Does a misdemeanor come up on a background check?

Will an ordinance violation, classified lower than a misdemeanor, show up on a fingerprint background check?

• Will an ordinance violation, classified lower than a misdemeanor, show up on a fingerprint background check? Will an ordinance violation show up on a fingerprint background check? I reside in Florida. I was cited with an Ordinance Violation 10 years ago (I was 17, which is an adult in the state of WI) in the state of Wisconsin. I paid a fine and never went to court or had any other repercussions. I was offered a job and they required me to submit to a finger-print background check. On the Background Check Auth and Release, it said 'have you ever been or are you currently being tried for/charged with a misdemeanor or felony?' so I answered 'NO' which is the truth either way since it isn't even a misdemeanor on my background. I asked the clerk at the Municipal court and she said it is possible for it to show on a deep Background check BUT it would show as a citation, not a misdemeanor. At this point, what's done is done and I am just curious of what others think. Thanks for any help!! ... (ps) - I have held 4 other jobs, it never came up, but this it the 1st time I have ever had to give a fingerprint since it is with a financial institution ... (pps) - The ordinance violation was for 'petty shoplifting'. *** PLEASE DON'T ANSWER IF YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE UP A JUDGEMENT OR OPINION ON THE 'MORALITY OR ETHICS' OF MY ACTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHETHER YOU THINK WHAT I DID WAS WRONG OR NOT. ALL I AM LOOKING FOR IS SOME IMPARTIAL INSIGHT. THANK YOU. ***

• Answer:

  This is what is called an infraction in many states or as you describe it an ordinance violation. They are non-criminal (handled as civil or administrative matters), and typically have fixed monetary penalties (and never jail time). You have answered the question correctly when you said "no" to conviction for a felony or misdemeanor. It is unclear what type of "Background Check" you are getting done, but if it is a National Agency Check (generally required for a secret security clearance) that won't show up. It might show up, but nobody will care much about it ('they' may ask, just answer flatly, calmly and accurately and it will be forgotten before the interview is over, if you get excited or defensive about it, you will just stimulate interest) for a Special Background Investigation, as for a Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information programs, Personal Reliability Programs (nuclear), some Communications Security positions, A word of caution, take it easy on the all caps (that is an example of not having a flat, calm attitude).