Missouri Volunteer and Employee Criminal History Service (MoVECHS) Program
Checking the Background of Persons Who Work or Volunteer with Children, the Elderly, or the Disabled Under the National Child Protection Act (1993), as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (NCPA/VCA).
Email Address: MOVECHS@mshp.dps.mo.gov
Phone Number 573-526-6345 or toll free 866-560-3589
The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) developed the MoVECHS (pronounced "mo-vecks") program to enable non-governmental entities that meet specific qualifying criteria to obtain state and national (FBI) criminal history record information with the submission of fingerprints and a waiver statement on current and prospective applicants, employees and volunteers.
Generally, to be qualified to participate in the MoVECHS program, an entity must provide some type of "care" or "care placement services" for children, the elderly, or disabled persons, even if only as a limited part of the entity's overall business. The MoVECHS program is not available to organizations currently required to obtain criminal history record checks on their employees and/or volunteers under other statutory provisions, such as public school teachers. Those organizations must continue to follow the statutory mandates that specifically apply to them.
To become a qualified entity/organization and to obtain criminal history record information through the MoVECHS program at the MSHP, an entity will need to do the following:
1. Submit an application to MSHP explaining what functions the organization/entity performs that serve children, elderly or disabled persons;
2. Sign a User Agreement that the criminal history information would be used only to screen applicants, employees and volunteers;
3. Submit $39.25 for each applicant or $35.25 for each volunteer fingerprint card submission; or
4. Submit $52.20 for each applicant or $48.20 for each volunteer electronic submission (if using IBT fingerprint services).
(MOVECHS Application and User Agreement are located in the Publications tab, Forms Page under Criminal Records).
If an entity becomes qualified and provides the required information for criminal history record requests, MSHP, with the assistance of the FBI, will provide the entity with the following:
1. An indication that the person has no criminal history, i.e., no serious arrests in state or national databases, if there are none;
2. The criminal history report (RAP sheet) that shows arrests/and or convictions for Missouri and other states, if any;
3. Notification if the applicant is registered as a Missouri sex offender.
MoVECHS Brochure
Symposium Reference Manual
Symposium Presentation
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Qualified Entity Application? The Qualified Entity Application is the initial document completed by the interested entity in order to request participation in the MoVECHS program. The form provides vital information about the entity and should be completed in its entirety. A current copy of the entity's business license is required and should accompany the application.
What is the Waiver Agreement and Statement? Pursuant to the National Child Protection Act of 1993 (NCPA), as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (VCA), the Waiver Agreement and Statement must be completed and signed by every current or prospective employee, volunteer, and contractor/vendor, for whom criminal history records are required by a qualified entity. The waiver authorizes the qualified entity to access and review Missouri and national (FBI) criminal history records on an applicant.
What is the User Agreement? The User Agreement is an agreement entered into by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the qualified entity. The intent of the agreement is to set forth the terms and conditions under which criminal history record information is obtained through the MoVECHS program.
What is the NCPA/VCA?The National Child Protection Act (NCPA), as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (VCA) is national legislation that encouraged states to authorize fingerprint-based national criminal history record information (background checks) of individuals having access to children and other vulnerable people by enacting legislation under Public Law 92-544. Recommended policies and procedures for implementation of the NCPA/VCA were set out by the FBI and are followed by the MoVECHS program.
How To Participate in the MoVECHS Program? An entity should send a completed Qualified Entity Application and User Agreement, along with a current copy of their business license to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Criminal Records & Identification Division-MoVECHS Unit, at P. O. Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500. Once the documentation has been received and reviewed, the entity will be notified of acceptance or denial. If accepted into the program, specific information about program participation will be provided to the qualified entity.
What is a "qualified entity"? Who can obtain criminal history record checks under the NCPA/VCA? To be qualified to participate in the MoVECHS program, an entity must provide some type of "care" or "care placement services" for children, the elderly, or the disabled, even if only as a limited part of the entity's overall business. Once qualified to participate in the program, an entity may request criminal history information on all current and prospective employees and volunteers, not only those who work with vulnerable persons. "Qualified entities" are authorized to obtain criminal history record information as described under the NCPA/VCA and related federal guidelines. Under the NCPA/VCA, a "qualified entity" is a business or organization, whether public, private, for profit, not-for-profit, or voluntary, that provides care or care placement services. "Care" means the provision of care, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities.
