Businesses that hire private security officers are required under Minnesota law to conduct background checks on those employees. Businesses are required to follow these steps when requesting a background check:

• The applicant must complete a consent form for a background check. Here is a sample that your agency can use: Security Guard Consent Form.
• A check for the required fee should be made payable to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).
• A good quality set of fingerprints on an FBI applicant fingerprint card (available from the BCA or local law enforcement agencies). A sample fingerprint card is available here.
  • Provide the applicant’s full name, date of birth and identifying information.
  • The OCA field on the fingerprint card must be completed with your "account” number (if your organization does not yet have an account number, one will be assigned at the time of your initial FBI request).
  • Employer name and address should be the department that the response will be forwarded to when returned from the FBI. For example, your human resources department.
  • In the "Reason Fingerprinted" block please reference Minnesota Statute § 326.336.1.
  • Your agency’s assigned ORI number (MNBCA0000). 
• A stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Send your background check request to:

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
CHA Unit
1430 Maryland Ave. E.
St. Paul, MN 55106

National fingerprint-based background check requirements

Employers who are authorized to conduct national fingerprint-based criminal history record checks are required to follow certain FBI processes. You must provide the applicant with the Privacy Act statement and the applicant must acknowledge receipt of that statement. Applicants who are the subject of a national fingerprint-based criminal history record check have certain privacy rights.

Information contained in a Minnesota criminal history background check

Watch this video or read this document for a high-level overview of the information agencies and organizations receive when conducting a Minnesota criminal history background check.

Contact the Minnesota Private Detective Board for information about licensing and other requirements.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the above outlined procedures or if you require assistance, you may contact the Criminal History Access Unit at 651-793-2400, option 1.