Massachusetts Criminal Background Checks/Abuse and Neglect Registry
Home Studies which Require Criminal / Perpetrator Record Checks
Massachusetts requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:
- Foster Care
- Relative Care
- Relative-Foster Care
- Foster-Adopt
- Adoption
- Parent
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:
-
CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) - Records and data (including conviction, arraignment and sealed record data, and juvenile arraignment, arrest and conviction data) in any communicable form compiled by a criminal justice agency which concerns an individual and relates to the nature or disposition of a criminal charge, an arraignment, a pre-trial proceeding, other judicial proceedings, sentencing, incarceration, rehabilitation, or release.
CORI includes information regulated by the Criminal History Systems Board and maintained by the Board of Probation regarding the criminal histories of persons within the Massachusetts Court system.
All Foster and Adoptive resources have to have an FBI finger printing check completed.
Applicant will not be approved if the person has committed any of the following misdemeanor or felony offenses:
Types of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)
Massachusetts 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 |
|
Relative |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
Relative Foster Care |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
Foster-Adopt |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
Adoption |
y |
y |
|
y |
|
Parent |
|
y |
|
y |
|
Massachusetts provides Abuse and Neglect searches:
Wait Time for Criminal Records Results
Wait time for fingerprint results are:
Live Scan or other technology
- State: 8-14 days
- Local/County: Not Offered
Manually - Fingerprint Card
- State: Not Offered
- Local/County: 8-14 days
Verification of Criminal Records Results
- Actual results/information contained in the Criminal Background
- Signature verifying background check completed
Period of Time the Checks are Valid