Do you legally have to report past crimes on work applications? How?

When you apply for a job, the employer asks you questions about your criminal history. If they decide to offer you the job, it's very likely they will look at your criminal background report before hiring you. A criminal background report will show all arrests and convictions in your past history. So if you say you have no convictions or arrests, but the employer runs your criminal background report and finds that you are lying, you will look bad. Your best option is to find out in advance what is showing up on your criminal background report so you will know what potential employers will see. You can buy a copy of your criminal background report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol on their website for around $10. For the most thorough background check, you can go to the police headquarters in the county where you live and ask for a copy of your criminal background report. They will fingerprint you, and they may charge a small fee, but that will be the best way to get the most thorough background report.

If they check your record it would come up. Lying on an application is grounds for an immediate dismissal.

There is no law governing decisions to not hire or to discharge for falsification of an employment application, or what is lawfully required to be disclosed. What ever the employer says is final. No right to sue, no right to appeal, etc. You should look closely at the question asked, and then be truthful. I have seen valuable employees of 20+ years discharged for minor crimes that were not disclosed on the employment application. While many employees will overlook minor events, they will not overlook dishonest answers on the employment appl. When in doubt, disclose. You may receive a copy of your criminal history report. Below is from the GBI web page, http://gbi.georgia.gov/ Click "services" Obtaining Criminal History Record Information Georgia criminal history records can be obtained from local Sheriff's or Police Departments. Please contact a local Georgia agency about specific requirements for obtaining a copy of your Georgia criminal history record.

No law requires you to report any convictions. If they find them, they may not hire you if the question requires disclosure.

It's not illegal, but they would most likely find out in a background check. Not disclosing could cause you to not be hired.