Criminal charge and court outcome translator
Find the plain-English meaning of a court record term, then check what the outcome does—and does not—tell you about reporting.
Short answer
Does a dismissed or deferred charge count as a conviction on a background check?
Not always. The court's label alone is not enough: examine any plea, finding, supervision, dismissal, sealing order and applicable reporting law. In Aldaco v. RentGrow, the Seventh Circuit held that a guilty plea followed by supervision and dismissal was a conviction under the federal FCRA definition, despite its state-law disposition. That ruling does not classify every deferred case.
Look up a court outcome
Search by court term or question. Each result has a dedicated link you can share.
14 outcomes found
Dismissed charge
The court ended the charge without a conviction on that charge. A dismissal does not necessarily erase the arrest or earlier proceedings.
Read outcome →Nolle prosequi
The prosecutor chose not to proceed with a charge at that point. It is not an acquittal or a conviction by itself.
Read outcome →Acquittal / not guilty
The fact finder did not find the defendant guilty of the charge. This is not a conviction.
Read outcome →Pending charge
A criminal charge remains unresolved. It is not a conviction.
Read outcome →Conviction
A finding or plea of guilt resulting in a conviction under the applicable framework. The precise classification of a particular disposition can require legal analysis.
Read outcome →Guilty plea
A defendant formally admits guilt in court. Later dismissal or deferral does not necessarily erase the plea's significance under federal reporting law.
Read outcome →No-contest / nolo contendere plea
A defendant does not contest the charge but does not expressly admit guilt. The resulting judgment and local law determine how the outcome is classified.
Read outcome →Deferred adjudication
The court postpones a final adjudication while conditions are completed. What happens afterward, including dismissal, depends on the jurisdiction and case.
Read outcome →Deferred judgment
Entry of judgment is postponed while the person completes court-ordered terms. The effect of completion differs by jurisdiction and the actual plea and court orders.
Read outcome →Deferred disposition
The court delays final resolution while conditions are completed. Possible later dismissal does not by itself describe what plea or findings occurred.
Read outcome →Judicial diversion
A court-supervised alternative that can lead to dismissal after specified conditions. Programs differ, including whether there was any plea or finding of guilt.
Read outcome →Deferred sentence
The court postpones sentencing or its final effect while conditions are met. The plea, judgment and eventual disposition determine its significance.
Read outcome →Expunged record
A record was removed or restricted through a legal process. The precise effect varies by jurisdiction and order.
Read outcome →Sealed record
Access to the court record is restricted under a statute or court order. Sealing is not always identical to expungement.
Read outcome →Why a deferred dismissal needs a closer look
See Aldaco v. RentGrow, Inc., 921 F.3d 685 (7th Cir. 2019) (Easterbrook, J.). The case concerned a tenant-screening report, a guilty plea to battery, court supervision and a later dismissal; the record had not been expunged. The court held that federal, not state, law supplied the meaning of “conviction” for the FCRA reporting-time exception in that case. It did not hold that every diversion program, dismissal or sealed record is reportable.
For the reporting limits, read 15 U.S.C. § 1681c(a). For employment decisions, also review the lookback lookup and individualized assessment worksheet.
Example results
These scenarios are fictional. Each result below is what the tool returns for those exact inputs.
Dismissed vs. Expunged
Inputs
- • Search: dismissed
Result
Dismissed charge — Court ended the charge without a conviction...
Distinguishes between a case ending and a case being legally erased (expunged), which affects reporting eligibility.
Deferred Outcomes
Inputs
- • Search: deferred adjudication
Result
Deferred adjudication — The court postpones final adjudication...
Links the outcome to the Aldaco v. RentGrow ruling regarding how federal law defines 'conviction' for FCRA purposes.
Nolle Prosequi
Inputs
- • Search: nolle
Result
Nolle prosequi — The prosecutor chose not to proceed...
Translates technical terms and provides context for non-conviction outcomes under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c.
How the tool works
- • Lexical search against a curated database of common U.S. criminal court dispositions and their typical FCRA reporting implications.
- • Contextualizes state-specific terminology against federal reporting standards as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 1681c.
- • No record is uploaded or interpreted automatically; the tool provides definitions and legal context based on the Aldaco v. RentGrow framework.
Limits and exclusions
- • Court definitions are general and may not apply to specific unique case facts, pleas, or local court rules.
- • Does not account for every state-level 'Ban the Box' or Fair Chance law restriction on using certain outcomes.
- • A definition is not a determination of reportability; review actual court documents and applicable law with counsel.
Primary sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c — Reporting Restrictions
- Aldaco v. RentGrow — Court Opinion
- EEOC — Arrest and Conviction Records Guidance
Links checked February 15, 2025.