Background checks falling short
Twenty states say that as many as 30 percent of their case files do not include a final ruling, making it unclear whether someone who was arrested was convicted. Because African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population but 28 percent of all arrests, some advocates say the inaccuracy of case files puts higher numbers of African Americans at risk when applying for jobs that require background checks. Overall, the number of FBI background checks for employers has increased six fold since 2002. Read related article.

U.S. population
in 2010
Blacks
13%
All other
races
Total U.S. arrests
in 2010
Blacks
arrested
28%
All
others
Number of FBI background checks
For employment and licensing purposes each year, in millions
16.9 million
2.8
million
16
12
8
4
0
’02
’04
’06
’08
’10
’12
Arrests in state criminal record databases
Percentage of arrests that have final dispositions recorded
0
50
70
90 100%
Not provided.
SOURCE: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice; U.S. Census Bureau; National Employment Law Project. GRAPHIC: Tobey - The Washington Post. Published July 27, 2013.