ICPC State Pages

New Jersey Criminal Background Checks/Abuse and Neglect Registry

Home Studies which Require Criminal / Perpetrator Record Checks

New Jersey 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:

• National
• State
• Local

State or Local Criminal Record Checks Requirements/Process:

• National, State, Local and Abuse/Neglect checks are required.

Applicant will not be approved if the person has committed any of the following misdemeanor or felony offenses:

• If the criminal history record background check of the staff member or applicant reveals a record of conviction for any of the following crimes and offenses:

  a.       In New Jersey, any crime or disorderly persons offense as follows:

  (1)     a crime against a child, including endangering the welfare of a child and child pornography pursuant to N.J.S.2C:24-4;

  (2)     abuse, abandonment or neglect of a child pursuant to R.S.9:6-3;

  (3)     endangering the welfare of an incompetent person pursuant to N.J.S.2C:24-7;

  (4)     sexual assault, criminal sexual contact or lewdness pursuant to N.J.S. 2C:14-2 through N.J.S.2C:14-4;

  (5)     murder pursuant to N.J.S. 2C:11-3 or manslaughter pursuant to N.J.S.2C:11-4;

  (6)     stalking pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c. 209 (C.2C:12-10);

  (7)     kidnapping and related offenses including criminal restraint, false imprisonment, interference with custody, criminal coercion, or enticing a child into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area pursuant to N.J.S.2C:13-1 through N.J.S.2C:13-5 and section 1 of P.L.1993, c. 291 (C.2C:13-6);

  (8)     arson pursuant to N.J.S.2C:17-1, or causing or risking widespread injury or damage, which would constitute a crime of the second degree pursuant to N.J.S.2C:17-2;

  (9)     aggravated assault, which would constitute a crime of the second or third degree pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:12-1;

  (10)   robbery, which would constitute a crime of the first degree pursuant to N.J.S.2C:15-1;

  (11)   burglary, which would constitute a crime of the second degree pursuant to N.J.S.2C:18-2;

  (12)   domestic violence pursuant to P.L.1991, c. 261 (C.2C:25-17 et al.);

  (13)   terroristic threats pursuant to N.J.S.2C:12-3; or

  (14)   an attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the crimes or offenses listed in paragraphs (1) through (13) of this subsection.

Types of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

New Jersey 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	y
Relative Foster Care	y	y	y	y
Adoption	y	y	y	y
Foster-Adopt	y	y	y	y
Parent			y	y
Foster Care	y	y	y	y

New Jersey provides Abuse and Neglect searches:

• Yes

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 31-60 days
• Local/County: 4-7 days

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: Not Offered

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

• Criminal Record checks are valid for 12 months.  Abuse and Neglect checks are valid for 12 months.