BCI Background Check

The safety and security of the students in our K-12 schools is of the utmost importance. To ensure this state-wide priority, every URI student completing clinical placement hours through the College of Education must complete a Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) Background Check and have it on file in the COEDU database. Clinical placement assignments will not be given to any student without a valid and current BCI on file. Make sure that you carefully review all information provided here regarding your BCI.

Rhode Island Placements

  • All students are required to have a valid BCI from the RI Attorney General’s Office uploaded to the COEDU Database (located in Brightspace) by June 1st for the upcoming academic year’s practicum AND residency placements. BCIs from private online services will not be accepted.
    • Check with the RI Attorney General’s Office (4 Howard Ave. Cranston, M-F 8:30am-4:30pm) for current BCI information. You can order your BCI both in-person and by mail.
      To bring with you (in-person BCI):

        • a valid state issued driver’s license, identification card, or US passport
        • 5$ payment (credit or debit cards only)
    • A note about out-of-state students: Some of our district partners require both a RI and an out-of-state BCI. The OCPP will reach out to you directly if you need both your RI and home state BCI for placement. Out-of-state students will obtain a BCI from the RI Attorney General’s Office by the deadline above. See the directions below for New England, New York and New Jersey. Check your home state .GOV website for more information on how to obtain a BCI from your state of residence.

 

Out-of-State Placements

  • All students are required to have a valid BCI uploaded to the COEDU Database (located in Brightspace) by June 1st for the upcoming academic year’s practicum AND residency placements. BCIs from private online services will not be accepted. 
    • If you are doing a placement outside of Rhode Island, check with the attorney general’s office in your state to review the BCI request guidelines and timeline.

General BCI Policies (Rhode Island Placements and Out-of-State Placements)

    • Get your BCI in May! BCIs need to be renewed annually and are valid for one calendar year from the date of issue. Your BCI is required to be valid between the months of September to May to cover you for your practicum and residency experiences in both the fall and spring semesters.
    • Students admitted in August are required to submit their BCIs ASAP. Failure to submit your BCI in a timely manner will result in a delay in securing your placement and could lead to issues with completing your coursework.
    • All of our district partners require proof of a valid BCI before they will approve your clinical placement. Failure to upload your BCI prior to the 6/1 deadline could result in a delay in your placement and you will be required to make up those hours.
    • Be sure to retain your original BCI and a digital copy of your BCI for your records. You are required to carry your BCI with you when you visit your practicum and student teaching placements. You may be asked to leave your placement if you cannot produce proof of a current, valid BCI.
    • If your BCI is returned with criminal history records, please do the following: 1) submit your BCI with records to the COEDU database for review, 2) email a brief explanation of the incident related to the records to ote@etal.uri.edu, 3) contact your lawyer if you think there is an error on your BCI and/or if you have questions about your BCI.

BCI Information for Out-of-State Students

Connecticut

To obtain a BCI from your home state of Connecticut, click on the link below. This information can be found on the Ct.gov page under the Department of Children and Families page. Complete the DCF 3031 form, submit it to the COE database AND email the Office of Clinical Practice and Partnerships to let us know you have submitted the information. OCPP will then complete the BCI process with Connecticut. Your results will be emailed directly to the OCPP.

https://portal.ct.gov/DCF/Background-Checks/Home#Employment

Maine

To obtain a BCI from your home state of Maine, click on the link below. This information can be found on the Maine.gov page under the Maine Department of Public Safety/Maine State Police.

https://www1.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/dps/background_check/index.pl

Massachusetts

To obtain a BCI from your home state of Massachusetts, click on the link below. This information can be found on the MA.gov website under the Department of Public Safety.
https://icori.chs.state.ma.us/icori/ext/global/landing.action?page=1&bod=1484253085653&m=presentLanding

New Hampshire

To obtain a BCI from your home state of New Hampshire, click on the link below. This information can be found on the New Hampshire.gov page under the Criminal Records Unit Division of the State Police.

https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/jib/crimrecords/

New Hampshire Criminal History Record Information Requests
To obtain criminal history record information you may:

  1. Apply in person with a primary identification (a current, valid and unexpired picture I.D.- i.e. driver’s license or passport)
  2. Walk-in service is provided at the public counter at 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, Room 106A; OR
  3. Mail in an application notarized by either a Notary Public or Justice of the Peace; OR
  4. A release to a third party requires a similar notarization and a third party signature.
    There is a $25.00 search fee.
  5. Download the Criminal Record Release Authorization Form (PDF)

New Jersey

To obtain a BCI from your home state of New Jersey, click on the link below. This information can be found on the NJ State Police page under the Criminal History Records Information. As a student, New Jersey considers you an out of state resident so follow those procedures found at the bottom of the page.

Out of State Residents Requesting a New Jersey BCI

If you need a background check from the state of New Jersey please call the Division of State Police, Criminal Information Unit, (609) 882-2000 ext. 2918. They will supply you with a package, including a fingerprint card and full instructions.

http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/criminal-history-records/index.shtml

You can get your Livescan fingerprints done using Form A at the South Kingstown Police Department. The station is located at 1790 Kingstown Road in Wakefield and is open to do background checks on:

  • Mondays from 8 am-12 pm
  • Wednesdays from 4 pm-9-pm
  • Fridays from 8 am
  • Sundays from 8 am-9 pm

Please call the station at 401-783-3321 to confirm that personnel are available for fingerprinting before going to the police station. Once you have your Livescan prints done, you need to return them with a certified check or money order to the New Jersey State Police using the address on the paperwork. In turn, they will mail your results to you.

New York

To obtain a BCI from your home state of New York, click on the link below. This information can be found on the nycourts.gov page under the Criminal History Record Search. Submit your request electronically by using the New York on-line Direct Access application. Requests submitted via the Direct Access application reporting ‘No Results Found’ are returned in Real Time.

http://www.nycourts.gov/apps/chrs/onlinedirectaccess.shtml

Vermont

To obtain a BCI from your home state of Vermont, click on the link below. This information can be found on the Vermont.gov webpage.

https://secure.vermoVermont Crime Information Center’s Record Servicent.gov/DPS/criminalrecords/