Do Warrants Show Up on Background Checks?

Will a Warrant Show Up on a Background Check?

Whether or not a warrant shows up on a background check depends on how thoroughly an employer (or someone else) is looking. Keep in mind that warrants will likely show up in criminal records, but there's a chance they won't show. We'll break down the different types of warrants to let you know which might show up on a background check.

Bench Warrant

This is a type of warrant issued by a court, and it authorizes police to make an immediate arrest. Typically, bench warrants are issued when someone doesn't appear in either a criminal or civil court. Since bench warrants are issued by a court, they are part of court records and will likely show up on a background check.

Criminal Warrant

This type of warrant is issued when someone is suspected of a crime. For example, if police believe someone has committed a crime based on probable evidence, then police can issue a warrant for that person's arrest.

Unlike bench warrants, criminal warrants are issued by law enforcement. Most criminal warrants will show up on background checks, but in some cases it depends on where the warrant is issued from and who is checking criminal records.

Each state has different laws about who has access to criminal warrants, so whether or not warrants show up on a background check depends on whether or not the person checking the criminal record has access to criminal warrant information. For the most part though, these records are only accessible to law enforcement officials.

Civil Warrant

Civil warrants are mostly issued because a person failed to do as the court ordered. For example, if a judge ordered someone to pay child support and that person failed to do so, then the judge can issue a warrant for that person's arrest. Civil warrants are issued by a judge and included in court records, which means they will likely appear in a background check.

So, Will a Warrant Show Up on a Background Check?

The short answer is yes, warrants will typically show up on a background check report, but it can depend on how thoroughly someone is checking. All warrants are traceable in some way, so it's best to assume that they'll be found. If there's a warrant out on you, be forthright with those running your background check.