Effective July 1, 2011, every applicant agency must have at least one designated Custodian of Records. Every Custodian of Records must be confirmed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The agency Custodian of Records will be responsible for the security, storage, dissemination and destruction of the criminal records furnished to the agency and will serve as the primary contact for the DOJ. Criminal justice agency personnel who have undergone a state and federal criminal record background check are exempt from these requirements. See Custodian of Records information page for the confirmation process.

California law authorizes certain governmental and private organizations to conduct criminal record background checks to help determine the suitability of a person applying for a license, employment or as a volunteer working with children, the elderly or disabled. Law enforcement agencies, public and private schools, non-profit organizations and in-home supportive care agencies are some of the agencies authorized to conduct fingerprint background checks.

During the 2009-10 fiscal year, the DOJ processed almost 1.9 million applicant fingerprint transactions. Eighty percent of the electronically submitted fingerprint checks are completed within three business days.

Please note:
Due to the on-going fiscal crisis and hiring restrictions within State Government, DOJ no longer has the resources to take phone calls or process follow-up inquiries from regulatory entities who have submitted a criminal offender record information search request through the DOJ or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As always, the Automated Telephone Service will be available to allow regulatory entities to directly make status inquiries via (916) 227-4557. Directions to use the Automated Telephone Service can be found below under Step Four 4 – Retrieve Results.

Our email [email protected] may be used by regulatory entities requiring assistance with secure mail server issues, California fingerprint rejects, and for those complex and/or unique circumstances regarding applicant responses. Emails sent to this address will be answered on a time available basis and reply response times can not be forecasted. DOJ has suspended processing follow-up requests. This email address should not be used to conduct follow-up requests.

Below is the basic information an agency needs to get authorization and submit fingerprints.

GETTING AUTHORIZED

Step One (1) – Determine if your agency is authorized to submit applicant fingerprints for background checks

BEFORE any of your potential applicants can be fingerprinted for a background check, you must apply with the DOJ to become an authorized applicant agency unless already designated by law. Please note: The DOJ will only approve an organization if authorized in statute. The authorizing statute will specify the level of service you are authorized to receive (i.e., California criminal history information ONLY or California and Federal criminal history information).

Step Two (2) – Submit the appropriate authorization request forms

The following are specific authorization request forms for various applicant agencies including, but not limited to, youth organizations, human resources agencies, school contract employers and in-home supportive care providers.

1. School Contractors Employers ONLY authorization request packet.
   This packet is utilized ONLY by employers providing school site services to a school and the school is requesting the agency conduct background checks of employees prior to starting services.
   Authorization Request Form for School Contract, pdf
2. In-Home Supportive Care Providers ONLY authorization request packet.
   This packet is utilized ONLY by agencies with applicants providing non-medical care for an adult in the adult’s own home.
   Authorization Request Form for In-Home Supportive Care Providers, pdf
3. Youth Organization and Human Resources ONLY authorization request packet.
   This packet is utilized ONLY by agencies with employees or volunteers who are directly responsible for the care and security of children, the elderly, the handicapped, or the mentally impaired.
   Authorization Request Form For Youth Organizations/ Human Resources Agencies, pdf
4. Contract/Proprietary Security Organizations ONLY authorization request packet.
   This packet is utilized ONLY by agencies with employees licensed to provide services as a private patrol operator or is an agency/organization within a business entity that has the primary responsibility of protecting the employees and property of its employer.
   Contract/Proprietary Security Organizations, pdf
5. City, County and Special Districts ONLY authorization request packet.
   This packet is utilized ONLY by a city, county or special district in order to assist in fulfilling employment, certification, or licensing duties, and if the access is specifically authorized by the city council, board of supervisors, or governing board of the city, county, or district.
   City, County and Special Districts, pdf
6. AmeriCorps Agency Resources ONLY authorization request packet.
   This packet is utilized ONLY by AmeriCorps agencies which have employees or volunteers who are directly responsible for the care and security of children, the elderly, the handicapped, or the mentally impaired.
   Americorps Authorization Application Request Packet, pdf
7. Authorization request packet utilized by all applicant agencies unless designated above.
   School and All Other Authorization Application Packet, pdf

Step Three (3) – Determine if your agency is required or wants to receive Subsequent Arrest Notifications on applicants once they are employed or licensed

Applicant Agencies may apply to receive subsequent arrest notification information for individuals for whom criminal background checks were requested. Subsequent arrest services must be requested in writing and are not retroactive for individuals printed prior to receipt of the subsequent notification agreement.
Subsequent Arrest Service Contract, pdf

Step Four (4) – Wait for the authorization to be approved

This process can take six weeks to complete, sometimes longer if FBI approvals are required. You will be notified in writing when you can begin sending applicants to be fingerprinted.

SUBMITTING FINGERPRINTS

Once you have been approved, you may begin sending applicants to be fingerprinted.

Step One (1) – Choose the correct form to use

A Live Scan operator will not take fingerprints if the applicant does not present one of the following forms:

1. Most Authorized Applicant Agencies will use the
   Form 8016 – Request for Live Scan Services, pdf
2. Public Schools or Joint Powers Agencies ONLY will use
   Form 8016A – Request for Live Scan Services (Public Schools or Joint Powers Agencies), pdf
3. Electronic Recording Delivery Services will use
   Form 8016ERDS – Request for Live Scan Services (Electronic Recording Delivery Service), pdf
4. Record Review or Foreign Adoption will use
   Form 8016RR – Request for Live Scan Services (Record Review or Foreign Adoption), pdf

Click on the following link for the instructions on completing these forms:
Form 8016 & 8016A Instructions, pdf

Step Two (2) – Fill in your Agency’s information on the Request for Live Scan Service (BCII 8016 or 8016A) Form.

All applicants must have a completed Request for Live Scan Service Form to present to the Live Scan operator or they cannot be fingerprinted. PLEASE ensure all of your agency’s information (i.e., Agency ORI, Mailing Address, Mail Code, etc.) is accurately entered onto the form which you provide the applicant. Any erroneous information submitted may cause delays or result in the applicant having to be fingerprinted again and fees paid a second time.

Step Three (3) – Send your applicants to get fingerprinted

Once you have provided the necessary form to your applicant, he/she can determine where to be fingerprinted. Fingerprinting services are available at most local police departments, sheriff’s offices or any public applicant Live Scan site; or you may have an agreement for services with a particular site. To find the sites nearest to your agency and a listing of their rolling fees, see Public Live Scan Sites

Please note: The applicant must present valid photo identification when being fingerprinted. Expired identification information will not be accepted.

Step Four (4) – Retrieve the results

Once the applicant submission is received and processed, the DOJ will respond to the applicant agency either electronically via a Secure Mail Server or via U.S. mail.

While most Applicant Agencies SHOULD receive results of background checks electronically from the California DOJ, some must receive reports by U.S. mail in a process that can take a minimum of seven days. As such, please allow a minimum of seven days before making a status inquiry.

Most of the time, results are released to the applicant agency within three business days. Delays can occur however, and can be caused by a number of things including: poor fingerprint quality, the existence of criminal information in the applicant’s record, the existence of a manual fingerprint card (whether criminal or applicant) in the applicant’s file, birthdates before 1920, and incorrect data on the submission. An agency should NOT assume the applicant has criminal information on their record simply on the basis of a delay notification.

Due to the on-going fiscal crisis and hiring restrictions within State Government, effective Monday, November 08, 2010, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) no longer has the resources to take phone calls or process follow-up inquiries from regulatory agencies who have submitted a criminal offender record information search request through the DOJ or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

If you have not received a response within thirty days, the 24-hour Automated Telephone Service is available: (916) 227-4557.

If a requesting agency does not have results yet and digital Live Scan fingerprints were submitted, the agency can use the automated telephone system to check on the submission. You will need the following information: (1) applicant’s date of birth; and (2) the 10-digit Automated Transaction Identifier (ATI) number that appears at the bottom of the Department of Justice form requesting Live Scan fingerprint background checks. The ATI number always appears in the following sequence: 1 LETTER; 3 NUMBERS; 3 LETTERS and 3 NUMBERS.

 

Step Five (5) – Remit the appropriate fees

California and Federal background checks are processed for a fee. Some agencies pay the processing fees and others require the applicant to pay these fees at the time they are fingerprinted. If your agency pays these processing fees, you have the option of (1) paying the fees directly to the Live Scan operator or (2) establishing a billing account at the time of your authorization, in which case DOJ will invoice your agency for the processing fees.

(NOTE: The processing fees do not include the fingerprint rolling fee charged by the Live Scan operator; the fingerprint rolling fee must be paid directly to the Live Scan operator.)

If your agency submits “hard cards” (not Live Scan) for your applicants and your agency elects to pre-pay, please complete and submit the Transmittal Form – Prepaid (Cash), pdf along with your hard cards and payment. If your agency has a billing number, please complete and submit the Transmittal Form – Billed, pdf along with your hard cards and DOJ will invoice your agency for the processing fees.

For a complete listing of the processing fees associated with criminal background checks, please see:
Applicant Fingerprint Clearance Fees, pdf

If you have established a billing account with the DOJ, you will receive a billing invoice on a monthly basis either electronically or via U.S. mail. If you would like to pay your billing invoice by credit card, please utilize the following form: Credit Card Transaction Form, pdf

If you establish a billing account, you will electronically receive a Monthly Billing Detail Report. The Billing Detail lists the applicants and the associated charges for invoice reconciliation purposes. You will receive the Billing Detail electronically through the Secure Mail Server System (SMSS). (NOTE: This SMSS mailbox has a different User ID and Password than the SMSS mailbox used to receive applicant fingerprint results.) The Billing Detail will remain in your SMSS mailbox for 90 days. To request a Billing Detail older than the 90 days, the agency must call (916) 227-3870, select option #1, follow the prompts, and provide the necessary information. DOJ will send the requested Billing Detail to your SMSS mailbox.

If you find a discrepancy on your Billing Detail, you may request a credit using the BCII 9006 – Live Scan Credit Request Form, pdf or call (916) 227-3870, select option #4, follow the prompts, and provide the necessary information. DOJ will research your request and notify you whether or not your credit was approved.

IMPORTANT: Regardless of any potential discrepancy, you must pay your monthly invoice in full upon receipt.