Background Check
A review of a person's criminal history, employment record, credit, or other personal information, often done by employers, landlords, or licensing agencies.
A background check is when someone looks into your past records. Employers, landlords, and licensing agencies are the most common groups that run background checks. They may look at criminal records, past employment, credit history, or other personal information. In Minnesota, there are rules about how and when background checks can be used.
What shows up on a background check depends on who is running it and what type of check they do. Criminal background checks may show arrests, charges, convictions, and sometimes dismissed cases. If you have had a record expunged (sealed) in Minnesota, it generally will not appear on most background checks. Expungement can make a big difference in what employers and landlords see when they check your history.
Minnesota also has a “ban the box” law (covered in its own glossary entry). This law limits when employers can ask about your criminal history during the hiring process. Together, expungement and ban the box give people with past records a better chance at jobs and housing.
Why it matters: Background checks can affect whether you get a job, an apartment, or a professional license. Knowing what shows up on your record, and knowing your rights under Minnesota law, helps you prepare and take steps (like expungement) to improve your situation.
Example: David applies for an apartment in St. Paul. The landlord runs a background check and finds an old misdemeanor conviction. David had already filed for expungement, but it has not been granted yet. Once the expungement goes through, that conviction would no longer appear on most background checks, making it easier for David to rent in the future.
When applying for a job, renting an apartment, or seeking a professional license