Federal · Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

5 U.S.C. § 9202: Limitations on requests for criminal history record information

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Federal agencies cannot request criminal history information from civil service job applicants before making a conditional job offer, except in specific positions involving law enforcement, security clearances, or sensitive duties as defined by regulation.

Read the full statutory text
Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), an employee of an agency may not request, in oral or written form (including through the Declaration for Federal Employment (Office of Personnel Management Optional Form 306) or any similar successor form, the USAJOBS internet website, or any other electronic means) that an applicant for an appointment to a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information regarding the applicant before the appointing authority extends a conditional offer to the applicant. The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to an applicant for a position in the civil service if consideration of criminal history record information prior to a conditional offer with respect to the position is otherwise required by law. that requires a determination of eligibility described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of section 9101(b)(1)(A); as a Federal law enforcement officer (as defined in section 115(c) of title 18 ); or identified by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management in the regulations issued under paragraph (2). The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall issue regulations identifying additional positions with respect to which the prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply, giving due consideration to positions that involve interaction with minors, access to sensitive information, or managing financial transactions. be consistent with, and in no way supersede, restrict, or limit the application of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) or other relevant Federal civil rights laws; and ensure that all hiring activities conducted pursuant to the regulations are conducted in a manner consistent with relevant Federal civil rights laws.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.