Are you worried about the impact of a past criminal record on your future job prospects or dating online? You already know that getting an expungement on one or more of your criminal records can give you a fresh start. Yes, the most common question we get is:

Do expunged cases show up on background checks?

Shockingly, the answer is Yes. They shouldn’t be there. But this happens too many times to give anyone a sense of real security.

Which means expungements alone are will not solve a major problem for millions of people who really want privacy from sophisticated background check databases.

We have found the way to expunge background check results and achieve real privacy.

Can Expunged Records Appear in Background Checks?

Expunged records often appear in standard background checks. This results in countless unreported privacy violations. Expunged records also appear frequently in arrest records, internet searches, and “people databases”. What that means is that expungement is not enough if you want to clear your record from background checks in the future.

For those who have successfully been granted an expungement, we built a powerful tool at RecordFixer to remove your criminal records from the long reach of background checks.

It’s time to make your records private.

In this blog, we will delve into the intended concept of expungement – what it means and how it can help you legally clear your criminal record. But also, we will take a closer look at the legal process involved in using criminal record privacy laws to your advantage with a little help from legal technology.

Additionally, we will answer common questions such as whether expunged records can appear in certain types of background checks. Keep reading to learn more about how to legally expunge your criminal records and remove them from databases that threaten your privacy to move on with your life.

In short, RecordFixer created the best way to expunge background check reports so that privacy is possible.

Thinking Beyond Expungement

Consumers Beware: even expunged cases often appear on background checks, despite efforts to remove them from public access. Expungement intends to provide a fresh start for individuals with criminal records, improving their opportunities for employment, housing, education, and even dating online.

However, the expungement process varies by state and often requires you to seek legal advice for guidance. Typically, it is believed that in only provides relief mostly to those convicted of petty offenses like misdemeanors rather than serious crimes like drug trafficking or sex crimes.

But our success has traveled far beyond that. Felonies are eligible–even those who have been sentenced to state prison.

Expungements need Steroids

While it’s a good idea for applicants to familiarize themselves with the laws and processes in their specific state, they are unfortunately highly complex and challenging even for some criminal practitioners. But that’s only the first step.

By removing criminal convictions from background check databases, the aims of expungement can be met to protect the privacy of individuals and allow them to move forward without the burden of these past mistakes (sometimes called “collateral consequences“).

In short: Expungement can be a vital step towards a brighter future, but it does not guarantee privacy for everyone.

Impact of Expungement on Internet Criminal Records

It’s important to note that expunged convictions still get disclosed to potential employers, interested lovers, and anyone else wishing to learn more about you way too often.

This is unfortunate because many go through steep hurdles to turn their lives around and petition courts that are sometimes reluctant to grant this collateral relief. And yet, expungement may not provide complete protection from the long-term consequences of criminal records on a person’s life.

Legal Limitations of Expunging Records

To expunge a record, individuals must file a request with the court, providing details about the conviction and the reasons for seeking expungement. This legal process entails various steps, including (a) review of court records, (b) evaluating performance while on probation, (c) balancing public safety, and (d) testimony during potential court hearings.

NOTE: It is advisable to consult with a lawyer for guidance during the expungement process. Eligibility for expungement and the waiting period may vary depending on state laws.

Once granted, an entry into the court docket is inputed. And….that’s it.

Some states have mechanisms to inform the main repository that a person has been granted relief and that their Department of Justice abstract will reflect that. Other states will take the extra step of flagging certain past convictions from non-disclosure to those outside of official criminal justice organizations.

And yet, cases that were expunged find themselves popping up on background check reports–shocking the applicant when it matters the most.

To fix this, we developed the ultimate way to expunge background check results. Without being proactive, you might as well be crossing your fingers.

Do Expunged Records Affect Background Checks?

Very little, unfortunately. The criminal record ecosystem is highly evolved and very dependent on data points from thousands of public record resources. A single arrest can be embedded in hundreds of databases before the charges are even filed. Once the case is filed, even more database distribution networks have access to it.

Here’s a video that shows how one arrest traveled to several databases:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kddmcoboWE

When a case is expunged, thousands of criminal record data networks have already recorded the arrest, the charges, and the conviction. How on earth are they supposed to find the time to go back and check on your case to see if it has been dismissed or granted a court order? You need to expunge background check information just like you did in court.

Why is this so hard?

Background check agencies deal primarily in sensitive information that serve a very real public interest. A criminal arrest provides important information to employers, child-care organizations, law enforcement agencies, licensing agencies, and countless organizations that are required to use their discretion with vulnerable populations.

What this means is that the general public and the organizations within it hold your privacy slight less critical than public safety. Thus, you must overcome this burden by arming yourself with effective tools if you plan to expunge background check reports related to you.

FBI, State Laws, and Privacy

It should be worth mentioning that many believe there is one single source background check system in the nation and it’s monitored by the FBI. That’s not the case. State governments depend on their own repositories. But standard background check services are private companies. So the fate of your privacy rests in commercial data warehouses.

Let’s Expunge Background Checks Now…

Now that you know the limitations of the expungement process and the level of privacy it provides, it’s time harness the power of the law and technology to truly expunge the records you are concerned about from actual background check databases.

If you are interested in taking control of your criminal record data, grab your expungement Order and let’s get started!