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Applicant Background Checks

As authorized by law, criminal history information is provided for non-criminal justice purposes, such as employment screening and licensure. The fee-supported applicant program has grown dramatically in recent years as Congress and the Legislature continue to expand background check requirements. Annually, our staff processes approximately 94,000 applicant fingerprint cards and conducts about 30,000 name-based background checks. Non-law enforcement, non-criminal justice agencies, and individuals may receive records maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) through the methods outlined below. This service is often used to conduct licensing and employment screening background checks. It also provides criminal background checks for personal inquiries. Idaho code 67-3008 (6) states, “A person or private agency, or public agency, other than the department, shall not disseminate criminal history record information obtained from the department to a person or agency that is not a criminal justice agency or a court without a signed release of the subject of record or unless otherwise provided by law.”

Our lobby is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Closed on government-observed holidays.

No appointment is necessary for fingerprinting.
 
Fingerprinting is only available at the Headquarters Office in Meridian – This service is not available at the district offices.

Applicant Unit

Email
700 S. Stratford Dr, #120
Meridian, ID 83642

Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Excluding government holidays

Dessi Tulilova
Applicant Unit Supervisor
208-884-7159

Kortney Swartzfager
Applicant Unit Lead
208-884-7201

Nicki Streb
Applicant Unit Lead
208-884-7154

Fingerprinting Process

700 S. Stratford Dr, Suite 120
Meridian, ID 83642

Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed government holidays
No appointment necessary

Fee:

  • $10.00 for the first card
  • $5.00 for each additional card

Cash, check, or credit card accepted with an additional $1.00 plus 2.5% of the total transaction for payments made with credit or debit card.

What do I need to bring?
ISP requires a current and valid State or government-issued photo ID and funds to pay for the process. Check the instructions provided by the requestor for additional instructions.

Due to limited space, large groups will be asked to wait outside with individuals called in for service.

Contact your local law enforcement agency for fingerprinting services outside the Treasure Valley.

Fingerprint Based Criminal Background Check Form

To request this service, submit a complete set of inked and rolled fingerprints on an Applicant Fingerprint Card, a Fingerprint Based Criminal Background Check Form including the Payment Authorization Form, and the required payment.

Fingerprint cards must include the subject of record’s name (print), alias names (including maiden & previous married names), current address, citizenship, descriptive data, date of birth, place of birth, the reason for fingerprinting, and signature of the person being fingerprinted.

The official taking the fingerprints must date and sign the fingerprint card with the date within 180 days of the fingerprint check submission.

Fee:

  • $20.00

Cash, check, or credit card accepted with an additional $1.00 plus 2.5% of the total transaction for payments made with credit or debit card.

The Payment Authorization Form must be completed and sent along with the fingerprint card, Fingerprint Criminal Background Check Form, and the required fee.

Notes:

  • Requests with missing data or incorrect payment amounts will be returned with a $20 processing fee charged on any returned check.
  • Due to security concerns, emailed requests will not be processed. DO NOT SUBMIT via email. Requests may be hand-delivered, or mailed to BCI. 
  • BCI does not telephone or fax results.
  • Allow ample time for processing, as requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Name Based Criminal Background Check Form

To request this service, submit a completed form with the required fee.

It is not uncommon for criminal offenders to use alias names and false dates of birth, which adversely affect the accuracy of non-fingerprint-based searches of the Idaho Criminal History Repository. Idaho law does not require a waiver. However, without a waiver, any arrest over 12 months old, without a disposition, cannot be given to a non-criminal justice agency. The signature date on waivers must be within 180 days of the name check submission.

Fee:

  • $20.00

Cash, check, or credit card accepted with an additional $1.00 plus 2.5% of the total transaction for payments made with credit or debit card.

The Payment Authorization Form must be completed and sent along with the Name Based Background Check Form and the required fee.

Notes:

  • Requests with missing data or incorrect payment amounts will be returned with a $20 processing fee charged on any returned check.
  • Due to security concerns, emailed requests will not be processed. DO NOT SUBMIT via email. Requests may be hand-delivered, faxed, or mailed to BCI. 
  • BCI does not telephone or fax results.
  • Allow ample time for processing, as requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Criminal History Checks Under the National Child Protection Act

According to the National Child Protection Act, BCI established a program to permit qualified entities to submit fingerprint cards for employees and volunteers to receive state and federal criminal history information. This program promotes a broader exchange of criminal history information to assist entities providing care, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. State and national criminal history record checks help screen volunteers and employees and may help prevent the abuse of those served.

Idaho Applicant Fingerprint Program For Criminal History Record Checks by a Qualified Entity Under the National Child Protection Act of 1993, as amended

In 1993, Congress passed the National Child Protection Act (NCPA) that authorized criminal history record checks for persons who work with children in either an employee or volunteer status. This Act was amended in 1994 to include elderly and disabled persons. BCI has established a program according to the NCPA to permit qualified entities to submit fingerprint cards on employees and volunteers to receive state and federal criminal history information to promote a broader exchange of criminal history information for purposes of assisting entities providing care, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. State and national criminal history record checks help screen volunteers and employees and may help prevent the abuse of those served.

BCI maintains the state’s central repository of criminal history information. The repository is an automated records database based on arrests reported to BCI from Idaho criminal justice agencies. Per Idaho Code 67-3008, BCI shall be the state’s sole source of fingerprint submissions for criminal justice and applicant or licensing purposes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The mission of this NCPA program is to protect:

  • Children – Any unmarried person under 18 years of age who has not been emancipated by order of the court;
  • Elderly – Someone 60 years of age or older;
  • Individuals with disabilities – Mental or physical impairment who require assistance to perform one or more daily living tasks.

Qualified Entity

To become a “qualified entity” through BCI under the Child Protection Act of 1993, an organization must:

  1. Download a copy of the Qualified Entity Application and the User Agreement from our website. OR Contact the ISP BCI, at (208) 884-7159 to request a copy of each document be mailed to the organization.
  2. Complete a Qualified Entity Application to BCI explaining the organization’s functions serve children, elderly, or disabled persons.
  3. Review and sign the NCPA User Agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions under which criminal history background checks authorized by the NCPA of 1993, as amended, shall be conducted.
  4. Submit the NCPA Qualified Entity Application and the User Agreement to the BCI. (The BCI will retain the original signed User Agreement and Qualified Entity Application and give a copy to the authorized entity) The BCI will review the application and contact the organization’s designated representative to inform him or her whether the requirements are met.

Mail form(s) to:
ISP/BCI
700 S. Stratford Dr, Ste. 120
Meridian, ID 83642

Instructions To Obtain Criminal History Record Information

Submit a completed applicant fingerprint card supplied by the BCI.

The fingerprint card must include the following items: signature, printed name, alias names (including maiden and previous married names), assigned code/number, current address, citizenship, descriptive data, date of birth, place of birth, and the required reason for being fingerprinted. The social security number is requested but not required. The official/person taking the fingerprints must sign and date the card. The date must be within 180 days of the fingerprint check submission.

Fingerprinting Services

(See information above on fingerprinting services.)

Fingerprint cards are returned to applicants to give to the requesting entity, which is responsible for submitting them for processing to BCI.

Ensure each employee completes and signs a copy of the Waiver Agreement and Statement form. The form can be downloaded from our website, or BCI will mail a copy to the qualified entity. Each background subject must sign this form, which releases state and national criminal history information to the qualified entity.

IMPORTANT: The Qualified Entity must retain the original form for as long as the employee or volunteer works for the Qualified Entity or five years, whichever is longer. The Qualified Entity will be subject to audits by ISP, and could be chosen for a triennial FBI audit.

The organization must submit a $33.25 check or money order for each employee or  $31.25 for each volunteer. Qualified entities will be billed monthly. For billing questions or other payment methods, call 208-884-7159.

After submitting the card, form, and fee, BCI will provide the following:

  1. Notification that the individual on the fingerprint card does not have a criminal history record; or
  2. A copy of the individual’s criminal history record.

Upon receipt of a background check report lacking disposition data, the requesting entity may research in whatever State or local record-keeping systems are available to obtain complete data.

Link to County District Court Contacts: Idaho Court Data Repository

Timetable For Results of Criminal History Record Checks

The National Child Protection Act requires the BCI and the FBI to make a reasonable effort to return criminal history information to authorized entities within 15 business days – not including mail time. BCI endeavors to process Idaho and FBI criminal history checks within 5-7 business days of receipt, excluding holidays and mail time, as long as the request is appropriate. Requests may be hand-delivered or mailed. BCI does not provide results by telephone, email, or fax. Delays in the process will occur if fingerprint card(s) do not have all the required data or payment or are rejected by the FBI because of poor image quality. BCI will return the fingerprint card(s) to the requesting authorized entity with an explanation for rejection.

Rejected Fingerprint Cards

If the first fingerprint card submission is rejected because of poor image quality, fingers out of sequence or missing notations on amputations, etc., BCI will mail the fingerprint card, along with a rejection form, back to the requesting entity. The entity must submit a new set of fingerprints, the attached rejected fingerprint card, and a BCI Civil Applicant Response form. There is no charge for the reprint.

If the reprint rejects, the submission of a third fingerprint card will be treated like a first time submission, but a fee will apply. BCI will automatically process a FBI name-based check after a second rejection and mail the results to the requesting entity. The requesting entity must determine whether to accept the FBI name check results in place of a third fingerprint submission.

BCI Contacts:
Dessi Tulilova: 208-884-7159
Kortney Swartzfager: 208-884-7201
Nicki Streb: 208-884-7154

Non-Criminal Justice Agency’s (NCJA) Nationwide Check Privacy Right Information

In the Fall of 2010, the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact Council approved a motion for the FBI CJIS Division staff to create documents for agencies to inform civil applicants of their rights to challenge, update, or correct their criminal history records. The requirements for NCJA’s and Applicant’s Rights are explained in the following documents.

Agency Requirements for NCJA

Agency Requirements for NCJA Non-Criminal Justice Applicant’s Rights

Idaho will require the NCJAs to provide the Non-Criminal Justice Applicant (NCJA) Applicant Privacy Statement to any applicant submitting for a fingerprint-based background check under an approved state statute, local ordinance, or federal authority for licensure, employment, or other civil purposes. Further, the agencies who request state and federal criminal history record information through fingerprint submission will be required to obtain the applicant’s signature on the form and keep the original document on file for auditing purposes. The applicant should be given a copy of the form if requested. The document is provided below. Agencies will need to insert their agency name and download the form.

NCJA Applicant Privacy Statement

Applicant CHRI Guidelines

Electronic Fingerprint Submissions

BCI accepts electronic civil fingerprint card submissions from authorized agencies for nationwide criminal history checks. To become an authorized agency, contact:

Dessi Tulilova: 208-884-7159

FAQs

Yes.

Under the provisions set out in Idaho Code 67-3008 the public may access Idaho criminal history information.

No.

Juvenile records are not included in the Idaho database. However, if a juvenile was adjudicated as an adult, the record of that event would be available.

The criminal history contains information based on arrest data reported to BCI from Idaho criminal justice agencies. If an arrest fingerprint card is not submitted, the information on an arrest will not be present on an Idaho criminal history. In some instances, a record of arrest may be found at the local level, but not within the state criminal history. The Idaho criminal history database contains information on Idaho arrests only, and does not include other state’s record, FBI records, or subjects convicted in federal court.

All arrest events in the Idaho database are supported by fingerprints. If a person disputes the accuracy of the information obtained in a background check, the person may request a certified copy of his or her record by following the instructions in the Fingerprint Based Check. When challenging a record, the fingerprint based check is processed free of charge. After reviewing the record the individual may supply supplemental information from the arresting agency or court. All information provided will be reviewed and entered into the record if needed.

No.

Only BCI has the authorization to conduct a statewide record check for non-criminal justice licensure or employment screening purposes. A local law enforcement agency may do a check of its records only.

Information remains in a criminal record indefinitely, unless a legal action has been taken by the court for complete removal of data.

Yes.

A charge that has been dismissed will continue to show on a record with the dismissal action also noted.

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