Will my expunged record show up on a live scan in California?
Asked by: Prof. Soledad Eichmann | Last update: November 22, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (15 votes)
A: For any license or credential given by an agency in CA, any livescan will pull up a person's entire criminal history as it is stored in the DOJ repository. However, agencies prefer to see cases that have been expunged or sealed for dozens of reasons.
Does live scan show expunged records in California?
Live Scan Fingerprinting
Live Scan captures your fingerprints electronically and submits them to government entities for a thorough background check. Unlike SSN-based checks, Live Scan checks are more comprehensive and can reveal even expunged records.
What shows up on a live scan background check in California?
A Live Scan reports all or part of your Summary Criminal History Record, and can also include your Federal Record.
Can employers see expunged records in California?
This means that for a vast majority of the jobs you will be applying for, your expunged conviction will NOT be visible to your potential employer and you have no duty to disclose any convictions that have been expunged, which necessarily drastically increases your marketability.
How far back does a live scan background check go in California?
How far back does a live scan background check go? LiveScan background checks are supposed to report criminal convictions dating back for seven years, although some employers may find it necessary to conduct a more in-depth review of an individual's background.
Live scan record review, What is a record review from the CA DOJ?
What makes you not pass a Live Scan?
Live Scan Surprising Fact #1
Crimes relating to child abuse or elder abuse. Sex Offenses. Convictions or incarcerations in the last 10 years as a result of committing: theft, robbery burglary or any felony.
What is the 7 year rule for criminal background checks in California?
The FCRA includes a seven-year rule that prohibits background check companies from reporting certain types of adverse information that is older than seven years when the position the applicant has applied for pays a salary of less than $75,000 per year, which will be explained below.
What happens when you expunge your record in California?
A dismissal/expungement will:
Result in a new entry in the court record showing the dismissal of the case; Allow you to answer on many, but not all, job applications that you have not been convicted.
What is the new law in California for expungement?
There is a new law in California that went into effect in 2023 called the California Clean Slate Act (SB 731). Under the Clean Slate Act, authorities will automatically expunge – or dismiss – certain arrests and criminal convictions.
How far back can an employer check your criminal record in California?
In California, criminal convictions can only be reported for seven years. Under California civil code (The Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act), any misdemeanors, complaints, indictments, arrests, and convictions older than that cannot be reported on background checks.
How to pass a live scan?
- Expunge or Seal the Cases on your Criminal Record. ...
- Consider a California Exemption. ...
- Be Honest and Take Ownership, Responsibility of Your Past. ...
- Revise your Resume & Craft Character Letters.
What is the new law for background checks in California?
Enacted in 2018, California's Fair Chance Act generally prohibits employers, with five or more employees, from asking a job candidate about their conviction history before making a conditional job offer.
What shows up on a Live Scan background check California?
A: For any license or credential given by an agency in CA, any livescan will pull up a person's entire criminal history as it is stored in the DOJ repository. However, agencies prefer to see cases that have been expunged or sealed for dozens of reasons.
Does the FBI see expunged records?
A Level 2 FBI Background Check
A Level 2 check will even uncover those sealed or expunged records – especially if they involve the mistreatment of children, the elderly, or the disabled.
How do you check if your record has been expunged in California?
The easiest way to check if your criminal record has been expunged is to visit the court where your case was handled and ask to see the records. If the court tells you they don't have your records, it means they were expunged.
Does your criminal record clear after 7 years in California?
Senate Bill 731 automatically clears most felony convictions from your criminal record after 4 years. Under California Senate Bill 731, most state felony convictions will get automatically sealed from your criminal record four years after the case ends.
How to find out if your criminal record has been expunged?
You can contact the court that issued the expungement order to determine if your records have been successfully expunged or sealed.
Can I own a gun after expungement in California?
Thus, even if you have had a conviction expunged in California, you will still have the ban if that conviction was for a felony or for a qualifying misdemeanor that triggered either a ten-year or lifetime ban on owning or possessing a firearm. Unlawfully owning or possessing a firearm is a crime.
Do expunged records show up on fingerprinting California?
Yes – your fingerprints will still be on file at both the state and federal levels. That's because fingerprints are physical records, and expungements do not destroy them. At the state level, your fingerprints won't be connected to your expunged case, but they could still be used to identify you.
Is expungement worth it California?
There are many benefits to expunged convictions. First and foremost, it will give you peace of mind. As expressed in the California Penal Code 1203.4, expungement absolves a person of all discrimination and penalties that can result from a conviction.
What is the new expungement law in California?
A bill that was signed in 2022 to allow California residents to get relief for various types of arrest and criminal records goes into effect on October 1, 2024.
What does a doj live scan look for?
A background check is the review of your criminal history and other relevant records by government agencies or employers. Fingerprints collected through Live Scan are used to match against law enforcement databases to verify if you have a criminal record or other disqualifying history.
How far back does California do background checks?
After employers in California make a conditional employment offer, they may order a criminal background check that goes back only seven years (with some exceptions). Therefore, employers cannot see convictions older than seven years and cannot pass you over based on seven-plus old convictions.
How long is a live scan valid in California?
The live scan results are valid for one year starting from the date you are scanned. After that time has expired you must get a new live scan even if it's for the same thing.