Most schools in the country (and all schools in Pennsylvania) require visitors who will interact with children to be screened. Students in the BS online program will be required to visit schools starting in the first term.  Therefore, we ask that you start the process upon acceptance, as some of it has significant lag time.

Students who plan to visit schools outside of PA must adhere to the requirements of the State in which the school is located.  To determine those requirements, use this site (http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/jjclearinghouse/jjeducation.html) to find the appropriate resource and follow the requirements for teachers or others involved in schools.  A summary of the requirements as well as copies of required clearances should be sent to Drexel as detailed below.

The process of getting ready to visit Pennsylvania schools involves three parts:

1. Criminal History Check

2. Child Abuse Clearance

3. FBI Record Check

When you have received the Criminal History Check and Child Abuse Clearance results, send a COPY of each to:

Regina Ruane
Drexel University
School of Education
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

or fax to Regina at 215-895-5879 with a cover sheet indicating how many pages follow.

When you receive your FBI Clearance, which will likely take longer (6-8 weeks) please forward a copy of that in the same manner.

Please contact us if you have any questions or encounter difficulties in the application process.
 

PA Criminal History Check

Pennsylvania Residents can apply for a Criminal History Check through the PA State Police (http://www.psp.state.pa.us/) one of two ways:

• on paper, which requires a $10 money order or certified check

• via the Internet-based PATCH system, which requires a credit card

Students who plan to visit schools outside of PA must adhere to the requirements of the State in which the school is located.  To determine those requirements, use this site (http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/jjclearinghouse/jjeducation.html) to find the appropriate resource and follow the requirements for teachers or others involved in schools.  A summary of the requirements as well as copies of required clearances should be sent to Drexel as above.

PA Child Abuse Clearance


Pennsylvania Residents can apply for a Child Abuse Clearance through the PA Department of Public Welfare (http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/) by visiting the web site http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/child/childabuseneglect/003671038.htm, downloading the request form, and mailing the completed request and a $10 money order to the DPW.  Please note that you will check Block B to indicate you are requesting this clearance to be able to be involved with a school.

Students who plan to visit schools outside of PA must adhere to the requirements of the State in which the school is located.  To determine those requirements, use this site (http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/jjclearinghouse/jjeducation.html) to find the appropriate resource and follow the requirements for teachers or others involved in schools.  A summary of the requirements as well as copies of required clearances should be sent to Drexel as above.

PA-required FBI Record Check

This check is a new requirement in Pennsylvania, effective April, 2007.  We highly encourage you to begin the process now so that you have the required clearance in hand by April.  You may visit PA schools between now and April with only the Criminal History and Child Abuse Clearance results.

Students who plan to visit schools outside of PA must adhere to the requirements of the State in which the school is located.  To determine those requirements, use this site (http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/jjclearinghouse/jjeducation.html) to find the appropriate resource and follow the requirements for teachers or others involved in schools.  A summary of the requirements as well as copies of required clearances should be sent to Drexel as above.

How to Request a Copy of FBI Record (from the site http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm)

• Print and fill out the cover letter template.
   

• Obtain proof of identity, which consists of a set of your fingerprints (original card, no copies), with your name, date of birth and place of birth. Fingerprints should be placed on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258) commonly used for applicant or law enforcement purposes.
   

  • Include rolled impressions of all ten fingerprints and impressions of all ten fingerprints taken simultaneously (these are sometimes referred to as plain or flat impressions.)
  • If possible have your fingerprints taken by a fingerprinting technician  (this service may be available at a Law Enforcement Agency.)
  • Previously processed fingerprint cards will not be accepted.
     

• Include $ 18 - U.S. dollars in the form of a money order or certified check made payable to the Treasury of the United States, or you may pay by credit card
   

  • Be sure to sign where required
  • No personal checks or cash
  • Must be exact amount
  • If paying by credit card you must include the completed credit card payment form
  • Credit cards will not be used for expedited mail service
     

• Mail the items #1, #2, #3 (listed above) to the following address:

         FBI CJIS Division – Record Request
        1000 Custer Hollow Road
        Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306

Please Note: If any of the above items are missing or incomplete, the request will be returned.  Allow approximately 8-10 weeks for processing, upon receipt to the FBI.

What You Will Receive

• No Record Response – Consists of the original fingerprint card stamped with the stamp “No Record.”

Or

• FBI Identification Record

How to Challenge Your Record

Since the FBI's CJIS Division is not the source of the data appearing on Identification Records, and obtains all data thereon from fingerprint submissions or related identification forms submitted to the FBI by local, state and federal agencies, the responsibility for authentication and correction of such data rests upon the contributing agencies. Therefore, the rules set forth for changing, correcting or updating such data requires that the subject of an Identification Record make application to the original contributing agency (e.g., police
department, county court, etc.).

An individual may challenge the information contained in the FBI Identification Record by contacting the original agency that submitted
the information to the FBI or the state central repository in the state in which the arrest occurred. These agencies will be able to furnish the guidelines for correction of the Record. The FBI is not authorized to modify the Record without written notification from the appropriate criminal justice agency.

Frequently Asked Questions:  http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/faqs.html

If you have any additional questions, please contact your local FBI field office (http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm)