations for All States With a 10 Year Look Back Period for Background Checks
All states, regardless of the state laws, must adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act seven year rule regarding credit history (with bankruptcies being the exception allowing for a 10 year lookback) and non-convictions.1

In addition, federal agencies with workspaces within states must also follow the federal Ban the Box law, known as the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, which makes it unlawful for federal agencies or business that contract with the federal government to ask about a person’s criminal background before a conditional offer of employment has been made.

The table below lists the 10 year background check states along with a link to the applicable laws in that state regarding screenings:
The statutes listed above limit when inquiries can be made into a person’s criminal past, what can be included in the record and how non-convictions are treated on background reports. These state laws are in addition to the FCRA, not a replacement for the federal statute.

It’s also important to know when the clock starts ticking on a record’s lookback period.
When Does the 10 Year Look Back Period Start for Criminal Background Checks?
Knowing which states have at least a 10 year lookback period is the first step, but it’s also important to know when that clock starts ticking. Knowing when the 10 year period starts helps individuals prepare for what may appear on a background check.2
When it comes to non-convictions or dismissed charges, the clock starts when the charges were first filed, not the date it was dismissed or the individual was found not guilty. This was when the 9th District US Court of Appeals made a final ruling on this aspect of the background check lookback period in the case of Moran vs The Screening Pros where a charge that was ultimately dismissed showed up on a background check years after it should have not appeared.3
When it comes to convictions, the waters get muddy since convictions do not go away unless they are expunged or sealed by a judge. The lookback period for a conviction can start on the date of disposition, release from prison, or date of parole.
This means that the clock starts when the person is found guilty or pleads guilty, or when the person finished their sentence completely (either through being released from prison or completion of parole).4 Knowing how long a record can appear on a background check is key to preparing for one during the hiring process.
While most states have a 10 (or longer) rule regarding criminal convictions, there are some states with a seven year lookback period.
States With a 7 Year Background Check Timeframe for Criminal Records
There are 10 states that currently limit the lookback period for convictions to seven years unless the position pays a certain amount, or the job requires a longer lookback period due to public health and safety concerns. These states are listed below:
- California
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
Statutes in these states line up with the FCRA guidelines regarding lookback periods. Most screenings only span a seven year period, but for positions paying more than $25,000-$75,000 annually, or those in law enforcement, corrections or positions working with vulnerable populations, the lookback period can be much longer.
The FCRA has been mentioned several times throughout this article, and is the basis for a great deal of regulations placed on background checks. When it relates to credit history, the standard lookback period for negative data is seven years meaning that negative credit history older than seven years cannot be reported on a background check unless it meets one of the exceptions outlined in the Act.
More on these exceptions will be covered in the next section.
In addition to defining what qualifies as negative information, the FCRA also orders that the subject be notified in writing of any adverse action taken based on the information provided in a background check. For example, if a person is denied housing based on a screening, the person must be notified in writing of the decision, how the decision was made, and what steps the person can take.5
FCRA Exceptions
While the normal lookback period is allowed under the FCRA guidelines, there are some exceptions to the rule. For example, negative credit history in most cases can only span seven years; however, Chapter 11 bankruptcies can appear on a commercial background check for up to 10 years from the date the bankruptcy was adjudicated in court.6
Regarding child support obligations, the FCRA guidance states that any obligations that are more than 7 years old can appear on the background check but must be annotated as an older record if the child support is still an unpaid obligation. This simply means any child support that was ordered to be paid and was not can appear on the background check even if it is older than seven years until the child support obligation has been satisfied.6
Applications for very large lines of credit or life insurance policies are also exempt from the seven year rule established by the FCRA. Knowing these exceptions can help prevent surprises on a background report.7

In addition to the exceptions listed above, FCRA guidance limits non-convictions to a seven year lookback period as well. Recognizing that even non-convictions can have a negative impact on a person’s ability to get a job, making sure these do not show up on background checks have become priorities for certain states as well.
States Who Treat Convictions vs Non-Conviction Reporting Differently
As stated earlier, the federal government took steps to limit how long non-convictions can appear on a person’s background check report to seven years under the FCRA guidelines; however, some states took additional steps to further level the playing field for applicants.
Do dismissed charges show up on a background check in 10 year background check states?
The answer is, it depends on the state.
Below are the states that have added protections to applicants with charges but no convictions on their records:
- California: Dismissed charges cannot appear on a background check regardless of the amount of time that has passed since the court’s action in the case.
- Colorado: When a charge is dismissed, the defendant can ask for the matter to be sealed immediately following the court’s action removing it from a background check.
- Delaware: State law allows for mandatory expungement of records when the matter was resolved in the favor of the defendant (acquittals and dismissals).
- Georgia: Dismissed charges are removed from public record once the order of dismissal is entered.
- Hawaii: Dismissed charges can only be viewed by law enforcement or governmental agencies, not as part of an employment background check or personal screening.
- Indiana: Dismissed charges must be expunged as soon as the dismissal is entered into the court’s record.
- Kentucky: 30 days after dismissal of charges that occurred on or after 15 July 2020 are automatically removed from public record.
- Maine: Arrest records in dismissed charges are confidential; however, court records are not.
- Maryland: Criminal records after 1 October 2021 are automatically expunged after three years if the case was dismissed.
- Michigan: Arrest and court records are destroyed when cases are dismissed.
- Missouri: Just like Hawaii, records in Missouri are available only to law enforcement when the matter is dismissed.
- Montana: Dismissals following deferred prosecutions are only accessible by law enforcement, not as part of commercial background checks.
- Nebraska: Dismissals are only open to law enforcement agencies, not the general public.
- New Hampshire: Cases dismissed after 1 January 2019 are automatically removed from the public record.
- New Jersey: Dismissed cases are expunged immediately following entry of the dismissal order.
- New York: Automatically seals dismissed records from the public.
- North Carolina: Starting 1 December 2021, charges that are dismissed are automatically removed from the public record.
- Oklahoma: Dismissal can be expunged automatically, but the defendant cannot have a felony conviction on record or pending charges.
- South Carolina: Dismissals are automatically expunged in summary court matters.
- Utah: All dismissed cases after 1 May 2020 are automatically removed from the public record.
- Wyoming: If there is no objection by the prosecution within 180 days of a dismissal, the matter is removed from public record.
What about dropped charges? Do dropped charges show up on a background check?
As with dismissed matters, they can and do show up on a background screening as a non-conviction unless it meets the criteria outlined above for non-convictions.
Unless a state allows automatic relief when charges are dismissed a person must file a petition requesting an expungement. If a matter is expunged, it will not show up on 10 year background check states reports.
States With Ban the Box Laws
Another protection that applicants have is ban the box laws that limit when employers can dive into a person’s criminal history. In most cases, the background check cannot be conducted until after the person has been scheduled for an interview or given a conditional offer of employment.8
The list below are states (or cities within these states) that currently have ban the box laws:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
The federal government also passed the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act to give federal applicants and those working for federal contractors a better shot at employment even if the person has a criminal record.
Ban the box laws are designed to have employers view a person’s qualifications before searching criminal history to avoid using a person’s criminal record as the sole means of disqualifying a person. How long does a misdemeanor stay on your record?
A conviction can stay on it indefinitely, so it is to the person’s benefit if they live in a state that limits the lookback period. The record is also viewed in the light of whether or not the charge would create a direct negative impact on the person’s ability to perform the job duties.
What States Don’t Share Criminal Records?
Ultimately, all states share criminal records to some extent for both seven year and 10 year background check states. Unless the matter has been expunged or sealed by a court, or is in a state that allows automatic erasure for non-convictions, the matters can and do get shared with other states, and can be accessed by commercial background check agencies for reports.
Do background checks show out of state criminal history? They can, but that information is dependent on laws in that state.
There are 12 states, however, that have given judges the authority to place strict limits on criminal records that can be shared with the public as listed below:
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Kansas
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
- Utah
- Washington9
Eight of the 12 (Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, and Utah) are considered 10 year background check states allowing a longer lookback period than the standard seven.
Despite all the efforts states have taken to limit the damages poor credit history or a criminal record can have on a person’s ability to get a job or secure housing, there are some steps a person can take to make sure items that show up on a report erroneously are corrected. Individuals should take advantage of the annual free credit reports through all three major credit reporting agencies.
Offered as a service by the federal government, a person can run all three credit reports, compare the data and take steps to dispute items that should not be on the report. Disputes can be filed directly with the reporting agency, or they can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).10

When information is showing up on a background check that is older than seven years (or 10 in the case of bankruptcies), this should also be reported to the FTC. Another reportable item is when adverse action is taken without notification to the applicant, or a background check was conducted illegally.
Can someone run a background check on me without my permission? No, written consent must be obtained before the background check can be conducted or used to make a hiring or housing decision.11
Regarding criminal records, one of the best ways to remove information from a person’s background report is to have the matter expunged or sealed from public view. Each state has its own rules and laws regarding expunging records.
Some states automatically expunge non-convictions while others do not provide expungement relief at all.
When a criminal record appears on a person’s background report, they should hire an attorney to explore expungement. When expunged or sealed records still show up on a background check, individuals can reach out to the attorney general in their state to clear up the matter.
Understanding how criminal history screenings work in 10 year background check states helps individuals prepare for a pre-employment screening or housing application by giving them an idea of what may show up on the report.
Frequently Asked Questions