About Us

What does BCCU do?

The Background Check Central Unit (BCCU) uses a centralized database to conduct approximately 310,000 background checks annually, including approximately 140,000 fingerprint-based checks for Department of Social and Health Services programs and authorized service providers who serve vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children.  Our DSHS authorized service providers include, but are not limited to:

  • Adult in-home care providers.
  • Long-term residential care for adults.
  • Services for people with developmental disabilities.
  • Residential programs for children and youth.
What is BCCU’s Role?

BCCU processes background checks for DSHS authorized service providers and DSHS programs who serve vulnerable individuals across Washington state.  These background checks are specifically for applicants that provide direct care/services to these vulnerable individuals. 

BCCU runs the background checks through a centralized database collecting information from several sources:

  • Applicant self-disclosure
  • Department of Corrections
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Negative Actions from:
    • Aging and Long-Term Support Administration , Resident and Client Protection Program.
    • ALTSA/Adult Protective Services.
    • Department of Children, Youth and Families , Child Protective Services.
    • Department of Health.
    • Out-of-state service provider and professional license status.
  • Washington and other state court systems.
  • Washington State Patrol
  • Western Identification Network

BCCU determines the type of result notification based on the criteria set by the DSHS program that oversees the background check activities; each program has a different criteria.  The results are provided to the authorized service providers and DSHS programs that requested the background check. 

BCCU does not make hiring or contracting decisions; BCCU collects and reports the information reported to us.   Hiring decisions are made by the authorized service provider or DSHS program.  The rules or protocols entities are expected to follow are based on the laws and rules of the DSHS oversight program and on their own internal policies procedures. 

 

What information sources does BCCU search when they do a background check?

BCCU Background Check Data Sources

 Data Source

Type of background check/condition for use

Washington State Patrol (WSP) WATCH
Criminal history records

All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)  Public Data Mart – Criminal history records

All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks

WA State Adult Protective Services Findings

All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks

WA State Residential Client Protection Program Findings

All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks

WA State Child Protective Services Findings

All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks

WA State Department of Health Findings

All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks

Applicant Self-Disclosures

All N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks

Stored WSP & FBI fingerprint* record rap sheets & WIN state rap sheets

 

*unless prohibited by federal law

N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks that include an interim FP result/
when the applicant has had a previous fingerprint-based background check and criminal history records are reported

WA State Administrative Office of the Courts
Judicial Information System

N/DOB checks & fingerprint checks/when a crime or charge without disposition is reported by FBI, WSP or AOC needs additional research

WA State Department of Corrections (DOC)
Felony Offender Reporting System

N/DOB  checks & fingerprint checks/when a WSP rap sheet reports a DOC offender # for the subject individual

Washington State Patrol Fingerprint-based search

All fingerprint checks

Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint-based search

All fingerprint checks

Western Identification Network (WIN) State Search  (WIN states = Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming)

When the WSP fingerprint result reports a hit from one or more WIN states, BCCU initiates a search from the state reporting a hit

 

What information will a BCCU background check result show?

Background check results will include the following information:

  • No Record - means no record was found for the applicant;
  • Review Required - means the applicant has a record for a crime that is not on the  Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions;
  • Disqualify - means applicant has a disqualifying crime or negative action listed on the  Disqualifying List of Crimes and Negative Actions; or
  • Additional Information Needed - means the applicant needs to provide additional information in order for BCCU to issue a final result notification.

 

Who gets the background check results?

Background check results are only retrievable by the requesting entity through their Entity Home Page in the Background Check System.

If an entity needs a copy of a background check result that was completed prior to June 26, 2018, please contact BCCU. BCCU can only send results to the entity's fax or mailing address that is on their account.

 

What are the disqualifying Lists of Crimes and Negative Actions?

Certain criminal convictions, pending charges, and negative actions automatically disqualify a person from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles, and children, or access to federal tax information.

These lists describe the disqualifying crimes and negative actions adopted by the listed DSHS oversight programs for individuals with unsupervised access to vulnerable individuals or access to federal tax information.  If you have questions about which list applies to your background checks, contact the appropriate DSHS oversight program.  For DSHS employee background checks, contact the Human Resources Division.