Conducting Criminal Record Checks in the District of Columbia

Employers in the District of Columbia are permitted or required to conduct criminal record checks in accordance with these rules.

The Criminal Background Checks for the Protection of Children Act requires that unless an individual has an active federal security clearance, the individual must be notified of and required to undergo criminal background checks for:

• an applicant who is under consideration for paid employment by a covered child or youth services provider
• an applicant who is under consideration for voluntary service in an unsupervised position by a covered child or youth services provider
• an employee of a covered child or youth services provider
• a volunteer who serves a covered child or youth services provider in an unsupervised position

It is unlawful for a person to require the production of an arrest record at the expense of the person to whom the record relates.