Do Warrants Show Up on Background Checks? An In-Depth Look

Warrants can be a source of great concern for employers when it comes to conducting background checks. The legal implications of not being aware of a current warrant can put any company in a difficult position, so it’s important to understand how these types of records are shown on employment screening services. So, without further ado, let’s take a deeper look into whether warrants show up on background checks and the implications thereof.

Do Background Checks Reveal Warrants?

The answer to this question is a definitive “maybe.” Generally speaking, most background checks will not reveal outstanding warrants such as an open warrant or a bench warrant. An open warrant for someone’s arrest is a warrant that has been issued by a magistrate or judge but has not been executed. As such, it will not appear in a criminal background check.

However, employers should be aware that there are some types of warrants that may appear in a criminal background check. Bench warrants, for example, are issued by a judge to compel someone’s appearance in court and may appear as part of a background check. Arrest warrants, which are issued when law enforcement has probable cause to believe that someone has committed a crime, may also appear in a criminal background check. Therefore, learning how to run employee background checks can help employers to better understand what type of information they can expect to find when it comes to warrants and the way they can appear in a background check.

Implications of Warrants on Background Checks

Given the legal implications associated with warrants, employers need to take care when interpreting any results from a background check that may show an outstanding warrant. In some cases, the background check may reveal a warrant that is no longer valid due to it having been quashed or recalled. In other cases, the warrant may be valid and could pose a risk to the employer if they were unaware of it prior to the background check.

In addition, employers should be aware of the laws in their particular state when it comes to warrants and how these can affect the hiring decisions that they make. For example, in some states, it is illegal to refuse to hire someone if their background check reveals an outstanding warrant, while other states may not have this restriction. So, it is important to know your local laws regarding the use of background checks and warrants when making hiring decisions.

The Takeaway

We hope this article has provided some insight into whether warrants show up on background checks and the implications thereof. This way, employers can better understand the potential implications of hiring a candidate who has an outstanding warrant and take necessary precautions when conducting background checks. Thanks for reading.