Background Checks

To protect the campus community and its assets, the University needs to ensure that individuals assigned to certain campus positions (link is external)have no history of criminal behavior relevant to their employment. Designated positions requiring a Background Check are positions where job responsibilities include, for example:

  • Working with minors
  • Handling or having access to cash or personally identifiable information
  • Having access to secured or restricted areas

These types of positions(link is external) require finalists to be fingerprinted and are referred to as "designated" positions.

New legislation

Based on new legislation passed in the State of California, starting in January 2025, all new hires/rehires  will now be required to complete a Misconduct Disclosure and Release of Information which will automatically be included in the Background Check packet(s) shown below.

Additionally,  existing individuals who experience a job change/reclassification or transfer from another UC will also be required to complete this Misconduct Disclosure and Release of information. They will receive a DocuSign packet from their respective BRS regional HR team which will contain ONLY the Truscreen (called Application Station) link for them to complete the Misconduct Disclosure & Release of Information. These processes are still under development.

OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:

In an effort to streamline and make the background check process easier (and faster), effective January 21, 2025, all new individuals requiring a background check (applicants and existing employees) will need to complete the following step(s). 

  • They will complete their background check with Berkeley's new vendor, Truescreen, who performs the FBI National Criminal Background Check and this will include the Misconduct Disclosure and Release form.

If the applicant also requires fingerprinting based on specific job responsibilities

  • They will use Berkeley's other background check vendor, Biometrics4ALL, Inc. to perform the LiveScan process. This applies to both CA applicants and non-CA applicants.

All new applicants or existing employees transferring to a position that requires a background check will need to have the hiring manager determine if this specific position requires a LiveScan/fingerprinting component. 

Positions that meet any one of the following scenarios will be required to complete the Biometrics4ALL, Inc / LiveScan process to schedule and attend a fingerprinting appointment at a location of their choosing.

  • Is this person a firearm carrying police officer or a 911 Dispatcher?
  • Is this person required to have a license or certification to deliver healthcare in a healthcare setting?
  • Is the person supervising minors?  This is not the same as being a Mandated Reporter under CANRA.
  • Is this position funded by a Contract or Grant that requires a LiveScan criminal background check? 

This Background Check Misconduct Disclosure Release_Feb 2025(link is external) slide deck(link is external) outlines what departments/units need to know about the new process.

WHAT THE NEW EMPLOYEE/HIRE WILL EXPERIENCE

  • They will receive a Background Check (DocuSign) packet from their respective BRS Regional Onboarding Team which will contain either the Truescreen link (called Application Station) or the Biometrics4ALL, Inc. link (not both)

Those who receive the Truescreen/Application Station link will:

  • Complete a short online application to open their account. These detailed steps(link is external) outline what an applicant will experience when they submit their background check application with Truescreen.

Those who received the Biometrics4ALL, Inc. link for a LiveScan/fingerprinting services will:

  • Schedule and attend their fingerprinting appointment. 
  • If they reside in CA, there are hundereds of locations available and applicants can choose a location most convenient for them.
  • Candidates outside of CA will not use LiveScan specifically with Biometrics4ALL but instead, follow a paper-based/hard card process versus an electronic process at a location in their state.
  • If a new Berkeley employee receives a notice that their fingerprint/background check has been rejected for any reason, they must follow these steps (link is external)ASAP to make another appointment to get their fingerprints "re-done".

Important note: The administrative processes for both the Truescreen background check process and the LiveScan fingerprinting process has shifted from UC Police Department (UCPD) to Berkeley's People & Culture. UCPD no longer provides fingerprinting services for the Berkeley campus.

Most importantly, before someone can be hired for a position deemed critical, Hiring Departments MUST, for each applicant, ensure that those applicable new hires have cleared their full background check requirements. 

WHAT IS THE FEE?

Background Check (IOF) fee (effective January 2025) is: $165 (proposed)

For applicants who must get their Background Check "re-done" and it is within 30 days from the original appointment date, there is no charge. If it is done after the 30 day period, the applicant will need to make a new appointment and incur the full charge structure.

For those who only have to complete the Misconduct Disclosure & Release - - the proposed fee is $25 (pending approval by Berkeley's CBR Finance Committee)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: