Will a Criminal Charge Show Up on a Background Check in Minnesota?

What a Background Check Can Show

Minnesota criminal records are kept by the courts, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and — for driving-related matters — Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS). Depending on the type and depth of the check, a background report may show:

• Pending charges — a case that's still open;
• Arrests — even without a conviction, though their use is restricted (see below);
• Convictions — the most significant, and what most employers focus on; and
• Case dispositions — how a case ended (dismissed, acquitted, convicted, diverted).

Pending Charges vs. Convictions

A pending charge can appear on a background check while your case is open, which is one reason resolving a case matters. But a pending charge or an arrest is treated very differently from a conviction. Employers face limits on using arrests that didn't lead to conviction — in the City of Minneapolis, for instance, an employer generally can't base an adverse decision on an arrest alone. And a case that ends in dismissal or acquittal is a very different record than a conviction.

What this means for you: How your case ends directly shapes what a future background check tells an employer. A dismissal or a reduction isn't just better for your immediate situation — it's better for every background check you'll face for years.

The 2025 Clean Slate Act Seals Many Records Automatically

This is the biggest recent development. Effective January 1, 2025, Minnesota's Clean Slate Act automatically seals (expunges) many eligible criminal records after a period of staying clean — without you having to file anything. The BCA and courts are working through millions of eligible records. Broadly, many eligible misdemeanors seal after about two years and many eligible felonies after about five years of a clean record — though certain serious offenses, including violent crimes, DWI, and offenses against children, remain visible. Once a record is sealed, employers generally cannot lawfully use it.

Expungement for Records That Don't Auto-Seal

If a record doesn't qualify for automatic sealing, you may still be able to petition for expungement to seal it from most background checks. Eligibility depends on the offense, the outcome, and how much time has passed. (See our page on expungement in Minnesota.)

How Far Back Do Background Checks Go?

Many commercial background checks operate under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which sets a common seven-year reporting baseline for certain information (with exceptions, including for higher-salary positions). Older convictions also tend to receive less weight. But there's no single universal cutoff, and some records — and some types of checks (for jobs involving children, vulnerable adults, finance, or security clearance) — go deeper.

The Bottom Line

A criminal charge can appear on a background check, but the picture is far from fixed. What shows depends on the outcome of your case, the type of check, and whether the record has sealed or can be expunged. Because the disposition drives what future checks reveal, fighting for the best possible outcome — and pursuing sealing afterward — is how you limit the long-term visibility of a charge.