Iowa State Background Check Laws

Johnson County

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution banning the box from county job applications in June 2018, with the exception of positions that are required to have a background check due to the nature of the work being performed.

Background checks will be delayed until after an applicant is interviewed, and individualized assessments will be performed on the background check information.

Linn County

In May 2018, the Linn County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to ban the box from county job applications and delay background checks until after an applicant is selected for an interview. Individualized assessments of an applicant’s criminal history will be made.

St. Louis

In March 2013, St. Louis stopped automatically disqualifying job applicants with prior felonies from applying for city positions. In October 2014, St, Louis banned the box from its job applications.

The city only requires background checks for certain sensitive positions. Criminal background screening occurs later in the hiring process. EEOC criteria will be used to conduct individualized assessments.

Cities Include: Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport,  Sioux City, Iowa City, Waterloo, Ames, West Des Moines, Ankeny and more.

Note: This information is not intended to be legal advice. Please consult with your own legal counsel for advice related to your state/locality.