GUIDE
Arrest vs. Conviction: Reading a Tenant Screening Report
An arrest shows that police took someone into custody. A conviction shows how the court ruled. When an apartment screening report lists a case, check the disposition, the court's final outcome, before you assume it's a conviction.
Read the whole entry, not just the label
A complete case entry lists the court, case number, charge, dates and final outcome. An arrest or a charge by itself doesn't prove guilt, and a pending case doesn't have a final outcome yet. A dismissal and an acquittal aren't the same outcome, but neither one should be listed as a conviction.
An example of a missing outcome
Say a report lists an arrest in 2023 and leaves the outcome blank. The court actually dismissed that case in 2024, so what you dispute is the missing dismissal. Save the entry, get the disposition from the clerk of the court that handled the case and ask the screening company to look into the incomplete entry. A dismissed case that's reported correctly doesn't always have to come off the report.
Before you apply again
- Match the case number and identifying details to your own records.
- Don't mix up the original charge with the offense you were convicted of, if any.
- Tell us if a case is still pending. We check how each property treats a pending case compared with a conviction.
- If something is wrong, follow the background report dispute steps and keep copies of your evidence.
Reporting limits and property selection rules are separate questions. See FTC: tenant background checks and your rights for an overview of your reporting rights. A corrected outcome gets the facts right, but the apartment still makes its own decision.
Published by the Felon Friendly Apartment Team. This is general renter information. Each property makes its own decisions, and questions about your own case belong with a lawyer or legal aid.
Common Questions
Can an arrest with no conviction show up on an apartment screening report?
It can. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, arrest records older than seven years can't be reported in most cases. Convictions don't have that federal time limit. Texas adds its own seven year rule for many reports.
Can a property turn me down over an arrest that didn't lead to a conviction?
Policies differ by property. Some written rules count only convictions. Others look at more of the record. We check how each community's criteria treat your case before you pay to apply.
What does disposition mean on a report?
It's the court's final outcome, like convicted, dismissed, acquitted or deferred adjudication. A pending case has no disposition yet. If the report leaves it blank, get a copy from the court clerk.
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