Will a federal felony show up on a background check?
Asked by: Lauretta Dibbert | Last update: January 26, 2026Score: 5/5 (34 votes)
Yes, a federal felony will almost always show up on a thorough background check, especially one that accesses federal court records via databases like PACER, because federal convictions for crimes like tax evasion, bank fraud, or kidnapping are public records and often remain on a record indefinitely unless expunged, which is rare for federal offenses. Even if an employer runs only a state check, a comprehensive background screening service often includes both state and federal searches, revealing these federal convictions.
Do federal charges show up on a background check?
Federal checks typically include convictions for federal crimes that may not show up on state or county-level criminal record checks. Common federal crimes employers might see on a federal background check include: Fraud. Embezzlement.
How long does a felony stay on your background?
A felony generally stays on your record permanently unless you take specific legal action like expungement, sealing, or pardon, which are available in some states depending on the offense and your conduct, but severe felonies are often excluded, making them visible on background checks indefinitely. While some state laws (like California's Clean Slate) automate record sealing for certain offenses after a period, others require you to petition the court, and a conviction itself is a lifelong record.
Can a convicted felon be hired by the federal government?
Yes, you can work for the Federal Government if you have a criminal record and were formerly incarcerated. People with criminal records are eligible to apply to most federal jobs, however there are some exceptions.
What's the difference between a regular background check and a federal background check?
A federal criminal background check searches through 94 federal United States district and appellate court databases. These are separate and distinct databases from those used for national checks. A federal background check will reveal any convictions prosecuted at the federal level.
What Shows Up? FBI Background Check Part II
What is the hardest background check to pass?
The hardest background checks are typically US government security clearances (especially Top Secret/SCI) and those for high-level law enforcement, involving deep dives into criminal, financial (credit), employment, and personal history (interviews with associates) via extensive forms like the SF-86, far exceeding standard employment screening. These checks scrutinize all life aspects for integrity, reliability, and potential security risks, often requiring disclosure of past drug use, financial issues, and undisclosed criminal records, making them incredibly difficult to pass if issues exist.
What shows up on a federal background check?
The FBI background check will include a comprehensive criminal record check against the FBI's national database, which will include arrest and conviction history, as well as traffic violations and even parking tickets.
What disqualifies you from a federal background check?
Federal employment background checks disqualify candidates for issues like serious criminal history (especially felonies, treason, espionage), dishonesty (lying on applications), financial irresponsibility (major debt, loan defaults, tax issues), recent illegal drug use, and sometimes concerning foreign contacts or mental health conditions that affect job performance, with specific bans for severe offenses like domestic violence (affecting firearm possession) or terrorism. Disqualification depends on the job's sensitivity, with some crimes leading to permanent bans, while others are reviewed case-by-case.
Can you work for USPS with a felony?
It is Postal Service policy to evaluate the employability of each applicant with a criminal conviction record individually. The fact that an applicant has a criminal conviction record is not sufficient to disqualify that applicant from postal employment.
What jobs can a convicted felon not get?
While there's no universal "forbidden" list, felons often face significant barriers in jobs requiring licenses (teaching, law, healthcare), government roles (police, security clearance), finance (banking, trading), transportation (pilots, conductors), and any position involving vulnerable populations (children, elderly), with restrictions varying by state and the nature of the conviction, especially for crimes related to honesty, violence, or substance abuse.
Does being a convicted felon stay with you for life?
A felony conviction stays on your criminal record permanently in California, unless you're able to get it dismissed or sealed through a legal process. This means that any time someone runs a background check on you – such as an employer, landlord, or lender – your felony conviction will show up.
What's worse, felony 1 or felony 3?
A first-degree felony is significantly worse than a third-degree felony, representing the most serious level of felony crimes, often involving severe violence or premeditation, while third-degree felonies are less severe but still carry substantial penalties, with specific punishments varying by state, but generally involving years in prison. In most jurisdictions, the numbering goes from 1 (most serious) down to 3 or 4 (less serious felonies).
Will my job find out I got a felony?
Even if you don't tell your employer, they might find out anyway. Here's how: Background checks include pending cases, not just convictions. Mugshots get posted online, and coworkers might see them.
How strict is a federal background check?
Regardless of the type of background check, you will at least need to answer questions about where you've lived, worked, went to school, and any military history or police records. You'll also need to have your fingerprints taken if you've never worked for the Federal Government.
Why didn't my felony show up?
The conviction may have been expunged. Like sealing, expungement permanently removes a criminal conviction from someone's record. It is as if the conviction never occurred in the first place. Many jurisdictions allow for some form of criminal record expungement based on time and other factors.
Can someone with a felony get a federal job?
An individual can work for the Federal Government if they have a criminal record. This is true even if they were formerly incarcerated.
Can you get hired at UPS as a felon?
YES, UPS does hire felons on an individual basis. The company does not have a blanket statement with regard to the hiring of felons. Felons with recent convictions and or convictions related to theft or violence MAY have a harder time, but should not be discouraged from applying anyway.
What does having a felony prevent you from doing?
Felons often lose rights to vote, own firearms, and serve on juries, face significant employment and housing barriers, and may be ineligible for certain public benefits, professional licenses, student aid, or military service, with specific restrictions varying greatly by state and conviction, though many rights can potentially be restored through pardons or expungements.
Can a felon pass a federal background check?
An arrest or conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier for most jobs with the federal government or federal contractors. With only certain exceptions, a federal government agency or a federal contractor may not ask whether you have a criminal record until after they have made you a conditional job offer.
What looks bad on a background check?
Job-related criminal records are red flags because they reflect the relationship between the candidate's past behavior and the performance expected on the job. For instance, recent convictions for writing bad checks or theft are red flags for candidates applying for accounting positions.
Why would you fail a federal background check?
Federal employment background checks disqualify candidates for issues like serious criminal history (especially felonies, treason, espionage), dishonesty (lying on applications), financial irresponsibility (major debt, loan defaults, tax issues), recent illegal drug use, and sometimes concerning foreign contacts or mental health conditions that affect job performance, with specific bans for severe offenses like domestic violence (affecting firearm possession) or terrorism. Disqualification depends on the job's sensitivity, with some crimes leading to permanent bans, while others are reviewed case-by-case.
What is the difference between a background check and a federal background check?
The most important difference between federal criminal background checks and county or state searches is the scope of the search. Federal background checks are limited to federal crimes and courts.
What causes a red flag on a background check?
Red flags on a background check are inconsistencies or negative findings like criminal history (especially violent or financial crimes), employment/education discrepancies (lying about degrees or dates), poor credit, failed drug tests, or unprofessional social media that raise concerns about a candidate's integrity, judgment, or suitability for a role. Major red flags include criminal records, dishonesty, financial irresponsibility (for financial roles), and substance abuse issues.
What makes you not pass a criminal background check?
Warning signs on a background check include multiple periods of unexplained unemployment, inconsistent information, short periods of employment, minimal relevant job experience, no required education or training, professional license issues, dangerous criminal convictions, job-related criminal convictions, bad ...
When should I be worried about a background check?
So, if you are worried about passing a background check, it's best to look into how long it has been since your last conviction. If it has been more than seven years, you have no worries about any job you may seek.