Backgroud Check Procedures in NJ

State of New Jersey
Department of Law & Public Safety
Office of the Attorney General
https://www.njsp.org/criminal-history-records/

Volunteer Review Operation (VRO) – Fingerprint-Based New Jersey and Federal Criminal History Record Checks:

Volunteer Review Operation (VRO) – State and Federal Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Checks Requires nonprofit Youth Serving Organizations to register with the VRO for the purposes of obtaining criminal history record checks pursuant to P.L. 1999, c. 432 (C. 15A:3A-1). The organization must provide the following to register:

  1. Short Form of Standing from the Dept. of Treasury: (Division of Revenue Web Site)
  2. Federal Tax Exemption with the IRS – Letter of Determination; and
  3. Agree with and Execute the Memorandum of Understanding.

*If organizations are church or recreation, they only need to provide the executed Memorandum of Understanding*

Upon receipt of documentation, the VRO will supply the organization with an organization specific identification number (6 digit VRN), and detailed instructions for submission.

The VRO will process the applicant fingerprints, review records, and respond to the registered organization with a letter reporting a recommendation of approval or denial.

** The registered organization will not receive a copy of the applicant’s record under this program. The VRO will review and make a determination based on disqualifiers enumerated in law.

VRO Fees:

  • Employees – $57.38
  • Volunteers – $25.38

All fees will be made at the fingerprinting site on the day of the appointment by credit card or electronic debit card.

No personal checks will be accepted.

Applicants are required to use the contracted vendor IDEMIA, which provides the electronic fingerprint live scan services for VRO background checks.

Registered Organization will use the service codes below.
Youth Serving Organization Employee

Service Code 2F1J2G
Contributor case number: VRN number specific to each registered organization

Youth Serving Organization Volunteer
Service Code 2F1J3Y
Contributor case number: VRN number specific to each registered organization

Questions regarding obtaining noncriminal justice criminal history record checks should be directed to the VRO at (609) 882-2000, extension 2762 or Vol_ReviewOps@njsp.org.

Noncriminal Justice Volunteer Background Checks / Volunteer Care Provider (VCP) Program (records from NJ only):

N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq. provides background checks for non-criminal justice volunteers to the following:

  • Any person who volunteers with a qualified entity, as that term is defined by the National Child Protection Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5119, 5119c;
  • Any person who volunteers his or her services to an entity that has been qualified by the Internal Revenue System as exempt from Federal income tax pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3); or
  • Any volunteer of a nonprofit youth serving organization.

There are two (2) options available to a requester under the VCP.

Fingerprint-Based VCP Check (records from NJ only):
A requester may elect to conduct a more thorough check, based on a fingerprint comparison by using the service code provided below. The fee for electronic fingerprinting is $32.13. These responses will be mailed directly to the employers address that is provided by the applicant. The following forms of payment are accepted: VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover prepaid debit cards, or electronic debit (ACH) from a checking account. Accounts will be debited immediately.

YOUR EMPLOYER / VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE, AS RESULTS ARE SENT OUT VIA US MAIL.

Service Code 2F1HRF

Contributor case number: VCP
Name-Based Volunteer Check (records from NJ only):
If only a name-based criminal history record check is desired, please refer to the SBI 212B Form information listed below. The fee for name-based volunteer submissions is reduced to $12.

No personal checks will be accepted.

All inquiries should be directed to the Criminal Information Unit, (609) 882-2000, extension 2918 or CIU@njsp.org.

Criminal History Record Information (CHRI):

The New Jersey State Police frequently receives inquiries from government, business, and citizens on the regulations and procedures for obtaining an individual’s criminal history record. This web site has been developed to assist you in answering the most common questions asked about this process.

New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) 13:59-1 et seq. authorizes the dissemination of New Jersey Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), Identification & Information Technology Section (I&ITS), State Bureau of Identification (SBI) for noncriminal justice purposes. The following entities are authorized to obtain from the SBI all records of convictions in the New Jersey state courts and, regardless of their age, all records of pending arrests and charges for violations of New Jersey laws, unless such records have been expunged:

  • Governmental entities of this state, the federal government, or any other state for any official governmental purpose, including, but not limited to, employment, licensing and the procurement of services;
  • A person or non-governmental entity of any state, that seeks to directly engage the services of the subject of the record, for the purpose of determining the subject’s qualifications for employment, volunteer work or other performance of service;
  • Attorneys-at-law licensed by any state for use in any contested matters docketed in any state or federal court or administrative agencies of this state;
  • Private detectives licensed by the Division of State Police pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:19-8 et seq. for the purposes of obtaining information in the furtherance of the performance of their statutorily authorized functions, as specifically enumerated by N.J.S.A. 45:19-9(a)1 to 9.
  • A person for the purpose of obtaining his/her personal record request.

Requests for CHRI by requesters shall be on forms prescribed by the Superintendent of the State Police, with the exception of Attorneys-at-law who may obtain this information through the lawful issuance of a subpoena.