Employer Use of Arrest and Conviction Records in Maryland

There are an estimated 65 million Americans with a criminal record. If you are among them, you might face an uphill battle in your job search. Surveys show that a majority of employers – 92%, according to one survey – check criminal records when hiring for some or all positions. If a prospective employer finds out that you have an arrest or conviction record, you might find it difficult to compete, especially in today's tight job market.

Job seekers with criminal records have some legal rights. Federal and state laws place some limits on how employers can use these records in making job decisions. Maryland law doesn't allow employers to consider or inquire about charges that have been expunged; Maryland's Office of Fair Practices also cautions employers against using arrest records or convictions that bear no relationship to the job.

Federal Protections for Applicants With a Criminal Record

Two federal laws provide some protections for applicants with criminal records.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) addresses the issue of accuracy. Criminal background checks may include errors, such as incomplete information (for example, failing to report that the person was exonerated of a crime or that charges were dropped), misclassification of crimes, information on convictions that have been expunged, multiple listings of the same offense, and even records that belong to someone else entirely.

The FCRA imposes obligations on employers who request criminal background checks and on the firms that provide them. Employers must:

• Get the applicants written consent ahead of time.
• Notify the applicant if the employer intends to disqualify him or her based on the contents of the report. The employer must also give the applicant a copy of the report.
• Inform the applicant after the employer makes a final decision not to hire him or her based on the information in the report.

Firms that run background checks also have obligations under the FCRA. They must take reasonable steps to make sure that the information they provide is accurate and up to date. If an applicant disputes the contents of the report, the agency must conduct a reasonable investigation. If the investigation reveals that the report was incorrect, the agency must inform the applicant and any other person or company to whom it has provided the report.

Title VII

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects applicants and employees from discrimination in every aspect of employment, including screening practices and hiring. Because arrest and incarceration rates are so much higher for African Americans and Latinos, an employer that adopts a blanket policy of excluding all applicants with a criminal record might be guilty of race discrimination.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued guidance explaining how employers can screen out applicants whose criminal records pose an unreasonable risk without engaging in discrimination. In deciding whether a particular offense should be disqualifying, employers must consider:

• the nature and gravity of the criminal offense or conduct
• how much time has passed since the offense or sentence, and
• the nature of the job (including where it is performed, how much supervision and interaction with others the employee will have, and so on).

And, the EEOC has said that employers should give applicants with a record an opportunity to explain the circumstances and provide mitigating information showing that the employee should not be excluded based on the offense.

Maryland Law on Consideration of Criminal Records

State laws provide a variety of protections for job seekers with criminal records. Some states prohibit employers from asking about arrest records or records that have been sealed or expunged. Some states have passed laws restricting how employers may use an applicant's criminal record in making job decisions.

Maryland law prohibits employers from asking applicants about criminal charges that have been expunged. In addition, Maryland's Office of Fair Practices has issued guidance for employers, "Guidelines for Pre-Employment Inquiries Technical Assistance Guide," which cautions employers not to ask about an applicant's arrest record or general conviction record. The guidance indicates that employers should ask only about convictions that bear a direct relationship to the job and have not been expunged or sealed. And, the guidance suggests that employers consider the nature of the crime, how recent it was, and any efforts the applicant has made at rehabilitation.