Instructions: If you need a background check within the state of New Jersey but are no longer a resident, please email the Division of State Police, Criminal Information Unit, at [email protected] Opens in new window. We will supply you with a package, including a fingerprint card and full instructions. In the event you are unable to email you may call 609-882-2000 ext. 2918
If you are an out of state applicant but live, work, or attend school within a 10-mile radius of the New Jersey borders, you must report to an IDEMIA site to be fingerprinted. Please check the following list of zip codes Opens in new window. If your zip code is on the list, you must go to the nearest NEW JERSEY IDEMIA site to obtain a fingerprint based background check.
Named-Based Only Criminal History Record Checks
The SBI 212B Form was developed to provide the following entities with the ability to request named-based only criminal history record checks by submitting a subject's name, date of birth, social security number, and other descriptive information:
- Governmental entities of this state, the federal government or any other state for any official governmental purposes, including, but not limited to, employment, licensing, and the procurement of services;
- A person or non-governmental entity of any state, that seeks to directly engage the services of the subject of the record, for purposes of determining the subject's qualifications for employment, volunteer work or other performance of services;
- Private detectives, licensed by the Division of State Police, for the purposes of obtaining information pursuant to their statutorily authorized functions.
If an authorized requester elects to conduct a more thorough check, based on fingerprint comparison, he/she may use Universal Fingerprint Form D. These responses will go directly back to the employer address that was listed on the Universal Form completed by the applicant.
SBI 212B requests can now be submitted online at https://www.njportal.com/njsp/212b/ Opens in new window
The fee for an SBI 212B online submission is $20, payable by credit or debit card. Valid email addresses must be provided for both the requester (employer) and subject (employee) of the name-based criminal history record check. Payment can be made by either the requester (employer) or the subject (employee), but the subject must consent to the criminal history record check via the online verification process (with the exception of licensed private detectives performing their statutorily authorized functions.) The requester (employer) must initiate the online 212B process for the specific subject (employee). The subject (employee) can NOT initiate the process for the requester (employer).
The fee for online submissions by volunteer organizations (as defined below) is reduced to $12.
Licensed private detectives will need to setup an account on the website prior to submitting SBI 212B requests.
SBI 212B Forms MAY NOT be used for a person requesting his/her own criminal history record. Anyone wishing to receive his/her own record must submit fingerprints by utilizing Form A or B above, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:59-1 et seq.
Further questions regarding obtaining criminal history record background checks or noncriminal justice licensing/employment checks should be directed to the Criminal Information Unit at 609-882-2000 ext. 2918.