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What All Is Included on a Criminal Record?

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Whether you’re seeking employment, applying for travel visas, or requesting bank loans, you’ll probably want to know what comes up during a background check. The information on your criminal record may include all arrests, convicted or not, as well as both felony and misdemeanor charges. Although the information included on an individual’s criminal record varies by state, all states allow you to view your criminal record to check for content and accuracy, and it’s important to know what typically appears on a criminal record.

Criminal records always include basic demographic information such as an individual’s full name, date of birth, known aliases, current and previous addresses, and arrest dates for felony and misdemeanor crimes. Arrests or convictions for violent crimes including rape, robbery, aggravated assault, sexual assault of a minor, physical abuse of a minor, simple assault (often involving domestic violence), and murder will be documented on an individual’s criminal record, and the possibility of expungement is highly unlikely. 

Almost all jurisdictions will have dangerous traffic crimes documented on an individual’s criminal record. Traffic crimes such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, and driving without a license will almost always be included on a criminal record. Non-criminal traffic violations such as speeding tickets and parking citations are generally excluded from your criminal record.

Certain property crimes will also be included on a criminal record. A list of property crimes that will appear on a background check includes arson, forgery, vandalism, burglary, theft, fraud, embezzlement, shoplifting, destruction of property, and motor vehicle theft. More severe charges will appear on an individual’s record when the offense results in injury or death, and the value of the property damaged or stolen may also be included.

Other crimes such as possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacture of drugs, possession of a controlled substance, and public intoxication will be included on a criminal record. Criminal acts such as disorderly conduct, vagrancy, and loitering are typically, but not always, included on an individual’s record. Civil judgments including lawsuits, creditor actions, and bankruptcy matters will not be included on a criminal record.

You may attempt to have your criminal record expunged. If you meet the criteria, certain crimes are permanently removed from your record. Call Easy Expunctions to discuss your eligibility and options!

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Collateral Consequences

How a Criminal Record Keeps Young Adults From Stable Housing

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Stable housing can help prevent young adults from becoming repeat offenders. Housing instability puts young adults at a higher risk of incarceration and homelessness. Homelessness can lead young adults to commit crimes in order to survive, which keeps this unfortunate cycle in motion. For instance, people without a home must find a place to sleep, which can result in an arrest for trespassing. In many cases, young adults cannot find housing post-incarceration because of a lack of educational and employment opportunities.

Due to family discord, many families do not allow their children to move back in after their arrest, and some families may have lost stable housing themselves. Housing authorities and landlords typically refuse to allow people with a criminal record to rent a space because they want to prevent criminal activity from taking place on the property. Even if a landlord were to allow a young adult with a criminal record to rent property, their options would likely be limited because of employment and financial issues.

A criminal record can prevent young adults from finding employment because many companies do not hire those with a record. Companies who do choose to hire former offenders usually don’t present them with opportunities for upward advancement. Typically, these young adults are left either underemployed or unemployed.

The ability to finish school can be extremely limited depending on their age at incarceration. Education has a direct effect on employment opportunities. Young adults who didn’t finish their education usually have lower paying jobs, leaving them unable to pay for stable housing. Again, this keeps the cycle in motion. To lower the rate at which young adults become repeat offenders, those with a criminal record must be provided with greater opportunities to obtain a stable place to live.

If you think your criminal record is holding you back from adequate housing, reach out to Easy Expunctions today to see if a clear record could be in your future: 1-866-899-0266

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Collateral Consequences

Criminal Records Keep Americans in a Cycle of Poverty

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The consequences of having a criminal record are plentiful. It prevents many from finding employment, presents obstacles when applying for housing, makes it difficult to secure professional licenses, and can even prevent family reunification. The ease of accessing criminal history data via the internet has made it hard for many to succeed in their personal and professional endeavors.

But what you may not realize is that a criminal record can be a direct cause of poverty.

The sad truth is that our criminal justice system makes it virtually impossible for those with records to become productive members of society. This doesn’t just hold back Americans at an individual level; it hurts families, communities, and the economy overall. A 2010 Center for Economic and Policy Research report notes that the cost of employment losses for those with criminal records is estimated to be $65 billion per year, in terms of gross domestic product.

America imprisons its citizens more than any other nation, and we do it repeatedly. Data from the National Institute of Justice tells us that 79% of prisoners released will be arrested again within seven years. The majority of these people are working-age men who would normally strive to be a primary earner for their families—men between 25 and 54 make up over 70% of prison populations. So not only are these men unable to keep their households afloat when they are imprisoned but when they are released, they are oftentimes unable to find work. And when they’re faced with long-term unemployment, many returns to criminal activity as a way to make ends meet. This is how the cycle of poverty works, and it’s nearly impossible to break it.

Though Ban the Box initiatives are gaining traction across the country, it’s not enough. Conviction history is too large of an obstacle for those trying to find work. Labor force discrimination hurts the economy, especially in vulnerable minority communities. Americans with criminal records want the same thing everyone wants: to succeed professionally, provide for their loved ones, and live a little bit larger than previous generations have. Sadly, many of them won’t be given a chance. If you’ve had trouble garnering employment because of your criminal record, give us a call at 877-628-1214. We can determine if an expunction or non-disclosure is an option for your conviction or arrest record. We know that a clear record empowers you to pursue any career you wish, and our goal is to give Americans a second chance to succeed.

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