Police Record Check - California

Hi All. Quick question When your Midshipman were required to drop off the Police Records Check at the local PD, did you get any push back. Our local PD sent the form to the Academy but refused to provide information because they are considering USNA as an "employer" and in our State providing criminal history check to an employer, even when there is no criminal history, is a violation of the law. Just wondering if anyone has run into this problem and how you were able to resolve it. I feel silly asking since I work for the agency that is the custodian of all criminal records in California, but I think that my be the problem as well. Thanks!

MarineDadHopefulNavySon said:

Hi All. Quick question When your Midshipman were required to drop off the Police Records Check at the local PD, did you get any push back. Our local PD sent the form to the Academy but refused to provide information because they are considering USNA as an "employer" and in our State providing criminal history check to an employer, even when there is no criminal history, is a violation of the law. Just wondering if anyone has run into this problem and how you were able to resolve it. I feel silly asking since I work for the agency that is the custodian of all criminal records in California, but I think that my be the problem as well. Thanks!

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I would probably call the academy, they probably have had to deal with this before.

We are having the same problem in Maryland. DD's campus police had no problem filling it out. But, the local (county) police say they don't do them. DD called the Academy, and they said just attach a signed statement saying they didn't do them, and list any items that the police would have listed.

In Virginia DS says the county police took the form and said they would do the background check and send their own form. The only interaction he's had with he police was when his wallet was stolen from an unlocked car (lesson learned, I hope). We didn't think twice about the form. When he returns to college, he'll take the form to the local police there. Will see if he gets the same answer.

MarineDadHopefulNavySon said:

Hi All. Quick question When your Midshipman were required to drop off the Police Records Check at the local PD, did you get any push back. Our local PD sent the form to the Academy but refused to provide information because they are considering USNA as an "employer" and in our State providing criminal history check to an employer, even when there is no criminal history, is a violation of the law. Just wondering if anyone has run into this problem and how you were able to resolve it. I feel silly asking since I work for the agency that is the custodian of all criminal records in California, but I think that my be the problem as well. Thanks!

Click to expand...

So I'm thinking we will get the same pushback since we live in San Diego. Thanks for the heads up MarineDad!

Live in small town in CA DS had no problem last year.

Our "local" law enforcement is the Los Angeles Police Department. When my DS finally got to the right window, we learned that LAPD will not sign the form -- instead, they need my son to go to a "LiveScan" location, get finger printed, have the prints sent to the California Department of Justice, the prints run through the national data base, the CDOJ will return to the LAPD the results of the finger printing, and then LAPD will somehow find the form we submitted, fill it out and return it to USNA with the results. The chances of any of that happening are as good as this Navy going to the Final Four. This year. And, yes, I understand that the field is already set. My DS is calling his local councilperson to see if it is at all possible that the 1/2 page form might kindly and simply be filled out at our local police station and returned (the way civilized communities do it all across the middle of our fine country). Sorry for the rant but this has been a huge pain in the transom (nautical term attempt). I'm done now. Go Navy, Beat Army!

I feel for you. Had a similar run around in NYC last year trying to figure out how to get police record check done. Turns out you have to go to "One PP" - One Police Plaza - and request a "Certificate of Good Conduct". They fingerprinted DS and gave us a time about a week later to come and pick-up the doc. The positive was that I learned from admissions that USNA seems to accept any form that is "official" and details an appointees criminal history.

If a station does not comply with providing you your Record Check on our paperwork, they are welcome to print us a statement of your record on their own letter head. Sometimes they need to hear the words that you are "requesting a name-only record check." Another issue may be with mailing it to us directly. Please make sure that you are providing each office with a paid, pre-addressed envelope. If they insist on sending a record check to you personally, you may mail us the unopened envelope.

Contacted USNA and got mine done.

Our DS had a profoundly miserable time trying to get LAPD to do his background check. They told him that he had to drop off the form, go to the California Department of Justice, get fingerprinted, CDOJ would run the background, send results to LAPD, and LAPD would then find the form, fill it out and send it to USNA. The guy helping us actually misplaced the form while he was trying to answer our questions, and that didn't fill us with enthusiasm or optimism (but he was very nice). So, DS had a better idea -- he went to our city councilperson (who happens to be former LAPD), and asked if he could walk it through. And he did. For all who come from big cities, I understand this is a common problem.

DS had the same issue and understand it is not unusual here either. Luckily we had some contacts in the city, and they were able to assist. Not sure why this is so difficult for so many.