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| Vermont Department of Public Safety
| Division of Criminal Justice Services
| Vermont
Criminal Information Center Home | RECORD
CHECK HOME
On this page you will find the answers to the following questions:
If you have not already done so, please read the Frequently Asked Questions for the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) Vulnerable Populations Program to get an overview of the program.
If you think you qualify as a qualified entity you should apply in writing to the VCIC to be officially recognized as a qualified entity. Application letters should be on letterhead stationary and should explain how you, your business, or your agency meets the definition of a qualified entity. A qualified entity is defined as an individual, business, governmental agency, or organization, whether public, private, for-profit, not-for-profit, or voluntary whose employees or volunteers provide care or care placement services for vulnerable populations. Providing care for vulnerable populations means the provision of care, treatment, education, training, instruction, or supervision to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities.
If you are designated as a qualified entity by VCIC you will receive an authorized agency code which you will need to include on each request form in order for VCIC to waive the established $20 fee for conviction searches. Once the authorized agency code has been assigned to you, you will be authorized to request and receive criminal conviction searches.
The qualified entity may request record checks on a person who:
It is important to note that the employee or volunteer for whom you request a criminal conviction search does not have to be a caregiver – only that the person be employed by or volunteer with a qualified entity. The law also authorizes record checks for employees of vendors or contractors who will have or potentially will have unsupervised access to children (vs. elderly or disabled) for whom the qualified entity provides child care (vs. care for elderly or disabled).
The User Agreement specifies the conditions under which criminal record information will be released to the qualified entity. A user agreement is included on every request form.
REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL CONVICTION SEARCH FROM VCIC
Download the Vermont Request Form in Microsoft Word format.
Download the Vermont Request Form in Adobe Acrobat format.
Mail the Vermont Request Form to:
Criminal Records Section
Vermont Crime Information Center
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, Vermont 05671-2101
Typically it takes five to seven working days to process a criminal conviction search via the mail. Criminal conviction information cannot be reported over the telephone or faxed.
OUT-OF-STATE RECORD CHECK REQUESTS
Criminal conviction information may also be requested from other states. However, requests to other states will involve utilizing the appropriate procedure for the additional state(s) and additional fees (sometimes substantial). Please note that many states also require the applicant to submit fingerprints as part of their record check process.
To request an out-of-state record check please call VCIC at 802-241-5237 to determine:
If fingerprints are required the applicant will need to go to their county Identification Center to be fingerprinted. For more information on Identification Centers, go to the National Criminal Record Check Program for locations of Identification Centers and information regarding the applicant fingerprint program. There is a $15 fingerprinting fee payable to the Identification Center at the time the service is rendered.
VCIC will conduct the Vermont record check and return the results via US mail within 14 days. Criminal conviction information cannot be reported over the telephone or faxed.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND RECORD MAINTENANCE
The qualified entity may not disclose the contents of criminal record information without the applicant’s permission to any person other than the applicant and properly designated employees of the agency who have a documented need to know the contents of the record. Even with the permission of the applicant, qualified entities should not disseminate copies of criminal record information to any other individual, business, government agency, or organization.
A criminal conviction search is essentially expired the moment it is received by the requestor. After the results of a search are provided to the requestor, additional information may be added to the subject’s record. In order to be sure that you have the most accurate information, qualified entities are encouraged to request an additional search before a new fitness determination is made.
For additional information please call the Vermont Crime Information Center at 802-241-5237.