Can a Sex Offender Pass a Background Check: What You Need to Know

The Sex Offender Registry was created in 1996 to ensure that people who have committed sexual offenses register so the public can be better informed. This law was passed after Megan Kanka was raped and murdered by a neighbor who had sexual convictions in the past, which was unknown to the family because the offenses were private.

The sex offender registry has been an invaluable tool to keep kids, families, and vulnerable people safe for over thirty years. Without it, people are in the dark about those around them, which can prove disastrous and tragic.

This article will answer the question, “Can a sex offender pass a background check?” We will go over what jobs they are not likely to be qualified for, and which ones may be more lenient toward their past offenses. To put it bluntly, a sex offender can pass a background check, but they may have to go through a lot of rejections to get there.

Will Sexual Offenses Show Up on a Background Check

Background checks can come in many shapes and sizes, and while some will look into your driving record and educational background, others will settle for basic employment history. That being said, almost all criminal background checks will check the sex offender registry, so it is a justifiable concern for those who are on it.

There is some variability in sex offenses based on state. Commonly, criminal background checks will only go back seven years. However, this is not the case for sex offenses, which will remain on an individual’s permanent record for the foreseeable future. This may differ in your own state, though most will have to learn to explain the reason for the offense.

The types of things that will be shown to potential employers and landlords when a person is registered in the sex offender registry are numerous. Details include the state or county in which the offense took place and where they are registered, the address of the individual, and any identifying physical traits like birthmarks, tattoos, etc.

Can You Get A Job as a Sex Offender?

Whether or not you can get employed as a sex offender will come down to a lot of different factors, and the truth is, the path ahead will be a difficult and stressful one. The first thing to know is that public outrage is always possible, whether a sex offender is looking for a place to live or work.

The second thing to be aware of is that any job that puts a sex offender around vulnerable parts of the population is going to receive incredible backlash. Most employers who have customers with children, disabilities, or concerns for safety will not hire someone with a history of sexual offenses.

A sex offender is not likely to find employment in the following sectors:

• Education
• Shelters, daycares, and certain non-profits
• Government
• Certain customer service professions
• Jobs involving children
• In-house professions
• Healthcare

However, there are still professions that need non-disabled people who will take sex offenders, though they are typically difficult and taxing. Several factory jobs will look past sex offenses, and it is not uncommon to be hired in large distribution centers where the majority of your time is spent on or near machines instead of the public.

Sex offenders should also consider back-of-house positions in restaurants, transportation jobs (particularly for long-haul or regional trucking), warehouse work, and even the trades. Bear in mind that your status as a sex offender may get disclosed, and coworkers may not be understanding.

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Can Sex Offenders Pass a Background Check? A Brief Summary

Sex offenders consenting to a background check should expect the offense to pop up. This means that they may face rejection, sincere public scrutiny, or, in the best-case scenario, a chance to explain the offense to a empathetic employer or landlord. Whether or not a sex offender can pass a background check will depend on what they are applying for.

Common sense will play a part in passing a background check. A person should not expect to get a teaching position if they have been convicted of improprieties with a child. That said, a factory is less likely to reject a sex offender than a hospital, and there are still sectors where employers will look past a person’s sex offender status.