NJ Criminal History Records Information
On this page
- Details about obtaining your Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)
- In State Residents Requesting Fingerprint-Based New Jersey Criminal History Record Checks
- Out Of State Residents Requesting Fingerprint-Based New Jersey Criminal History Record Checks
- Volunteer Review Operations (VRO) Program - Fingerprint-Based New Jersey and Federal Criminal History Record Checks
- Volunteer Care Provider (VCP) Program / Non-Criminal Justice Volunteer Fingerprint-Based and Name Based New Jersey Criminal History Record Checks
- Name-Based New Jersey Criminal History Record Checks
Criminal History Record Information (CHRI):
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 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 obtaining his/her 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.
Instructions for In State Residents Requesting a New Jersey Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Check (records from NJ only)
The Division of State Police, Criminal Information Unit (CIU) provides fingerprint-based New Jersey criminal history record checks to any resident of the state of New Jersey requesting a copy of his/her own criminal history record. A personal record request is typically for the purpose of:
- GOOD CONDUCT
- IMMIGRATION
- NATURALIZATION
- PERSONAL RECORD
- VISA
- INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION
- FOREIGN BUSINESS
- EXPUNGMENT
All Personal Record Requests are New Jersey state only searches.
An individual may obtain a criminal history record check via electronic live scan at one of the approved fingerprint capturing sites. The New Jersey State Police utilizes the live scan fingerprinting services provided by IDEMIA, 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 IDEMIA to schedule a time and place to have your fingerprints captured at an IdentoGO site.
The quickest and easiest way to schedule your appointment is via the World Wide Web at https://uenroll.identogo.com/.
Web scheduling is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Applicants who do not have World Wide Web access should call IDEMIA 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). Spanish-speaking operators are available upon request. You must bring proper identification with the home address the appointment was schedule with as outlined on IDEMIA’s website.
Appointment registration and location information will be available on the Idemia Universal Enrollment Platform (UEP), allowing applicants to schedule appointments using a unique Service Code for each agency/fingerprint reason.
IDEMIA has assigned a Service Code for each unique combination of agency and applicant type. The six character Service Code is used for uniquely identifying the Agency (ORI), and Reason for Fingerprinting (RFP). The use of the Service Code ensures that applicants are being printed for the correct purpose and are not accidently or incorrectly being processed for a service they don’t need. The distribution of the Service Code is dependent on the agency to confirm the correct applicants have the correct service. A Service Code Lookup Tool is available on the UEP website, allowing applicants to identify their Service Code based on the data contained on the Applicant Form. Below is a list of criminal history Background Checks provided by the New Jersey State Police. Corresponding service codes are listed for each type of request.
The fee for this fingerprinting service is $42.80, which includes the $12 vendor fee and associated state sales tax. The following forms of payment are accepted: VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover, prepaid debit cards, or electronic debit (ACH) from a checking account. Payment will be collected at the Idemia fingerprint site on the day of the scheduled appointment. Appointments must be canceled by 5:00 p.m. on the business day prior to your scheduled time (you must cancel by Saturday at noon for a Monday appointment).
Failure to provide complete and accurate information may result in having to be fingerprinted again and incurring additional costs. There are no refunds once a criminal history background check is completed. Questions or revisions to responses must be made within a ninety day (90) period or the full process will have to be repeated. If you do not receive your response within ten (10) working days please contact the Criminal Information Unit at 609 882-2000 ext. 2918 or CIU@gw.njsp.org.
Any questions regarding New Jersey Criminal History Record Check Process can be directed to the New Jersey State Police, Criminal Information Unit at 609 882-2000 ext. 2918 or CIU@gw.njsp.org.
Personal Records Request:
Applicants that require one of the following fingerprint-based New Jersey criminal history record checks and need the results mailed to the applicant’s address.
- Immigration
- Naturalization
- Personal Record
- Visa
- Expungement
- Good Conduct
Contributor case number: PRR
(A criminal hit will result in full disclosure of the criminal record)
Personal Records Request (notarized):
Applicants that require one of the following fingerprint-based New Jersey criminal history record checks and need the results notarized and mailed to the applicant’s address.
- Foreign Business Requiring Notarization
- International Adoption Requiring Notarization
Contributor case number: NOTARY
(A criminal hit will result in full disclosure of a criminal record)Noncriminal Justice Licensing / Employment Requests
N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq. provides fingerprint-based New Jersey criminal history record 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, that seeks to directly engage the services of the subject of the record, for purposes of determining the subject's qualifications 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. Both are fingerprint-based New Jersey criminal history record checks.
Personal Records Request (Employment):
Applicants that require a fingerprint-based New Jersey criminal history record check for employment purposes and need the results mailed back to the applicant’s address.
- Employment - response returned to employer
Contributor case number: EMPLOYEE
(A Criminal Hit will result in the disclosure of convictions and pending data only)
Personal Employer Request:
Applicants that require a fingerprint-based New Jersey criminal history record check for employment purposes and need the results mailed to the employer address. Employment - response returned to employer
YOUR EMPLOYER ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE, AS RESULTS ARE SENT OUT VIA US MAIL.
*If response needs to be returned directly to applicant see Personal Record Request (Employment)*
Contributor case number: EMPLOYER
(A Criminal Hit will result in the disclosure of convictions and pending data only)
Any questions regarding the information on these forms, or if you fail to receive your response after ten (10) working days once fingerprinted, can be directed to the New Jersey State Police, Criminal Information Unit at 609 882-2000 ext. 2918 or CIU@gw.njsp.org.
Instructions for Out Of State Residents Requesting a Fingerprint-Based New Jersey Criminal History Record Check (records from NJ only):
An individual that has resided in the State of New Jersey may obtain a criminal history record check by opening the Out of State Personal Record Request PDF below.
The fee for this service is $36.66, which includes the $6.66 vendor fee and associated state sales tax. The following forms of payment are accepted: VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover, prepaid debit cards, or electronic debit (ACH) from a checking account. Payment will be collected at the time of scheduling the appointment on the Idemia UEP website. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in the PDF.
If you are an out of state applicant but live, work, or attend school within a 10 mile radius of the New Jersey borders, you must report to an IDEMIA IdentoGO site to be fingerprinted using one of the Personal Record Requests above. Please check the following list of zip codes. If your zip code is on the list you must go to the nearest NEW JERSEY IdentoGO site to obtain a fingerprint based background check using one of the service codes in the above section.
- Restricted Zip Code List for Out of State Residents - PDF
- Out of State Personal Record Request Instructions from Idemia - PDF
- Out of State Personal Record Request Fingerprint Hard Cards - PDF
- NJSP Out of State Verification Form for Hard Card Fingerprints - PDF
If your zip code is not on the list you will need to be printed on a hard card and mail the hard card to the New Jersey State Police. Hard cards can be completed by your local police department, live scan vendor, or embassy. You will need to use the Out of State Personal Record Request Fingerprint Hard Cards Provided in the PDF above (printing the PDF on standard paper is acceptable and must be black ink). The fingerprint card will list the purpose of the record check and include all identification data, i.e., individual’s full name, date of birth, social security number, mailing address and contact information. The police department/agency must positively identify the individual and complete the information on the NJSP Out of State Verification Form For Hard Card Fingerprints which is included in the PDF above. The fingerprint hard cards and NJSP out of State Verification Form for Hard Card Fingerprints should be given to the individual for mailing to the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) at the address listed below.
Division of State Police
Attn: CIU
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628-0068
Any questions regarding the New Jersey Criminal History Background Process can be directed to the New Jersey State Police, Criminal Information Unit at 609 882-2000 ext. 2918 or CIU@gw.njsp.org.
Volunteer Review Operation (VRO) - Fingerprint-Based New Jersey and Federal Criminal History Record Checks:
Volunteer Review Operation (VRO) - State and Federal Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Checks Requires nonprofit Youth Serving Organizations to register with the VRO for the purposes of obtaining criminal history record checks pursuant to P.L. 1999, c. 432 (C. 15A:3A-1). The organization must provide the following to register:
- Short Form of Standing from the Dept. of Treasury: (Division of Revenue Web Site)
- Federal Tax Exemption with the IRS - Letter of Determination; and
- Agree with and Execute the Memorandum of Understanding.
*If organizations are church or recreation, they only need to provide the executed Memorandum of Understanding*
- Application Document for Non-Profit Organizations Only - PDF
- Application Document for Church/Government Use Only - PDF
Upon receipt of documentation, the VRO will supply the organization with an organization specific identification number (6 digit VRN), and detailed instructions for submission.
The VRO will process the applicant fingerprints, review records, and respond to the registered organization with a letter reporting a recommendation of approval or denial.
** The registered organization 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.
VRO Fees:
- Employees - $56.05
- Volunteers - $24.05
All fees will be made at the fingerprinting site on the day of the appointment by credit card or electronic debit card.
No personal checks will be accepted.
Applicants are required to use the contracted vendor IDEMIA, which provides the electronic fingerprint live scan services for VRO background checks.
Registered Organization will use the service codes below.
Youth Serving Organization Employee
Service Code 2F1J2GContributor case number: VRN number specific to each registered organization
Youth Serving Organization Volunteer
Service Code 2F1J3YContributor case number: VRN number specific to each registered organization
Questions regarding obtaining noncriminal justice criminal history record checks should be directed to the VRO at (609) 882-2000, extension 2762 or Vol_ReviewOps@gw.njsp.org.
Noncriminal Justice Volunteer Background Checks / Volunteer Care Provider (VCP) Program (records from NJ only):
N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq. provides background checks for non-criminal 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.
Fingerprint-Based VCP Check (records from NJ only):
A requester may elect to conduct a more thorough check, based on a fingerprint comparison by using the service code provided below. The fee for electronic fingerprinting is $30.80. These responses will be mailed directly to the employers address that is provided by the applicant. The following forms of payment are accepted: VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover prepaid debit cards, or electronic debit (ACH) from a checking account. Accounts will be debited immediately.
YOUR EMPLOYER / VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION ADDRESS MUST BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE, AS RESULTS ARE SENT OUT VIA US MAIL.
Contributor case number: VCP
Name-Based Volunteer Check (records from NJ only):
If only a name-based criminal history record check is desired, please refer to the SBI 212B Form information listed below. The fee for name-based volunteer submissions is reduced to $12.
No personal checks will be accepted.
All inquiries should be directed to the Criminal Information Unit, (609) 882-2000, extension 2918 or CIU@gw.njsp.org.
Name-Based Checks (records from NJ only):
The SBI 212B Form was developed to provide the following entities with the ability to request New Jersey named-based only criminal history record checks by submitting a subject's name, date of birth, social security number, and other descriptive information:
- Governmental entities of this State, the federal government or any other state for any official governmental purposes, 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 purposes of determining the subject's qualifications 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.
If an authorized requester elects to conduct a more thorough check, based on fingerprint comparison, he/she may select one of the fingerprint-based checks described above. The responses will go directly back to the employer address that was listed when making the fingerprint appointment.
The state vendor NICUSA has developed a web based platform to submit the SBI 212B form.
https://www.njportal.com/njsp/212b/
The fee for an SBI 212B online submission is $20, payable by credit or debit card. Valid email addresses must be provided for both the requester (employer) and subject (employee) of the name-based criminal history record check. Payment can be made by either the requester (employer) or the subject (employee), but the subject must consent to the criminal history record check via the online verification process (with the exception of licensed private detectives performing their statutorily authorized functions.) The requester (employer) must initiate the online 212B process for the specific subject (employee). The subject (employee) can NOT initiate the process for the requester (employer).
All Licensed private detectives will need to setup an account on the website prior to submitting SBI 212B requests. It is also strongly suggested but not necessary, that each employer set up an account on the NICUSA 212B portal. Setting up an account through NICUSA will allow users to access name based criminal history background checks electronically. Without an account you will only receive an email of the results and will not be able to obtain a copy. In the near future, setting up an account will be necessary to utilize the name check service.
SBI 212B Forms MAY NOT be used for a person requesting his/her own criminal history record. Anyone wishing to receive his/her own record must submit fingerprints by utilizing one of the methods described above, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq.
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 or CIU@gw.njsp.org.
