Criminal Offender Record Information Act

Who Can See a CORI?

The CORI database is accessible principally to law enforcement, the courts and other criminal justice agencies. Public housing authorities and landlords who receive government subsidies or operate subsidized housing are eligible to check the database, as are most employers, including schools, hospitals, and day care facilities. The general public can access CORI only if the person in question was recently released from prison or convicted of a felony.

Most employers are allowed or required to do a CORI check on anyone applying for a job. When an employer requests a copy of your criminal record from the state, the information divulged is generally limited to convictions and cases pending. But some employers are allowed to see charges and arraignments as well.

Anyone seeking public housing---including all family members 17 years old and older---can be subject to a CORI search. Housing officials can only see convictions or pending cases; they are not allowed to see records pertaining to a charge that was dismissed or a trial in which you were acquitted. Private landlords cannot check a CORI and may only do so if they own subsidized housing and have permission from the state.

The ACT allows a person to obtain a copy of his or her CORI report. The form must be notarized and sent to the state board along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a payment of $25. If you can't afford the fee, you can fill out an affidavit of indigency to have it fee waived. If you believe there are mistakes on your report, you should contact the jurisdiction in which you were charged and ask for the probation department.

A sealed record is removed from your CORI report when you apply for a job or housing. Only law enforcement and some agencies (especially those that deal with children) will know there is a sealed record and can only access the information through a subpoena. Sealing a CORI takes time. A misdemeanor can be sealed after 10 years. For a felony, it's 15 years. In cases where there was no conviction or the charges were dismissed, you can ask the judge immediately to seal your CORI.