Additional Resources Frequently Asked Questions

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 a 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 a 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. Payment may be made by cashier check, certified check, or money order payable to the DIVISION OF STATE POLICE - SBI. No personal checks will be accepted.

The Division of State Police, Criminal Information Unit (CIU) provides criminal history record background checks to any individual requesting a copy of his/her own record. A personal record request is typically for the purpose of:

• GOOD CONDUCT
• IMMIGRATION
• NATURALIZATION
• PERSONAL RECORD
• VISA
• INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION
• FOREIGN BUSINESS
• EXPUNGMENT

An individual may obtain a criminal history record check via electronic live scan at one of the approved sites. The New Jersey State Police uses the live scan fingerprinting services provided by Morpho Trak, Inc., a private company under contract with the State of New Jersey. In order to be fingerprinted for one of the purposes listed above, you are required to contact Morpho Trak to schedule a time and place to have your fingerprints recorded. The quickest and easiest way to schedule your appointment is via the Web at www.bioapplicant.com/nj. Web scheduling is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Applicants who do not have Web access should call Morpho Trak at the company’s toll-free telephone number, 1-877-503-5981 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon). Morpho Trak provides a toll-free TTY telephone number, 1-800-673-0353, for hearing-impaired applicants with a modem-equipped telephone. Spanish-speaking operators are available upon request.

You must download the appropriate Universal Form and bring this form with you to your scheduled fingerprint appointment. In addition to this form, you must bring proper identification as outlined on the form. The home address that you fill out on the attached form should be the same as the home address printed on the identification that you provide to Morpho Trak Inc. YOUR ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE IN ORDER TO PROPERLY MAIL BACK THE RESULTS OF YOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK. To ensure accuracy, please legibly complete blocks #9 thru #26 on the front of this form prior to scheduling your appointment.

The fee for this service is $41.00. Acceptable methods of payment are credit card, electronic debt check or money order. At the time of scheduling your appointment, payment will be required and charged to your account. Appointments must be canceled by noon on the business day prior to your scheduled time (you must cancel by Saturday at noon for a Monday appointment). If you fail to cancel your scheduled appointment, you will forfeit the $11.00 portion of your fingerprint fee that is payable to Morpho Trak. You will also forfeit the $11.00 fee if you fail to bring the Universal Fingerprint Form and proper ID when having your fingerprints scanned.

Failure to utilize the Universal Form for its intended purpose and/or failing to provide complete and accurate information may result in having to be fingerprinted again and incurring additional costs. Questions or revisions to responses must be made within a ninety-day period or the full process will have to be completed again. If you do not receive your response within 10 working days please contact the Criminal Information Unit.

Any questions regarding the use of this form can be directed to the New Jersey State Police, Criminal Information Unit at 609 882-2000 ext. 2918

Please select from the following background checks below:

Applicants that require one of the following fingerprint based background checks and need the results mailed back to the applicant’s address must use form “A”. (A Criminal Hit will result in full disclosure of criminal record)

• Good Conduct
• Immigration
• Naturalization
• Personal Record
• Visa
• Expungement

Applicants that require one of the following fingerprint based background checks and need the results notarized and mailed back to the applicant’s address must use form “B”. (A Criminal Hit will result in full discloser of criminal record)

International Adoption Requiring Notarization

Foreign Business Requiring Notarization

PDF files require a free reader available from Adobe.

N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq. provides background checks for noncriminal justice licensing or employment to the following:

• Governmental entities of this State, the federal government or any other state for any official governmental purpose;

• A person or non-governmental entity of any State for employment, volunteer work or other performance of services;

• Private detectives, licensed by the Division of State Police, for the purposes of obtaining information pursuant to their statutorily authorized functions

There are two (2) options available to a requester to conduct a noncriminal licensing / employment check.

State Fingerprint Check
A requester may elect to conduct a more thorough check, based on a fingerprint comparison by down loading and using the proper Universal Form provided in this section. The fee for electronic fingerprinting is $41.

Applicants that require a fingerprint based background check for employment purposes and need the results mailed back to the applicant’s address must use form “C”. (A Criminal Hit will result in convictions and pending data only)

Employment – response returned to applicant

(If response needs to be returned directly to employer use Form D)

Applicants that require a fingerprint based background check for employment purposes and need the results mailed back to the employer address must use form “D”. (A Criminal Hit will result in conviction and pending data only)

YOUR EMPLOYER ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE IN ORDER TO PROPERLY MAIL BACK THE RESULTS OF YOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK.

See complete instruction on downloaded forms.

Employment – response returned to employer

(If response needs to be returned directly to applicant use Form C)

PDF files require a free reader available from Adobe.

Any questions regarding the information on these forms, or if you fail to receive your response after ten working days once fingerprinted, can be directed to the New Jersey State Police, Criminal Information Unit at 609 882-2000 ext. 2918.

Name Check
The SBI 212B Form was developed to provide these entities with the ability to request criminal history record information by submitting a subject's name, date of birth, social security number, and other descriptive information. These forms will be used for conducting name checks only.

If an authorized requester elects to conduct a more thorough check, based on fingerprint comparison, they may use Universal Form D. These responses will go directly back to the employer address that was listed on the Universal Form completed by applicant.

One SBI 212B Form will be used for each request and the required information must be typed or legibly printed. Photocopies will not be accepted since the forms are color-coded and original signatures are required. All necessary forms required for access will be supplied by the Division of State Police upon written request to the address listed above or by calling (609) 882-2000, extension 2884. The fee for submission of an SBI 212B Form name check is $18.

All fees must be made payable to the Division of State Police-SBI. Acceptable methods of payment are cashiers' check, certified check, business check, or money order. International money orders or checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank.

No personal checks will be accepted.

All SBI 212B forms and payments will be submitted to:

Division of State Police
Attn.: CIU
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628-0068

The state police response for the SBI 212B forms and electronic submission of fingerprint (FORM D) will be mailed to the agency within ten working days.

Further questions regarding obtaining criminal history record background checks or noncriminal justice licensing/employment checks should be directed to the Criminal Information Unit, (609) 882-2000, extension 2918.

N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq. provides background checks for noncriminal 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.

State Fingerprint Check
A requester may elect to conduct a more thorough check, based on a fingerprint comparison by down loading and using Universal Form provided in this section. The fee for electronic fingerprinting is $29. These responses will go directly back to the employer address that was listed on the Universal Form completed by applicant.

YOUR EMPLOYER / VOLUNTEER ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE IN ORDER TO PROPERLY MAIL BACK THE RESULTS OF YOUR CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK.

Name Check
Submission of an SBI 212B Form. The SBI 212B Form was developed to provide entities with the ability to request criminal history record information by submitting a subject's name, date of birth, social security number, and other descriptive information. One SBI 212B Form will be used for each request and the required information must be typed or legibly printed. Photocopies will not be accepted since the forms are color-coded and original signatures are required. The fee for submission of a volunteer SBI 212B Form is $10. These forms will be used for conducting name checks only.

SBI 212B forms are supplied by the Division of State Police upon written request to the address listed below or by calling (609) 882-2000, extension 2765.

All fees must be made payable to the Division of State Police-SBI. Acceptable methods of payment are cashiers' check, certified check, business check, or money order. International money orders or checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank. The state police response for the SBI 212B. Forms and electronic submission of fingerprint (Form VCP) will be mailed to the agency within 10 working days.

Volunteer Care Provider Form - (PDF 41kb)

No personal checks will be accepted.

All SBI 212B forms and payments will be submitted to:

Division of State Police
Attn.: CIU
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628-0068

All inquiries should be directed to the VCP program at (609) 882-2000 x 2918.

Requires nonprofit youth serving organizations to register with the VRO for the purposes of obtaining criminal background checks pursuant to P.L. 1999, c. 432 (C. 15A:3A-1). The agency 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.

Applicants are required to use the contract vendor Morpho Trak Inc. which provides the electronic fingerprint live scan services for VRO background checks. Instructions and Universal Applicant Forms may be downloaded below.

The VRO program will supply the agency with an agency specific identification number (VRN# 6 digit), a Universal Finger Print Live Scan Form, and detailed instructions for submission.

The VRO will process the applicant fingerprint cards, review records**, and respond to the registered agency with a letter reporting a recommendation of approval or denial.

** The registered agency 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.

All fees will be made at the time of scheduling by credit card or electronic debit card.
No personal checks will be accepted.

Further questions regarding obtaining noncriminal justice background checks through the VRO at (609) 882-2000, extension 2762.

PDF files require a free reader available from Adobe.

Application Document for Non-Profit Organizations Only - (PDF 122kb)

Application Document for Church/Government Use Only - (PDF 122kb)

Registered Organization may download Universal Form below.

** Block number 7 (VRN#) on Universal Form must be 6 characters and does not support the alpha letter O, only the numeric number zero (0).

YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATION VOLUNTEER - (PDF 41kb)

YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATION EMPLOYEE - (PDF 41kb)

If you need a background check within the state of New Jersey but are no longer a resident, please call the Division of State Police, Criminal Information Unit, (609) 882-2000 Ext. 2918. We will supply you with a package, including a fingerprint card and full instructions.