Your CORI rights

CORI makes it harder to get a job, housing, or even volunteer at your child’s school. Even if your criminal record is very old, it can still create problems.

The CORI report you get from DCJIS does not include:

• Restraining orders to prevent abuse or harassment. But if criminal charges are filed against you for violating a restraining order, those charges will be on your CORI report.
• Child abuse or neglect reports from the Department of Children and Families. Sometimes these reports are called “51A reports.”
• Any offenses from the juvenile courts unless the juvenile offense was transferred from the juvenile court to another court.

• You have the right to get a copy of your CORI report.
• You have the right to fix mistakes on your CORI report.
• You have the right to seal misdemeanors in 3 years.
• You have the right to seal felonies in 7 years.
• If you apply for housing or jobs, no one can send for a copy of your CORI report without your permission.
• It is against the law for anyone to ask you to give them a copy of a CORI report that you got on yourself.
• You have the right to know who asks for copies of your CORI.
• You have the right to say “I have no record” when your records are sealed when you apply for housing, jobs or an occupational license. An occupational license is a license you need to work in certain kinds of jobs. For example, to be a nurse or an electrician.

If the cases are old enough, you have a right to seal most cases by mail. You can seal cases for possession of small amounts of marijuana by mail without a waiting period.

Learn more about sealing a criminal record by mail and about sealing or expunging marijuana cases (article coming soon).

You have the right to ask a judge to seal any case when:

• you were found not guilty,
• your case was dismissed, or
• the CORI reports says “NP” or “nolle prosequi” which means the district attorney dropped the case. The district attorney is the lawyer who tried to prove that you were guilty.

You have a right to ask a judge to seal a conviction for drug possession if it was the first time you were convicted for drug possession.

Learn more about sealing a criminal record in court.

• When you first apply for a job, the law makes it illegal for most employers to ask any questions about your CORI.
• An employer must give you a copy of the CORI report before asking you about anything in the report.
• If an employer decides not to hire you because of your CORI report or criminal background report, the employer must give you a copy of the report.
• You have a right to say “I have no record” when you apply for jobs after your records are sealed.

What employers can see on the CORI record will depend on what kind of job you applied for. Most employers only see convictions. 

Learn more about criminal records and applying for jobs.

When you apply to rent housing, the landlord or agency that you want to rent from can ask permission to get your CORI report. The landlord or agency must give you a copy of the report before asking you about anything in the report.

If your application is denied because of your CORI, you must be given a copy of the report.

Learn more about criminal records and housing.

If you are not in jail, you can vote.

If you were convicted of a felony and you are not in jail, you can vote.

If you went to jail, but you are not in jail now, you can vote.

The only time you cannot vote is while you are in jail if you were convicted of a felony.