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Missouri Volunteer and Employee Criminal

History Service (VECHS) Program

For obtaining fingerprint-based Missouri open and closed criminal history record information and federal (FBI) criminal history record information from the systems of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the United States Department of Justice on persons who work or volunteer with children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities.

 

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division, developed the Missouri VECHS program to enable non-governmental entities that meet specific qualifying criteria to obtain Missouri and federal (FBI) criminal history record information with the submission of fingerprints on current and prospective applicants, employees, and volunteers through the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP). Generally, to be qualified to participate in the Missouri VECHS program, an entity must provide some type of care or care placement services for children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities. ("Care" includes treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation.)

 

For consideration in the Missouri VECHS program, an application (SHP-980) and User Agreement (see below for the appropriate User Agreement) must be submitted to:

 

MSHP - CJIS Division

Attn: Missouri VECHS Program

Post Office Box 9500

Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500

 

For questions or assistance:

Call (573) 526-6153 ext. 2647

E-mail: MOVECHS@mshp.dps.mo.gov

 

The Application (SHP-980) must be completed in full, explaining what functions your organization/agency/school performs that specifically serves children, elderly or disabled persons;

 

The Missouri VECHS program has two User Agreements (SHP-976 and SHP-982). If you are a private elementary or secondary school, you will complete the User Agreement SHP-976, which references the Adam Walsh Act. All other entities should complete the User Agreement SHP-982, which references the National Child Protection Act, as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (NCPA/VCA).

 

The User Agreement must be signed by the entity head and signifies an understanding that the criminal history record information received through this program, in part, is to be used for the purposes for which it was intended and must be maintained in a secure and confidential manner.

 

The program review process is approximately two weeks from date of receipt. Once approved, the qualified entity will be provided with the program Originating Agency Routing Identifier (ORI) and agency identification code (OCA), the waiver agreement and statement form, and fingerprint services form.

 

Once approved, qualified entities will be eligible to receive:

 

1. An indication that the applicant has no criminal history, i.e., no serious arrests in Missouri or the FBI databases, if there are none;

2. The Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) sheet from Missouri (open and closed records) and FBI records, if any, that shows arrests and/or convictions;

3. Notification if the applicant is a Missouri registered sex offender.

 

NOTE: The Missouri VECHS program may be used to obtain only Missouri (open and closed) criminal history record information or both Missouri and FBI criminal history record information. However, obtaining only the FBI search is not allowed. In order to receive an FBI search, the state search is required.

 

 

• MoVECHS Brochure
• MoVECHS Application (SHP-980)
• MoVECHS User Agreement NCPA/VCA (SHP-982)
• MoVECHS User Agreement Adam Walsh Act (SHP-976)

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Is there a fee with the MoVECHS program? No. The only fees associated are the fees for the background checks. The state background check is $20.00 and the federal fee is $16.50 (or $15.00 if a volunteer)*. If using the electronic fingerprint vendor through our MOAPS service, the fingerprint service fee is $12.95. Total cost for a complete background check is $49.45 per applicant**. For more information regarding fees or MOAPS fingerprint services, please click on: CJIS Home

 

*PLEASE NOTE: THE FBI FEE, OR FEDERAL FEE, HAS BEEN REDUCED EFFECTIVE MARCH 19, 2012.

** The total cost per applicant prior to March 19, 2012 was $52.20.

 

What is the Qualified Entity Application? The Qualified Entity Application is the initial document completed by the interested entity in order to request participation in the Missouri VECHS program. The form provides vital information about the entity and should be completed in its entirety. A current copy of the entity's business license is required and should accompany the application.

What is the Waiver Agreement and Statement? Pursuant to the National Child Protection Act of 1993 (NCPA), as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (VCA), the Waiver Agreement and Statement must be completed and signed by every current or prospective employee, volunteer, and contractor/vendor, for whom criminal history records are required by a qualified entity. The waiver authorizes the qualified entity to access and review Missouri and national (FBI) criminal history records on an applicant. The waiver form is retained by the qualified entity and is subject to audit, along with the criminal history records received through the program.

What is the User Agreement? The User Agreement is an agreement entered into by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the qualified entity. The intent of the agreement is to set forth the terms and conditions under which criminal history record information is obtained through the Missouri VECHS program.

What is the NCPA/VCA? The National Child Protection Act (NCPA), as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (VCA) is national legislation that encouraged states to authorize fingerprint-based national criminal history record information (background checks) of individuals having access to children and other vulnerable people by enacting legislation under Public Law 92-544. Recommended policies and procedures for implementation of the NCPA/VCA were set out by the FBI and are followed by the Missouri VECHS program.

 

What is the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006? Under Section 153(b)(2) a fingerprint-based background check request for the receipt of state and national criminal history record information may be submitted by private elementary and secondary schools on individuals employed by, under consideration for employment by, other otherwise in positions in which the individuals would work with or around children in the school.

How To Participate in the Missouri VECHS Program? An entity must mail a completed Qualified Entity Application (SHP-980) and User Agreement (SHP-976 Adam Walsh Act or SHP-982 NCPA/VCA), along with a current copy of their business license to: Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division, Attn: MOVECHS Program, P. O. Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500. Once the documentation has been received and reviewed, the entity will be notified of acceptance or denial. If accepted into the program, specific information about program participation will be provided to the qualified entity.

What is a "qualified entity"? Who can obtain criminal history record checks under the NCPA/VCA? To be qualified to participate in the Missouri VECHS program, an entity must provide some type of "care" or "care placement services" for children, the elderly, or the disabled, even if only as a limited part of the entity's overall business. Once qualified to participate in the program, an entity may request criminal history information on all current and prospective employees and volunteers, not only those who work with vulnerable persons. "Qualified entities" are authorized to obtain criminal history record information as described under the NCPA/VCA and related federal guidelines. Under the NCPA/VCA, a "qualified entity" is a business or organization, whether public, private, for profit, not-for-profit, or voluntary, that provides care or care placement services. "Care" means the provision of care, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. Entities that are required to obtain state and federal criminal history record checks under other statutory provisions (i.e., Missouri Statute), on all or specific employees and/or volunteers, must continue to comply with those statutes and the procedures that specifically apply. Requests for the required criminal history record check may not be processed through the Missouri VECHS program, pursuant to federal and state law.