Criminal Background Check California
Fair Chance Act CRD
Fair Chance Act: Guidance for California Employers and Job Applicants The Fair Chance Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2018, is a California law that aims to reduce undue barriers to employment for individuals with criminal histories. This law generally prohibits employers with five or more employees from asking a job candidate about conviction history before making a job offer, among other requirements.
https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act/
California Background Check: An Employer's Guide [2026]
Background checks are an essential part of the hiring process. However, the rules surrounding them can be hard to understand. This is especially true for pre-employment background checks in California, which require special considerations. Did you know that an estimated eight million Californians have a criminal record?
https://iprospectcheck.com/california-background-checks/![California Background Check: An Employer's Guide [2026]](screenshots/criminal_background_check_california_2.jpg)
California’s New Background Check Regulations: 10 Frequently Asked Questions - Ogletree
California has implemented new regulations, effective October 1, 2023, that significantly change the employer criminal background check process for California applicants and employees. The following answers to ten frequently asked questions (FAQs) provide an explanation of how California’s new regulations will expand the California Fair Chance Act.
https://ogletree.com/insights-resources/blog-posts/californias-new-background-check-regulations-10-frequently-asked-questions/
BEWARE: New Requirements for How California Employers May Consider Criminal History In Employment Go Into Effect On October 1, 2023 CDF Labor Law LLP
On October 1, 2023, changes to the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) regulations that govern how employers can use information about criminal history in employment decisions go into effect, modifying California Code of Regulations Title 2, Section 11017.1. These revised regulations add to the already long list of procedures that must be followed when a California employer is going to use criminal history as a basis for rejecting an...
https://www.callaborlaw.com/entry/beware-new-requirements-for-how-california-employers-may-consider-criminal-history-in-employment-go-into-effect-on-october-1-2023
New Background Check Laws Employers Need to Know [2026] - iprospectcheck
As an HR professional, you know that employment background check laws are constantly in flux. You must keep current with the changes in the regulations and laws to ensure your company remains compliant. Even unintentional violations of the background check laws could expose your business to legal liability, penalties, and reputational harm.
https://iprospectcheck.com/new-background-check-laws/![New Background Check Laws Employers Need to Know [2026] - iprospectcheck](screenshots/criminal_background_check_california_5.jpg)
Criminal history and job applications California Courts Self Help Guide
Criminal history and job applications In California, there are laws about what an employer can ask about or consider related to your criminal history when you apply for a job. This page offers basic information about one of those laws, the Fair Chance Act.
https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/clean-your-record/fair-chance-act
Fair Chance Hiring in 2026: How Employers Can Use Background Checks Legally, Consistently, and Humanely - Hoyer Law Group, PLLC
January 09, 2026 | Posted By: Emma Doull The offer is out, the start date is penciled in, and then a background check report lands with something that makes everyone pause. A hiring manager contacts HR. HR contacts Legal. Someone asks, “What do we do now?” In that moment, fair chance hiring stops being a slogan and becomes a real workflow issue, with legal exposure, reputational risk, and a human...
https://www.hoyerlawgroup.com/fair-chance-hiring-in-2026-how-employers-can-use-background-checks-legally-consistently-and-humanely/
A Recap of the Key Legal Developments in Q3 And Q4 & What to Expect In 2026 - Validity Screening Solutions
Written By: Kimberlynn Wilson The second half of 2025 was a busy period for employment law and consumer privacy legislation. As 2026 approaches, several laws, ordinances, and regulations enacted this year will come into effect in the upcoming year or in 2027.
https://validityscreening.com/a-recap-of-the-key-legal-developments-in-q3-and-q4-what-to-expect-in-2026/
50-State Comparison: Limits on Use of Criminal Record in Employment, Licensing & Housing Collateral Consequences Resource Center
Below are state-by-state summaries, with links to analysis and legal citations. Effective in 2021, federal agencies and contractors may not inquire into an applicant’s criminal history until after a conditional offer has been made. The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has interpreted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to bar employers from discriminating against individual based on their criminal history, absent justifying busine...
https://ccresourcecenter.org/state-restoration-profiles/50-state-comparisoncomparison-of-criminal-records-in-licensing-and-employment/
California Advanced Records Center updates – what’s new in 2026 - PublicCEO
New Legislation in 2026 Related to the California Public Records Act In the Advanced Records Center (ARC) installment of the 2026 New Laws series from Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK), new legislation related to the California Public Records Act (PRA) includes takeaways and analyses of AB 1147, AB 343, AB 847, AB 1178, AB 1388, AB 370, AB 1004, SB 851 and SB 635.
https://www.publicceo.com/2026/01/california-advanced-records-center-updates-whats-new-in-2026/
California Background Checks: Fast, Compliant Employment Screening GoodHire
Learn how to run a background check for employment to make informed, fair, and compliant hiring decisions Many California employers conduct background screenings to confirm a candidate’s qualifications and experience, verify professional licenses, review criminal history, driving records, and more. To ensure your background checks are in compliance with all relevant laws, here’s what employers should know before performing a background check i...
https://www.goodhire.com/background-checks/california/
Do Misdemeanors Show Up on Background Checks?
Let's examine whether your misdemeanor conviction will appear on a California background check. One major worry for defendants is how such convictions might impact their employment prospects. If you're convicted of a misdemeanor, which is considered a minor offense, you might be given probation instead of jail, especially if it's your first offense.
https://www.heddinglawfirm.com/background-check-misdemeanor
Criminal history and job applications California Courts Self Help Guide
Criminal history and job applications In California, there are laws about what an employer can ask about or consider related to your criminal history when you apply for a job. This page offers basic information about one of those laws, the Fair Chance Act.
https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/clean-your-record/fair-chance-act
California Changes Background Check Procedures - Ogletree
The California Civil Rights Council recently amended the regulations interpreting California’s 2018 Fair Chance Act, which go into effect October 1, 2023. The new regulations add restrictions, make clarifications, and significantly change the California background check process. Quick Hits - On July 24, 2023, California’s Office of Administrative Law approved the Civil Rights Council’s amendments to the regulations regarding the Fair Chance Ac...
https://ogletree.com/insights-resources/blog-posts/california-changes-background-check-procedures/
Criminal Background Check in California - Things to Know
A background check is when an employer or other company performs a screening of your past misdemeanor and felony convictions, negative credit report information, education history, and other public data. Background checks are lawful in California. However, employers are required to abide by several restrictions and obligations found in: - California’s ban the box law (“Fair Chance Act”), - the Los Angeles and San Francisco fair chance ordinanc...
https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/background-checks/
How Long Does A Felony Stay On Your Record in California? 2026
If you are facing a felony offense, it’s safe to say you are thinking about the impact the charge can have on your future. Before you even get into the legal process involved with prosecuting a felony, you may be asking yourself, “How long does a felony stay on your record in California?” The short answer is: When you get convicted of a felony, it will stay on your criminal...
https://www.louisgoodman.com/blog/how-long-does-a-felony-stay-on-your-record-in-california/