All resources

Dismissed charge on a background check

The court ended the charge without a conviction on that charge. A dismissal does not necessarily erase the arrest or earlier proceedings.

Short answer

Does a dismissed charge show up on a background check?

The court ended the charge without a conviction on that charge. A dismissal does not necessarily erase the arrest or earlier proceedings. A dismissal is generally a non-conviction outcome, but whether the record may appear depends on the underlying events, record age, sealing, and applicable law.

What dismissed charge means

The court ended the charge without a conviction on that charge. A dismissal does not necessarily erase the arrest or earlier proceedings.

Can it appear on a background check?

A dismissal is generally a non-conviction outcome, but whether the record may appear depends on the underlying events, record age, sealing, and applicable law.

A court term is not a hiring recommendation. Review the underlying docket and any subsequent orders; confirm accuracy, permitted reporting, and the rules that apply in the work location before making a decision.

Sources and next steps

Explore all court outcomes · Check lookback rules