Criminal justice agencies are required to complete various background checks. Please review the information below for information on certain authorized background checks.

Criminal justice contractor background checks

Agencies must perform a fingerprint-based background check on any person who will be inside of your facility unescorted or who will have physical or virtual access to criminal justice data. Agencies must also ensure that contractors have completed Security and Privacy training, which is available in CJIS Online. These steps must be completed prior to granting access. 

BCA Vendor Screening Program

The BCA provides vendor/contractor screening to ensure that vendors whose employees will be exposed to or have access to criminal justice information are screened using the standard set out in section 5.12 of the FBI CJIS Security Policy. 

Criminal justice agencies can also choose to conduct their own background investigations of vendor employees following the same FBI standard. Learn about the BCA Vendor Screening Program.

Liquor license background checks

Under Minnesota law, a retail liquor license may be issued by a city or county only after a police department or sheriff’s office conducts a background check on the applicant. Agencies are authorized to query Minnesota criminal history records on the applicant. If a national criminal history record check is conducted, applicant fingerprints and the Retail Liquor License Consent Form must be submitted to the BCA along with the required fee.

National fingerprint-based background check requirements

Agencies that conduct national fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are required to follow certain FBI processes.

Agencies must provide the applicant with the Privacy Act Statement and the applicant must acknowledge receipt of that statement.

Applicants who are the subject of a national fingerprint-based criminal history record check have certain privacy rights.

General Informed Consent

With the notarized consent of the data subject, anyone may request a criminal history record background check. Use the General Informed Consent Form.

Questioned identity

If your agency interacts with someone who believes that their name was used on someone else’s criminal history record, refer them to the BCA’s Questioned Identity Information. The BCA requires that fingerprints be submitted as part of this process. Your agency can assist by capturing fingerprints and submitting them to the BCA as described on the information sheet.

Information contained in a Minnesota criminal history background check

Watch this video or read this document for a high-level overview of the information agencies receive when conducting a Minnesota criminal history background check.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the above outlined procedures or if you require assistance, you may contact the Criminal History Access Unit at 651-793-2400, option 1.