Criminal Background Checks

Who needs a background check?

• Adoption
  • Adoptive parents
  • All adults living in the adoptive home
• Child Care (North Dakota licensed or regulated child care programs)
  • All individuals providing licensed child care, including self-declaration providers
  • All adult household members of family or group providers (ONLY if operating in your home)
  • All individuals working, volunteering, or providing therapy services in a licensed child care
• Child Care (Out-of-state licensed or regulated child care programs)
• Children's Advocacy Center
• Foster Care Related
  • Licensed Foster Home
  • Relative Caregivers
  • TANF Kinship Caregivers
  • All adult household members in homes providing care
• Guardianship of Children 
  • Only the individuals seeking to be appointed legal guardian
• Guardianship of Adults - Background check process from ND Courts
• Licensed Child Placement Agency Employment
• Residential Facility and Certified Shelter Care Employment
  • Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP) Employees
  • CERTIFIED Shelter Care Employees (Shelter Must Be Certified)
  • Qualified Residential Treatment Facility (QRTP) Employees
  • Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Employees

Where can I get fingerprinted?

• ND DHHS provides 8 fingerprinting locations throughout the state. Please check the table below for the location that covers your county.
  • No fingerprinting fee.
  • You must schedule an appointment.
  • You must bring all your completed authorization forms, including authorization forms for other states to your appointment.
  • You must bring a valid government issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, military ID, passport, tribal ID). If you do not have a valid photo ID, you will not be fingerprinted.
• Law enforcement agencies, or any other agency that is authorized to conduct fingerprinting
  • You are responsible for paying any fees charged for fingerprinting.
  • Contact the agency for days and times they do fingerprinting.
  • You must bring a blank Fingerprint Identity Verification Form (SFN 836) to be completed by the official that rolls your prints.
  • You must bring a valid photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, military ID, passport, tribal ID). If you do not have a valid photo ID, you will not be fingerprinted.
  • Ink-rolled fingerprints MUST be sealed in an envelope by the official that rolled your prints BEFORE giving you the print cards.
  • You are responsible for mailing all your authorization forms, authorization forms for other states and fingerprints to the Criminal Background Check Unit in Bismarck.

What records will be reviewed?

• All background checks include the following:
  • ND criminal record (non-public)
  • FBI Criminal Record (non-public)
  • ND Child Abuse/Neglect Index (non-public)
  • ND Sex Offender Registry
  • ND Offenders Against Children Registry
  • Interstate Child Abuse/Neglect Registry for each state of residence during the previous 5 years.
  • ND Courts Records Inquiry Website
  • MN Trial Court Public Access Website
  • Tribal Court, Child Welfare and Sex Offender Registry (as needed)
• Child Care background checks will also include the following:
  • National Sex Offender Registry (non-public)
  • Interstate Sex Offender Registry for each state of residence during the previous 5 years (non-public).
  • Interstate criminal repository for each state of residence during the previous 5 years (non-public).

FAQs

Q: How many years back do you look for convictions?
A: Lifetime regardless of age, the length of time since conviction, or location (excludes juvenile adjudications).

Q: Do I have to report all convictions or just felonies?
A: All convictions. Failure to disclose a conviction may result in your background check being returned unprocessed.

Q: I was fingerprinted for a concealed weapons permit, teaching license, etc., can I use those finger prints or do I have to have my fingerprints re-done.
A: No. Fingerprints, and the results derived from those prints, can only be used for the purpose stated at the time you were fingerprinted.

Q: Can I use background check results from another state?
A: No. Background check results or criminal record search results are not transferable.

Q: Does my child have to complete a background check if they are home for the summer and living in my home?
A: Yes. Any adult living in the home must complete a background check.

Q: Does my minor child living in my home have to complete a background check if they work in my child care?
A: Yes.

Contact Information

Criminal Background Check Unit
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Department 325
Bismarck, ND 58505-0250
Phone: (701) 328-7575
Toll-Free: (800) 472-2622, 711 (TTY)
Fax: (701) 328-0358
Email: dhscfscbc@nd.gov