Maine Criminal Background Checks/Abuse and Neglect Registry
Home Studies which Require Criminal / Perpetrator Record Checks
Maine requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Foster-Adopt
- Adoption
- Parent
- Other, specified below
Expedited (Reg7) Relative Placements
Criminal Background Screening
The following methods are used to capture fingerprints to conduct criminal records checks:
- Live Scan or other computerized technology
Criminal background checks/screening via Live Scan or other computerized technology are offered at the following levels:
State or Local Criminal Record Checks Requirements/Process:
Applicants sign releases for Department to conduct Child/adult abuse checks, sex offender cks, State criminal cks, and Motor vehicl records cks.
Applicant will not be approved if the person has committed any of the following misdemeanor or felony offenses:
Misdemeanor offenses are not necessarily diqualifers. Any Felony conviction for child abuse/neglect, spousal abuse, crime against a child(ren), inc. pornography, or crime of violence including rape, sexual assault or homicide. Any Felony conviction within the past five (5) years involving: physical assault, battery or a drug related offense.
Types of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)
Maine requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR)):
|
Federal |
State |
Local |
ANR |
NR |
| Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Relative |
|
y |
y |
y |
|
| Relative Foster Care |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Adoption |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Foster-Adopt |
y |
y |
y |
y |
|
| Parent |
|
y |
y |
y |
|
Maine provides Abuse and Neglect searches:
Wait Time for Criminal Records Results
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 15-30 days
- Local/County: 15-30 days
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: Not Offered
- Local/County: Not Offered
Verification of Criminal Records Results
- Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background
Period of Time the Checks are Valid
*Criminal background checks completed for child welfare cases are valid for five years provided that the household member(s) did not reside in another state during that timeframe.
*For private adoptions, Maine requires that criminal background checks have been completed within the last twelve months.
