State Clearance Policies for Criminal Background Checks

State-Specific Information and Procedures

Each state has different departments and procedures for administering criminal background checks. Background checks also vary in how long they will take based on the kinds of information requested and the state in which they are conducted. Consult the table below for state-specific information concerning fees, contact information, and request forms to ensure that you can obtain the documents that you need in order to submit a successful criminal rehabilitation or temporary resident permit application.

StateAgency or Department
Online address, Mailing address, or where to submit In-personContact InformationFeeApproximate Processing Time
AlabamaAlabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)P.O. Box 1511Montgomery, AL 36192-1511(334) 242-4372 or (334) 242-4392$25.00
AlaskaAlaska Department of Public SafetyAttention: Records and Identification5700 East Tudor RoadAnchorage, AK, 99507http://bit.ly/Ln8je9 (907) 269-5767 or (907)-269-5765$25.00 (name-based) or $35.00 (fingerprints)
ArizonaArizona Department of Public Safety Criminal Identification SectionP.O. Box 6638 Phoenix, AZ,85005(602) 223-2000$65.00 or $67.005-8 weeks
ArkansasThe Arkansas State PoliceAttention: I.D. Bureau1 State Police Plaza DriveLittle Rock, AR, 72209http://bit.ly/L8pEJp (501) 618-8500$25.00
CaliforniaThe California Department of JusticeBureau of Criminal Identification and InformationAttention: Record Review UnitP.O. Box 903417Sacramento, CA, 94203-4170http://bit.ly/M9Mpjb (916) 322-2209 or (916) 227-3849$32.00
Colorado The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Identification UnitContact: Frank Vanecek690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000Denver, CO, 80215(303) 239-4300 or (303) 239-4208$13.00
ConnecticutThe State of Connecticut Department of Public SafetyState Police Bureau of Identification1111 Country Club RoadP.O. Box 2794Middletown, CT, 06475-9294http://1.usa.gov/M4hzIL (860) 685-8270$36.00 or $50.00
DelawareThe Delaware State Police1441 North Dupont Highway(P.O. Box 430)Dover, DE 19903-0430(302) 739-5871$52.50 (only State) or $69 (State and Federal)
District of ColumbiaThe Metropolitan Police DepartmentAttention: Criminal History and Records300 Indiana Avenue N.W.,Suite. 3055Washington, DC, 20001Request PD Form 70 in person (202) 727-4245$7.0024 hours or 6-8 weeks for finger-print FBI checks
FloridaThe Florida Department of Law EnforcementAttention: Criminal Records Inquiry SectionP.O. Box 1489Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489http://bit.ly/JOO8uJ (850) 410-7000$24.00
Georgia Georgia Crime Information CenterGCIC/CCH Identification ServicesP.O. Box 370748Decatur, GA 30037-0748(404) 244-2639$20.7510-14 business days
HawaiiState of HawaiiDepartment of the Attorney GeneralHawaii Criminal Justice Data CenterKekuanao’a Building, Room 101465 South King StreetHonolulu, HI 96813Fill request form online at http://bit.ly/K70T5j (808) 587-3279$20.00
IdahoThe Department of Law EnforcementCriminal Identification BureauBCI Applicant UnitContact: Maria Wiley, Unit Supervisor700 South Stratford Drive,Ste 120Meridian, ID 83642http://bit.ly/K76qJf (208) 884-7130$10.00
IllinoisThe Illinois State PoliceBureau of Identification260 North Chicago StreetJoliet, IL 60431-1060Fill request form online at http://bit.ly/do3ye1 (815) 740-5160$20.00
IndianaThe Indiana State PoliceCriminal History Limited CheckP.O. Box 6188Indianapolis, IN 46204-6188http://1.usa.gov/KEUCM5 (317) 233-5424$7.00Minimum 5business days
IowaThe State of IowaDepartment of Public SafetyDivision of Criminal InvestigationBureau of Identification215 E. 7th StreetDes Moines, IA 50319(515) 725-6066$15.002-5 business days
KansasThe Kansas Bureau of InvestigationAttention: Records1620 South West Tyler StreetTopeka, KS 66612-1837Fill Request Form Online at http://bit.ly/JGKjmN (785) 296-8200$35.00
KentuckyThe Department of State Police Records1250 Louisville RoadFrankfort, KY, 40601http://bit.ly/NzSTqV (502) 227-8700 ext. 8713$20.00
Louisiana Louisiana State PoliceBureau of IdentificationP.O. Box 66614Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70896http://bit.ly/KY1DGp (504) 925-6095$26.00
MaineThe State Bureau of Identification45 Commerce DriveState House Station 42Augusta, ME 04333-0042Fill Request Form Online at http://bit.ly/JGO7V0 (207) 624-7240$41.00
MarylandThe State of MarylandDepartment of Public Safety and Correctional ServicesCJIS Central RepositoryP.O. Box 32708Pikesville, MD, 21208(410) 764-4501$34.50
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of MassachusettsExecutive Office of Public SafetyCriminal History Systems BoardCriminal Justice InformationSuite 2200200 Arlington StreetChelsea MA, 02150http://1.usa.gov/JH9R30 (617) 660-4600$25.00
MichiganThe Michigan State PoliceCriminal Records Division106 W. AlleganLansing, Michigan 48933(517) 322-1956$30.003-5 Weeks
MinnesotaThe Department of Public SafetyBureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)1430 E. Maryland AvenueSt. Paul, MN 55106(651) 793-2400$8.002 weeks
MississippiCriminal Information CentreSpecial Processing Unit3891 Highway 468 WestPearl, MS 39208(601) 933-2600
MissouriThe Missouri State Highway PatrolCriminal Records & Identification DivisionP.O. Box 9500Jefferson City, MO 65102(573) 526-6153$16.50
MontanaThe Montana Department of JusticeLaw Enforcement Services Division Attention: ID Bureau303 North Roberts – 4th FloorP.O. Box 201403Helena, MT 59620-1403(406) 444-3625$32.25
NebraskaThe Nebraska State PatrolCriminal Investigation DivisionRecords and IdentificationBox 94907Lincoln, NE, 68509-4907http://bit.ly/NAPxUD (402) 471-4545$15.00
NevadaDepartment of Public SafetyRecords Bureau333 West Nye Lane, Suite 100Carson City, NV 89706http://bit.ly/KKIrgT (775) 684-6262$21.00
New HampshireThe New Hampshire Department of SafetyDivision of State Police33 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03305http://1.usa.gov/KaQuix (603) 271-2538$25.00
New JerseyDepartment of Law and Public SafetyDivision of State Police, CIUAttention: Records and Identification SectionP.O. Box 7068, West Trenton, NJ, 08628http://bit.ly/JQ3Hm1 (609) 882-2000 ext. 2991$41.00
New MexicoThe Department of Public SafetyRecords SectionP.O. Box 1628, 4491 Cerrillos Street, Sante Fe, NM 87504-1628http://bit.ly/KrPay9 (505) 827-9233$44.007-15 Working Days
New YorkThe New York StateDivision of Criminal Justice Services4 Tower Place, Albany, NY 12203-3764http://bit.ly/NAV4ua (518) 485-7675$60.75
North CarolinaThe North Carolina State Bureau of InvestigationDivision of Criminal Information3320 Old Garner Road Raleigh, NC 27626-0500http://bit.ly/LsZYrF (919) 662-4509 Ext. 6266$25.00
North DakotaBureau of Criminal InvestigationBox 1054, 4205 State Street Bismark, ND 58503(701) 328-5500$29.50
OhioThe State of OhioOffice of the Attorney GeneralBureau of Criminal Identification and InvestigationP.O. Box 365, London, OH, 43140http://1.usa.gov/NE0On6 (740) 845-2000 or 1-877-224-0043$8.00
OklahomaThe Oklahoma State Bureau of InvestigationCriminal History Information6600 North Harvey, Building 6, Oklahoma City, OK 73116(405) 848-6724$19.00
OregonOregon State PoliceUnit 11P.O. Box 4395, Portland, OR, 97208-4395http://1.usa.gov/Lw8tSC (503) 378-3070$33.00
PennsylvaniaThe Pennsylvania State PoliceCentral Repository1800 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA, 17110-9758Fill Form Online At http://bit.ly/3d6G7t (717) 783-5588$10.002-3 weeks
Rhode IslandState of Rhode IslandOffice of the Attorney GeneralBureau of Criminal Identification150 South Main Street Providence, RI, 02903(401) 421-5268$5.007 Business Days
South CarolinaSouth Carolina Law Enforcement DivisionS.L.E.D. RecordsP.O. Box 21398 4400 Broadriver Road Columbia, SC, 29221(803) 896-7005$25.00
South DakotaOffice of Attorney GeneralThe Division of Criminal Investigation1302 E. Highway 14Suite 5, Pierre, SD 57501http://bit.ly/MynNmT (605) 773-3331$43.25
TennesseeTennessee Bureau of Investigation901 R.S. Gass Blvd. Nashville, TN 37216Fill Form Online At http://bit.ly/M9aerv (615) 744-4095$29.00
TexasThe Texas Department of Public SafetyAttention: Crime Records DivisionP.O. Box 15999, 505 North Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX, 78761-5999http://bit.ly/Md32GE (512) 424-2079$24.95
UtahUtah Bureau of Criminal Identification3888 W. 5400 Street Taylorsville, Utah 84129http://1.usa.gov/LmBXjO (801) 965-4445$15.00
VermontThe Department of Public SafetyVermont Criminal Information Center103 South Main Street Waterbury, VT, 05671-2101http://bit.ly/Kd2IqM (802) 244-8727$30.005-7 days by mailor 10 minutesin person
VirginiaDepartment of StateP.O. Box 85076 Richmond, VA 23261-5076http://bit.ly/Lm9NJy (804) 674-200015.00
WashingtonThe Washington State PatrolIdentification DivisionP.O. Box 42633 Olympia, WA, 98504-2633http://1.usa.gov/KMDfZW (360) 534-2000$17.00
West VirginiaWest Virginia State Police725 Jefferson Road South Charleston, WV, 25309Fill Form Online At http://bit.ly/Lvl1JN (304) 746-2170$28.85 (State Only)
WisconsinWisconsin Department of JusticeCrime Information BureauP.O. Box 2688 Madison, WI, 53701-2688Fill Form Online At http://bit.ly/L0NE2x (608) 266-7314$7 (by internet) $12 (if mail/fax)
WyomingThe State of WyomingDivision of Criminal Investigation316 West 22nd Street Cheyenne, WY, 82002(307) 777-7523$15.0010 business days

Each state has different departments and procedures for administering criminal background checks. Consult the table below for state-specific information concerning fees, contact information, and request forms to ensure that you can obtain the documents that you need in order to submit a successful criminal rehabilitation or temporary resident permit application.

The tragic events of September 11th, 2001 propelled changes even further placing added conditions of entry on the notably friendly border. As of June 1st, 2009 the full provisions of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative were implemented which required any foreign national to present their passport or equivalent document in order to enter the United States. Similarly, American citizens now need to present their passports to enter Canada. The process of entering Canada also has additional steps for any American citizen with a criminal record.

Depending on the circumstances of a particular case, foreign nationals have two options in terms of overcoming their inadmissibility to Canada; the short-term solution of acquiring a Temporary Resident Permit or the permanent solution of Criminal Rehabilitation. While slightly different in their outcome, both of these options require submitting applications to a Canadian consulate in the United States. Among the requirements of these paperwork-heavy applications are state police clearances, and in some cases FBI clearances. The title of such documents can vary by state, but they all serve the same purpose of outlining offenses incurred by an individual.

A state police clearance can offer immigration officials an official and trusted account of the applicant’s criminal history within the jurisdiction of the specified state. An application is strengthened when a background check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also included, as it discloses one’s criminal history in all of the United States.

To acquire state police clearances individuals must make requests through the individual states. For your convenience, all state websites, prices and application forms (for certain states) can be found at FWCanada’s website at /state-clearance-policies/. For information concerning FBI background checks conducted through the FBI, please consult http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/submitting-an-identification-record-request-to-the-fbi. An additional option for TRP and criminal rehabilitation applications is found in FBI-approved Channelers. These channelers are private businesses who have secured contracts with the FBI enabling them to receive, collect, and forward all relevant FBI data. To enquire about FBI-approved channelers please visit http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/list-of-fbi-approved-channelers.

For more information on Temporary Resident Permits, Criminal Rehabilitation and all matters involving Canadian Immigration visit the FWCanada website and follow us on twitter @FWCanada.