After being charged with a crime, you may feel like your life is over. However, everyone deserves a second chance and once you have served your punishment for whatever crime you committed, you may have the chance to get back to a normal life by applying to new jobs or moving to a new place. One concern you may have regarding life after a criminal charge is what will show up on your Texas background check and how that may affect you.
Sophia Martinez Law is a Texas law firm with experience helping clients protect their rights and interests. It is important you understand what may be visible on a background check and how that may negatively impact you when applying to jobs, looking to lease a home, or even maintaining relationships.
What Comes Up in a Texas Background Check?
Being charged with a crime in Texas can leave a person feeling as if there are not many opportunities for them in the future. However, that is not the case. Everyone deserves a chance to restart their life after they have served their punishment for a crime.
Whether you are leasing an apartment or applying for jobs, a background check is common and often required in order for you to get approved or hired. When a background check is run on you in Texas, the following may come up:
- Charges
- Case numbers
- Sentencing
- Offense type
- Dates
- Jurisdictions
- Pending charges
If you are unsure how a Texas background check may affect you in your daily life or future plans, you should consult a Texas criminal defense lawyer.
How Far Back Can a Background Check Go in the State of Texas?
In the state of Texas, you can expect a background check for a job to cover the last seven years of your criminal history. However, there are exceptions to this rule. A job background check may cover more than seven years of your criminal history in the following scenarios:
- You applied for a job above a certain income level which is typically $75,000 a year at a minimum
- You applied for a job with an insurance company
- You applied for a job at a government agency
- You applied for a job that requires you to perform in-home services or deliveries
- You applied for a company that performs the background check internally
Many scenarios in which the background check will go beyond the seven-year rule will go all the way back to a person’s 17th birthday. Additionally, individuals who have been charged with a felony, as opposed to a misdemeanor, may face additional adversities when a background check is completed.
Prior arrests and criminal history are public information. Depending on the type of case and the resolution, there may be a way to expunge or non-disclose the criminal history. Sophia Martinez has the knowledge and experience to assist you.
While it may seem like there is no hope after a background check has left you in a difficult position, a criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you by protecting your rights and interests as they help you begin a new chapter in your life.
Get Help From a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Former Assistant District Attorney Sophia C. Martinez has extensive experience in defending people accused of crimes throughout the State of Texas. With over 25 years of supporting the accused during their fight for justice, Sophia Martinez Law is prepared to fight for you.
To schedule a free evaluation to better understand your rights in regards to background checks in Texas, contact the Sophia Martinez Law office today by completing our contact form or calling (210) 226-3000. Our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We also speak Spanish.