November 15, 2018 1 of 16 

Contents 

NSOPW Guidance .................................................................................................................................................................... 2

State Check Guidance ............................................................................................................................................................. 4

Designated Statewide Criminal History Repositories and Alternatives .............................................................................. 5

FBI Guidance .........................................................................................................................................................................12

Documentation and Compliance ..........................................................................................................................................13

FAQs ......................................................................................................................................................................................14

1.0 National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov) ................................................................................................. 14

2.0 Statewide Criminal History .........................................................................................................................................14

3.0 FBI................................................................................................................................................................................15

4.0 Documentation for NSCHC Requirements ..................................................................................................................15

Using NSOPW and State Repositories for 

NSOPW, State and FBI Checks 

Title: NSCHC Using NSOPW and State Repositories

Date issued: November 15, 2018

Date posted: February 28, 2020

Unique identifier: CNCS 007

Topic: How to ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞE^KWt͕^ƚĂƚĞĂŶĚ&/ŚĞĐŬƐ

Summary: This provides guidance on using NSOPW and State Repositories for NSOPW, State and FBI Checks

The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This 

document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
November 15, 2018 2 of 15 

NSOPW Guidance 

The NSOPW is an Internet-based system operated by the U.S. Department of Justice. The system gathers data 

from all participating State-level sex offender registries plus those operated by Guam, Puerto Rico, the District 

of Columbia and Tribal Governments. This check can be obtained free of charge from https://NSOPW.gov. 

INSTRUCTIONS and GUIDANCE 

1. Go to www.NSOPW.gov. The nationwide search must be conducted and it must be documented that

an individual in a covered position is eligible to serve or work before starting work or service.

2. Examine the applicant’s government issued photo identification.

3. Conduct the NSOPW search by using the first and last name shown on the person’s government issued

photo identification in the “National Sex Offender Quick Search” feature on https://NSOPW.gov. You

are only required to check a person’s current legal name, as shown on their government issued photo

identification.

a. Follow the instructions on the NSOPW.gov website. The NSOPW search asks for the first and

last name only and only has spaces for the first and last name. Enter the first and last name as

shown on the person’s government identification.

i. Entering a middle name or initial can often limit results or has the potential to change

the results and should not be used in the same search. Adding information beyond the

first and last name on a government issued photo identification may result in a

noncompliant check for which you may face financial consequences.

b. Multiple searches for different names (e.g., middle or maiden names) may be conducted but

must be conducted in separate searches. It is prudent to check any other names that the person

has used or is/was known by.

c. Do not use the Advanced Search feature, which limits the geographic scope of the search and

will result in a noncompliant check for which you will face financial consequences.

4. Review the NSOPW results.

a. If the individual is a convicted sex offender, the individual is ineligible to work/serve in a

covered position.

i. If the results indicate person listed on the NSOPW who has the same name as an

applicant you must conduct a more in-depth inquiry to determine whether the person

who appears on the NSOPW is your applicant or someone with the same name. The

statewide or FBI criminal history search will also provide helpful information to help

you determine if the candidate is the person on the registry.

ii. If the individual is ineligible to serve or unsuitable to serve according to organizationspecific screening criteria and is denied an opportunity to serve, you must provide a

reasonable opportunity for the individual to review and challenge the factual accuracy
November 15, 2018 3 of 15 

of a result before action is taken to exclude the individual from the position. This 

process must be documented. 

b. The result will indicate whether or not any state systems were inoperable during that search. If

any state systems were inoperable, the check is not complete, and you must:

i. re-check the NSOPW before the person starts service to rule out the possibility that the

applicant is registered in the state(s) system(s) that was not connected to the NSOPW

system when you performed the first check or

ii. supplement the first NSOPW check by checking the state registry/ies that are out of

service.

5. Document the adjudication, even if there are no hits. The regulations (45 CFR 2540.204) require you to

document that the results were considered when selecting the individual.

6. Retain your date-stamped result and adjudication to demonstrate that results were considered.

a. You must retain a record of the NSOPW search and associated results either by printing the

screen(s) or by some other method that retains paper or digital images of the results, including

the date when the search was performed.

b. It is a best practice to print out a screen shot of the NSOPW results.
November 15, 2018 4 of 15 

State Check Guidance 

For grant and sub grant recipients (recipients) who do not use CNCS approved contractor, Truescreen, to 

obtain State Checks, CNCS has identified the state criminal history record repository and alternatives to the 

state criminal history record repository in each state and most territories. While many states have more than 

one source of criminal history information, using any source other than those designated by CNCS is not 

compliant with the requirements. 

CNCS recipients must conduct state checks for states of service/work and residence at time of application. For 

more information on State of Residence, refer to the Factsheet: State of Residence: 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/CHCFAQs. 

 The process and results of a state repository criminal history check will vary by state. It is the

responsibility of the grant recipient to abide by state processes and laws. Each state will have a specific

process to obtain a criminal history check. CNCS will accept name or fingerprint based state criminal

history checks.

o Fingerprint-based searches use biometric data (unique fingerprints) and are the most reliable

method of obtaining criminal history records.

o Name-based record checks use biographic information (name, date of birth, gender, and social

security numbers). Name-based checks can result in false positives (records that are falsely

attributed to the person) or false negatives (records belonging to the person are not identified),

and it consumes staff time to verify.

o Some state repositories will provide different types of check options, beyond fingerprint or

name-based. Do not select checks that are limited by time, criminal sentence (ex: only felonies

reported, past 7 years), etc. The state check must include all included data that dates as far back

as the approved sources provide criminal history information.

 After obtaining the state check, the grant recipient must review and adjudicate all results. The

adjudication must be documented.

o Please note that some states will release a “rap sheet” listing all arrests and offenses, while

others may provide a summary record reflecting cleared/not cleared based on screening criteria

specific to that state. Consequently, you must understand the screening criteria used by the

agency that conducts states check(s) to act on results appropriately. At a minimum, CNCS

requires that this criteria include individuals convicted of murder and individuals required to

register as sex offenders.

 Retain your date-stamped result and adjudication to demonstrate that results were considered even if

there are no hits. The regulations require you to document that the results were considered when

selecting the individual.
November 15, 2018 5 of 15

Designated Statewide Criminal History Repositories and Alternatives

 

The table below presents a single official criminal history information repository for each state and territory. 

These are the repositories which must be used to perform statewide searches for National Service Criminal 

History Checks. For some states, CNCS has approved the use of an alternative source. If an alternative 

source has been designated below, unless otherwise qualified, it may be used without further approval from 

CNCS. Questions on the use of this information should be sent to your CNCS Program Officer or Grants 

Officer. 

New alternatives are indicated by the word “NEW!” and updated links or notes are indicated by the word 

“UPDATED!” Both new additions and updates are also bolded and highlighted, with the effective date of 

the change noted. 

State

Corporation Designated Repository

Agency

Alternative Statewide Source Approved

By Corporation and Advisory Notes

Alabama

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency 

(ALEA) and the Alabama Background

Check (ABC)

(Updated July 22, 2016)

None at this time.

Alaska Department of Public Safety

Alaska Court System CourtView System

CourtView system searches must be either (a) singular namebased queries using the on-web portal above; or (b) namebased searches using bulk electronic data obtained from

directly from the Alaska Court System on a quarterly updated

basis. (UPDATED Link! November 22, 2017)

A fingerprint-based check by the Montana Department of 

Justice, the Oregon State Police, or the Wyoming Division of 

Criminal Investigation. (See the relevant state listings in this 

document for web addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

A fingerprint-based check by the Washington State Patrol

will indicate only if there is a record of the individual in the 

Alaska repository. If you receive this notification, you must 

conduct a full Alaska state check using the designated 

repository to the left.

(Added November 30, 2015)

American

Samoa

Department of Public Safety None at this time
November 15, 2018 6 of 15

State

Corporation Designated Repository

Agency

Alternative Statewide Source Approved

By Corporation and Advisory Notes

Arizona Arizona Department of Public Safety

Approved for organizations outside of Arizona conducting 

Arizona state of residence checks ONLY:

A combined check of the (1) Arizona Judiciary Public Access

to Court Case (PACC) system and (2) the Pima County 

Superior Court Record Search (PCSCRS).

All results received must be adjudicated to ensure the 

individual referenced is not the applicant and both search 

results must be retained as evidence of performing this check. 

When using this alternative, annotate the results to indicate 

the date the check was run and the name of the individual 

checked, if they do not appear on the printout.

(Updated July 22, 2016)

Arkansas Arkansas Crime Information Center None at this time

California California Department of Justice Criminal

Justice Information Services Division

None at this time

Colorado

Department of Public Safety Crime 

Information Center Colorado Bureau of 

Investigation

A combined check of the (1) Colorado Judicial Branch (CJB)

records and (2) Denver County Court records may be used.

The CNCS has labeled this combined alternate search a 

“Colorado Combined Court Records Check (CCCRC).” Both

search results must be retained as evidence of performing a 

CCCRC check.

Connecticut

Department of Public Safety Bureau of

Identification

You may use bulk data from the

Connecticut Judicial Branch (CJB) Criminal/Motor Vehicle 

Case on individuals of any age, provided you subscribe for 

monthly updates. (Updated July 22, 2016)

The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Criminal / Motor 

Vehicle Search service’s online system is approved for 

individuals 27 years of age and younger only.

Delaware Department of Public Safety None at this time

District of 

Columbia

Metropolitan Police Department Records

Department

None at this time

Florida

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Criminal Justice Information Systems

None at this time

Georgia Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Georgia Crime Information Center

Note: The name-based Georgia Felon Search service is not

acceptable since it only presents felony crime convictions.

You must obtain the criminal history from the Georgia Crime

Information Center's statewide full criminal history system.

Guam

Guam Judicial Center, Superior Court of

Guam

None at this time

Hawaii Department of the Attorney General 

Criminal Justice Data Center

None at this time
November 15, 2018 7 of 15

State

Corporation Designated Repository

Agency

Alternative Statewide Source Approved

By Corporation and Advisory Notes

Idaho

Idaho State Police

Bureau of Criminal Identification

A fingerprint-based check by the Montana Department of 

Justice, the Oregon Department of Human Services or the 

Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. (See the 

relevant state listings in this document for web addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

A fingerprint-based check by the Washington State Patrol will 

indicate only if there is a record of the individual checked in 

the Idaho repository. If you receive this notification, you must 

conduct a full Idaho state check using the designated 

repository to the left.

(Added November 30, 2015)

Illinois Illinois State Police, Division of 

Administration

None at this time

Indiana Indiana State Police, Records Division None at this time

Iowa

Iowa Department of Public Safety Division

of Criminal Investigation

None at this time

Kansas Kansas Bureau of Investigation None at this time

Kentucky Kentucky State Police, Records Section Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Louisiana

Office of State Police, Bureau of Criminal

Investigation

None at this time

Maine

Maine State Police, State Bureau of

Identification

None at this time

Maryland

Maryland Department of Public Safety & 

Correctional Services--Criminal Justice 

Information System-Central Repository

Approved for organizations outside of Maryland

conducting Maryland state of residence checks ONLY:

Maryland Judicial Case Search. 

You must review all results to ensure the individual 

referenced is not your applicant and retain the results of your 

search as evidence of performing this check.

(Added April 4, 2016)

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Department of Criminal 

Justice Information Services None at this time

Michigan Michigan Department of State Police, 

Criminal Justice Information Center None at this time

Minnesota

Department of Public Safety,

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)

You may use the Minnesota BCA’s Computerized Criminal 

History for individuals 32 years of age or under.

(Added July 22, 2016)

Mississippi

Department of Public Safety, Criminal

Information Center

Organizations may use the Mississippi Department of 

Health’s Criminal History Record Check Division, which 

utilizes the Department of Public Safety repository.

(Added April 4, 2016)
November 15, 2018 8 of 15

State

Corporation Designated Repository

Agency

Alternative Statewide Source Approved

By Corporation and Advisory Notes

Missouri Missouri State Highway Patrol, Criminal

Records and Identification Division

The Missouri Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR)

operated by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior

Services (http://health.mo.gov/safety/fcsr/) is an acceptable

alternate source when the following condition has been met

by the program using the FCSR: The program must ensure

that individual being checked has been registered into the

FCSR and received his/her notice from the FCSR that

registration has been accepted.

Montana

Montana Department of Justice, Justice

Information Services Division

A fingerprint-based search by the Oregon Department of 

Human Services or the Wyoming Division of Criminal 

Investigation. (See the relevant state listings in this document 

for web addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

A fingerprint-based check by the Washington State Patrol 

will indicate only if there is a record of the individual in the 

Montana repository. If you receive this notification, you must 

conduct a full Montana state check using the designated 

repository to the left.

(Added November 30, 2015)

Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol, Investigation

Services

Division

As of March 2016, the Nebraska State Patrol has stopped 

offering fingerprint-based checks to organizations that do not 

receive an adjudication from an authorized entity. All 

organizations may still receive name-based checks.

(Updated April 4, 2016)

Nevada Nevada Department of Public Safety

A fingerprint-based check by the Montana Department of 

Justice, the Oregon Department of Human Services or the 

Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. (See the 

relevant state listings in this document for web addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

A fingerprint-based check by the Washington State Patrol 

will indicate only if there is a record of the individual in the 

Nevada repository. If you receive this notification, you must 

conduct a full Nevada state check using the designated 

repository to the left.

(Added November 30, 2015)

New 

Hampshire

New Hampshire State Police, Support

Services Bureau None at this time

New 

Jersey

New Jersey State Police, Records & 

Identification Section None at this time

New Mexico Department of Public Safety, Technical and

Emergency Support Division

The New Mexico Department of Health Caregivers Criminal 

History Screening Program (CCHSP)

Note: This service may not be available to all recipients.
November 15, 2018 9 of 15

State

Corporation Designated Repository

Agency

Alternative Statewide Source Approved

By Corporation and Advisory Notes

New York NY State Division of Criminal Justice

Services, Office of Operations and Systems

New York State Office of Court Administration

(OCA).

Go Pass: Eligible recipients may rely on clearances issued

by the Go Pass system, operated via a partnership between

NYC Service and the NYC Department of Education, for 

New York State and FBI checks. This system documents

fingerprint-based New York state-level criminal history

information and nationwide FBI checks. Go Pass clearance

is available for volunteers (not employees). Non-profits

using Go Pass are not required to be based in New York

City, but the individual being cleared must serve in one of 

the five New York City boroughs. To satisfy CNCS 

regulations on retaining check results, recipients must 

retain a dated printout of the Go Pass system query

reflecting that an individual’s cleared status existed at the

time the print-out was produced.

(Updated April 4, 2016)

PETS: Eligible recipients may rely on clearances issued by 

the New York City Department of Education’s Personnel 

Eligibility Tracking System (PETS) for New York State and 

FBI checks. Recipients must retain a dated printout or 

screenshot reflecting the individual’s “Satisfactory” 

clearance and the individual’s Fingerprint / DOE Record 

details when offenses are identified.

(Added April 4, 2016)

North

Carolina

North Carolina Bureau of Investigation

Identification Section

North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts 

(NCAOC)

North Dakota

Bureau of Criminal Investigation,

Information

Services Division

None at this time

Northern 

Mariana

Islands

Department of Public Safety

The Clerk of Court of CNMI

(Added November 30, 2015)

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation,

Information Services Division

None at this time

Oklahoma

Bureau of Investigation, Information

Services

Division

None at this time
November 15, 2018 10 of 15 

State

Corporation Designated Repository

Agency

Alternative Statewide Source Approved

By Corporation and Advisory Notes

Oregon

Oregon State Police Open Records Section 

(Name-Based)

Oregon Department of Human Services 

Background Check Unit (FingerprintBased)

(Updated April 4, 2016)

The DHS offers fingerprint-based checks to businesses or 

organizations that provide care or placement services for 

youth, elderly persons or dependent persons; license or 

certify others to provide these services; and are not governed 

by a state regulatory or licensing agency. Contact DHS using 

the link to the left to learn more. You must include “This 

position is subject to the Serve America Act” in the 

Description of Duties field in each request.

(Updated April 4, 2016)

A fingerprint-based check by the Montana Department of 

Justice or the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. 

(See the relevant state listings in this document for web 

addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

A fingerprint-based check by the Washington State Patrol 

will indicate only if there is a record of the individual in the 

Oregon repository. If you receive this notification, you must 

conduct a full Oregon state check using the designated 

repository to the left.

(Added November 30, 2015)

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of 

Records & Information Services None at this time

Puerto Rico

Police of Puerto Rico, Certificate of Penal 

Record/Policía de Puerto Rico, Certificado 

de Antecedentes Penales

(Updated May 27, 2015)

None at this time

Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General, 

Bureau of Criminal Identification

None at this time

South Carolina South Carolina Law Enforcement Division None at this time

South Dakota

Office of the Attorney General, Division of

Criminal Investigation None at this time

Tennessee Tennessee Bureau of Investigation None at this time

Texas

Texas Department of Public Safety,

Crime Records Services

None at this time
November 15, 2018 11 of 15

State

Corporation Designated Repository

Agency

Alternative Statewide Source Approved

By Corporation and Advisory Notes

Utah Utah Department of Public Safety

A fingerprint-based check by the Montana Department of 

Justice, the Oregon Department of Human Services or the 

Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. (See the 

relevant state listings in this document for web addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

A fingerprint-based check by the Washington State Patrol 

will indicate only if there is a record of the individual in the 

Utah repository. If you receive this notification, you must 

conduct a full Utah state check using the designated 

repository to the left.

(Added November 30, 2015)

Vermont Department of Public Safety, Crime

Information Center None at this time

Virgin

Islands

VI Police Department, Records Bureau

Records Management Officer None at this time

Virginia Virginia State Police, Bureau of

Administration & Support Service None at this time

Washington

Washington State Patrol, Criminal Records

Division

A fingerprint-based check by the Montana Department of 

Justice, the Oregon Department of Human Services or the 

Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. (See the 

relevant state listings in this document for web addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

West Virginia West Virginia State Police None at this time

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime

Information Bureau

None at this time

Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation

A fingerprint-based check by the Montana Department of 

Justice or the Oregon Department of Human Services. (See 

the relevant state listings in this document for web addresses.)

(Added November 30, 2015)

A fingerprint-based check by the Washington State Patrol 

will indicate only if there is a record of the individual in the 

Wyoming repository. If you receive this notification, you 

must conduct a full Wyoming state check using the 

designated repository to the left.

(Added November 30, 2015)
November 15, 2018 12 of 15

FBI Guidance 

An FBI check is a fingerprint‐based search of the FBI’s national criminal history database. It returns 

information from all states and territories in the United States, in contrast to state checks, which are

geographically limited. 

While an FBI check covers a broad geographical area, it relies on data reported by the states and territories.

The information reported varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Consequently, its coverage is broad, but not

necessarily deep. Combining an FBI check with state checks in an individual’s state of residence and state of

service offers the best combination of breadth and depth to ensure a thorough search.

Recipients who do not use CNCS approved contractor, Fieldprint, may obtain FBI fingerprint checks from 

state repositories. Most state criminal history information repositories can provide FBI checks along with

state checks. 

In most cases, the FBI checks you receive will only indicate whether an individual has cleared or not cleared a

check against a certain list of criteria, as the FBI generally does not permit the release of criminal history

information to entities that are not authorized by law to receive it. 

Consequently, you must understand the screening criteria used by the agency that conducts an FBI check to act 

on results appropriately. At a minimum, CNCS requires that this criteria include individuals convicted of 

murder and individuals required to register as sex offenders. Your state repository may allow you to add 

additional screening criteria. Some states may use their own processes for reviewing and screening 

applicants for certain types of positions. If you use a state repository, contact the repository if you are 

unsure of the criteria used.

Organizations that legally are authorized by law to receive criminal history information must adjudicate all the 

results. The adjudication must be documented. If the individual is convicted of murder, listed on a sex 

offender registry or required to be on a sex offender registry, the individual is ineligible to work/serve in a 

covered position. 

Retain your date-stamped result and adjudication to demonstrate that results were considered even if there are 

no hits. The regulations require you to document that the results were considered when selecting the 

individual.
November 15, 2018 13 of 15 

Documentation and Compliance 

Recipients must follow these steps to document the NSCHC Process for each individual file: 

□ document that they verified the individual’s identity through government-issued photo identification (e.g. ID

number, photocopies of ID, etc.)

□ document that they obtained written consent from candidates to perform State and FBI checks (e.g. as part

of service agreement)

□ document the candidate’s understanding that his or her position is contingent on eligibility determined by the

results of the NSCHC (e.g. as part of service agreement)

□ document whether the individual has recurring or episodic/no access to vulnerable populations

□ document that they performed a nationwide NSOPW search before the candidate begins work or service

□ document NSOPW check adjudication; document that NSOPW results were reviewed and considered and

the candidate was cleared to serve or work (e.g. sign and date document, create cleared memo, etc.)

□ document that they initiated State(s) checks on time, no later than the first day of the start of service or

work. (e.g. mail receipts, fingerprinting, etc.), as applicable

□ document that they initiated a fingerprint FBI check component on time no later than the first day of the

start of service or work. (e.g. mail receipts, fingerprinting, etc.), as applicable

□ document that they provided accompaniment while checks were pending when the service or work involves

vulnerable populations (children 17 and younger, adults age 60 and older, and individuals with disabilities)

o Accompaniment is documented with time, date, name of person accompanying and the name of the

individual accompanied prior to clearance of state checks and FBI check

□ document state(s) check adjudication; document that the state(s) check results were reviewed and considered

and the candidate was cleared to serve or work (e.g. sign and date document, create cleared memo, etc.), as

applicable

□ document FBI check adjudication; document that the FBI check results were reviewed and considered and

the candidate was cleared to serve or work (e.g. sign and date document, create cleared memo, etc.),as

applicable

□ maintain NSOPW check results, while providing confidentiality

o Compliant NSOPW check results must be complete (all states, territories and Indian Country must

be reporting), dated, and the name searched must match the first and last name of the government

issued photo identification.

□ maintain state check(s) results, while providing confidentiality

o Compliant state check(s) results must be dated, from the designated CNCS state repository or CNCS

designated alternative and, if the check is a name based search, the name searched must match the

first and last name of the government issued photo identification.

□ maintain dated FBI check results, while providing confidentiality

In addition to documenting the steps to obtain compliant NSCHC for an individual in a covered position, you must 

create policies and procedures that govern and detail their procedures, such as the definition of initiation, 

adjudication procedures, additional screening criteria, etc. 
November 15, 2018 14 of 15 

FAQs 

1.0 National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov) 

1.1 If the FBI check captures crimes that are also identified on the sex offender registry and in state criminal 

history databases, why does CNCS require separate checks of the NSOPW and state criminal history information 

databases? 

The Serve America Act specified the required NSCHC components for individuals in covered positions (42 

USC 12645g). Each component pulls data from a different database, and no single database of criminal history 

information is complete. The NSOPW links public state, territorial, and tribal sex offender registries in one 

national search site. 

1.2 When was the date stamp added to the NSOPW website? 

The date stamp was added September 4, 2013. Please note that an on-time NSOPW check has always been a 

compliance requirement for the NSCHC, but the NSOPW website did not always contain a date stamp. Before 

it did, recipients were required to print or otherwise maintain the NSOPW results in a way that displayed the 

date and time. 

1.3 My volunteers are starting today. Are their NSOPW checks compliant if the time stamp is before their hours 

are counted? 

Yes, it is compliant. However, waiting until the day volunteers begin accruing hours to conduct the NSOPW 

check poses significant risks for your organization. For example, there is the potential for one or more state sex 

offender registries to be off-line for maintenance or not reporting for other reasons. These “downed sites” are 

not predictable, and you run the risk of not being able to complete a full search of the NSOPW system on time, 

and therefore being subject to financial consequences. 

2.0 Statewide Criminal History 

2.1 How far back do state repositories maintain data and how many years must I check? 

You must obtain data as far back as the approved sources provide criminal history information. 

2.2 I run a child abuse registry check on my volunteers since they work with children and it is fitting for our 

program design. Is this a compliant check for the purposes of the NSCHC? 

Recipients should establish additional screening criteria that are appropriate for their program design and 

beneficiaries, in addition to the NSCHC baseline requirements. Child abuse registry checks are one example of 

checks that can be used to supplement the minimum NSCHC requirements but running this check alone is not 

sufficient to meet the NSCHC requirements. 

2.3 We operate a nationwide program that places people in many states. Must we check each person against 

their state of residence in addition to every state in which we operate? 

Nationwide programs do not need to check more than two statewide repositories for a candidate. You must 

check the statewide repository for the state where the applicant resided upon application and the statewide 

repository for the state where the person will be assigned to work or serve. 
November 15, 2018 15 of 15 

3.0 FBI 

3.1 May I have CNCS’s Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) number to give to my state repository? 

CNCS does not have an ORI number. If recipients face any challenges obtaining NSCHC, use Fieldprint and 

Truescreen. 

3.2 Are we allowed to negotiate with state and local law enforcement to obtain checks at reduced cost? 

We have been informed that in some cases programs have been able to negotiate with state and local law 

enforcement to help them obtain checks at reduced cost, and recipients may initiate these discussions. 

4.0 Documentation for NSCHC Requirements 

4.1 The results we receive do not appear to be actual criminal history records but rather summaries and 

conclusions on the person’s suitability. Should we ask the repository for the detailed record? 

State repositories issue either “rap sheets” or summary, adjudicated results. Adjudicated results typically 

present a “cleared,” “not cleared,” “undetermined” or similar summary result. You should contact the 

repository to obtain a list of disqualifying offenses and explanations for what the responses mean. If someone 

does not clear, you must determine if the disqualifying offense was one that CNCS uses to determine 

eligibility, or if it is an offense that your program considers to be disqualifying. Except when the FBI releases 

the NSCHC result directly to the person who is being checked, the FBI checks that are released to our 

recipients by state repositories and other authorized governmental bodies (including Fieldprint) typically 

provide adjudicated summary results. 

4.2 What if my state either doesn’t allow my program to maintain the results of the criminal history checks or 

limits the amount of time that results can be maintained? 

The regulations require you to retain the NSOPW and criminal history information results. A pre-approved 

ASP for recipients prohibited by state law from maintaining or sharing results is currently available but will 

expire on December 31, 2019. If state law prohibits or limits you in retaining this documentation, please follow 

the instructions in the Current Pre-approved ASPs to use CNCS approved vendor, Truescreen.