How to Get a Background Check in Massachusetts
Meta description: Learn how to get a background check in Massachusetts, request your CORI record, arrange fingerprint-based checks, and review common fees and next steps.
Getting a background check in Massachusetts starts with identifying the type of record needed. The state’s Criminal Offender Record Information system, known as CORI, provides criminal-record information, but it is not the same as a fingerprint-based FBI check or a complete employment screening. The right process depends on whether someone is checking their own record, hiring for a job, applying for a license, or meeting another requirement. Understanding the options helps prevent delays and avoid requests that do not meet the receiving organization’s rules.
What A Massachusetts Background Check Can Include
A “background check” can refer to several different searches. In Massachusetts, the most familiar state criminal-record search is a CORI check administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). Other checks may search federal records, driving history, professional-license status, or the sex offender registry. Employers and licensing agencies may combine more than one type.
A CORI report is based on Massachusetts criminal-record information available to the requester under the level of access authorized for that purpose. It is not a universal report of every event in a person’s life, and it does not automatically include records from other states, federal courts, or every local source. A clean CORI result therefore does not necessarily mean that no other records exist.
- Personal CORI: A person requests their own Massachusetts criminal-record information.
- Employment CORI: An employer or authorized organization requests information for a permitted hiring purpose.
- Fingerprint-based checks: Fingerprints are submitted for a state or federal search when a law or agency requires one.
- Additional searches: Depending on the role, these may include driving records, license verification, or sex offender registry information.
How To Request Your Own CORI Record
People who want to see their Massachusetts criminal record can submit a personal CORI request through the DCJIS online system, iCORI. The state’s official CORI pages explain the current steps, identity requirements, payment options, and any available alternatives to an online request. Using the official portal helps ensure the request goes to the agency that maintains Massachusetts CORI records.
- Open the official iCORI service. Start from the CORI information and service pages on Mass.gov. Confirm that the service is for an individual requesting their own record, rather than an employer or organization.
- Create or access an account. Follow the portal’s identity-verification instructions. The system may ask for identifying information to distinguish the requester from people with similar names.
- Complete the request accurately. Provide the requested personal details, including any former names if the form asks for them. Incorrect or incomplete information can affect the search or delay processing.
- Pay the listed fee or apply for a waiver, if eligible. Fees and waiver rules can change, so check the amount displayed by DCJIS before submitting. The state provides fee-waiver information for eligible applicants, including people who meet its indigency criteria.
- Submit the request and review the result. Follow the portal’s instructions for receiving and viewing the response. Keep a copy for personal reference and check the report for errors or unfamiliar entries.
For people who cannot use the online service, the DCJIS website should be checked for current paper-request instructions and contact information. Requirements may differ by request method. A third-party website may offer to obtain records, but it is not a substitute for the official process when a specific agency requires an official CORI request.
What Information Is Included In A CORI Check?
The information a requester can receive depends on the requester’s legal authority and the purpose of the search. Massachusetts uses different CORI access levels. A person reviewing their own record may receive information that is not available to an ordinary member of the public, while employers and agencies receive information according to the access permitted for their role and the applicable laws.
Records may include information about criminal cases maintained in Massachusetts systems, such as charges and case outcomes. What appears depends on the record, its status, applicable access rules, and whether it has been sealed or otherwise restricted. A CORI report is not a determination of guilt: charges that did not result in a conviction should not be treated as convictions, and readers should pay attention to the disposition shown.
Massachusetts law also limits how CORI information can be used. Employers and other authorized organizations must follow applicable rules for access, review, and decision-making. The details can differ by position and legal requirement, so an organization should not assume that every requester can obtain the same information.
How Employers Get A CORI Check
An employer that is legally permitted to request CORI generally uses the DCJIS iCORI system and must register as an organization. Employers should identify the applicable access level, describe the job-related purpose, and follow the state’s requirements for obtaining consent and handling the results. A person seeking work should ask the employer which screening is required; an applicant usually cannot replace an employer’s authorized request with a personal CORI report.
Before an employer requests CORI, it generally must provide notice and obtain the candidate’s written authorization in accordance with Massachusetts requirements. If the employer is considering taking adverse action based on CORI, it must follow the applicable review procedures. These include providing the person an opportunity to review the record and address potentially inaccurate or incomplete information. Employers should use the current DCJIS guidance and their legal or compliance resources to confirm the steps for their situation.
For private-sector employers, a background check conducted by a third-party consumer reporting agency can also trigger federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requirements. These can include a clear disclosure, written authorization, and pre-adverse-action and adverse-action notices. State and federal rules may apply at the same time. Employers should not treat a vendor’s report as automatically accurate or skip required notices.
When A Fingerprint-Based Background Check Is Needed
Some jobs, licenses, volunteer roles, and other regulated activities require fingerprint-based screening. Fingerprints allow records to be matched using biometric identifiers rather than names alone and may be submitted for a Massachusetts or FBI criminal-history check. This is a separate process from an ordinary personal CORI request.
The organization requiring the check should provide the correct instructions, including the authorization code or reason for the check, the approved fingerprinting location, and any required forms. In Massachusetts, fingerprint appointments for many authorized checks are handled through the state’s designated vendor. Applicants should use the vendor and appointment pathway specified by the agency, because a fingerprint submission for the wrong purpose may not satisfy the requirement.
The FBI offers an Identity History Summary Check for individuals who want their own federal identity-history record. The FBI’s process requires fingerprints and charges a federal fee; an approved channeler may charge an additional service fee. This FBI report is not a replacement for a Massachusetts CORI check when a Massachusetts agency specifically requires CORI, and it is not necessarily the same as a fingerprint check submitted through a state licensing program.
Other Massachusetts Records That May Be Checked
A background screening can include records beyond criminal history. The organization requesting the screening should identify what is needed, since each record has its own access rules and request process.
- Driving history: Employers that need to assess driving qualifications may request an appropriate Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) record. The type of record and authorization depend on the purpose.
- Professional licenses: Licensing boards and employers can verify a license through the relevant Massachusetts agency or board. This can confirm status and may show publicly available disciplinary information.
- Sex offender registry information: The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) provides public search tools and handles requests under its rules. A registry search is distinct from CORI and may be subject to additional limits.
- Out-of-state and federal records: A Massachusetts CORI search does not automatically provide a complete nationwide history. A separate state, federal, or multi-jurisdictional search may be needed, subject to legal authorization.
What To Do If A CORI Report Looks Wrong
Anyone who finds an error, an unfamiliar case, or a case outcome that appears incorrect should follow the correction instructions provided by DCJIS. The person may need to identify the specific entry and provide supporting documents, such as court paperwork. A court clerk can help locate case-disposition records, but the correction to a criminal-history database must follow the process designated by the agency that maintains the record.
It is useful to review names, dates, charges, and dispositions carefully. A record may belong to someone with a similar name, or a case may appear without the final outcome expected. Sealed records and other restricted information are governed by specific laws; a person should not assume that an entry will disappear automatically from every database after a case ends.
If an employer or other organization is using a report to make a decision, the person should request the report and any required notices, then use the stated dispute process promptly. For a report supplied by a consumer reporting agency, the FCRA gives consumers rights to obtain and dispute information. The agency and the employer have separate responsibilities in that process.
Fees, Processing Times, And Practical Tips
Fees depend on the type of check, the agency, and the method used. A personal CORI request may have a fee, and fingerprint appointments or third-party services may have separate charges. The FBI charges its own fee for an Identity History Summary, while a channeler may add a service fee. Because prices and processing times can change, the official portal or requesting organization is the best source for current details.
Processing time also varies with the search type, identity verification, record volume, and whether additional review is needed. A fingerprint-based check may require an appointment and additional processing. Applicants working toward a deadline should start early and confirm that the result will be sent directly to the agency if that is required.
| Need | Likely starting point | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Review personal Massachusetts criminal history | DCJIS iCORI personal request | Check current identity, fee, and waiver instructions. |
| Meet a job or license screening requirement | Instructions from the employer or licensing agency | Do not assume a personal CORI report meets the requirement. |
| Obtain an FBI identity-history report | FBI Identity History Summary process | Fingerprints are required; fees may apply. |
| Check driving qualifications | Massachusetts RMV record request | The appropriate record depends on the purpose. |
Before submitting any request, confirm the exact record required, the authorized provider, and where the results must be delivered. Use the official Mass.gov CORI pages, DCJIS guidance, the FBI website, or the requesting agency rather than relying on outdated forms or unofficial summaries. That simple check can prevent duplicate fees, rejected applications, and delays.