Criminal Background Checks: Act 153 of PA

Pennsylvania State Police Access to Criminal History (PATCH) (https://epatch.pa.gov/home).

Click on the New Volunteer Record Check button on the main logon page to run your free volunteer check.

1. Read the online instructions carefully, then mark and accept the Volunteer Acknowledgement Section.
2. Complete the required information that is marked with an asterisk (*) on the Personal Information screen and click Next.  (VU or home address is acceptable).
3. Please review your personal information and then select Proceed if correct.
4. Please complete your personal information again on the Record Request Check Form.  Please note your social security number is not required but is highly recommended.  After completing, select Submit this Request.
5. On the Record Check Request Review Screen select Submit.
6. Click on the Control Number.
7. Scroll down and click on the “Certification Form” near the center of the page.
8. If the request returns a response of Record, you will not be able to print a certification form.  A record response will be mailed to the address provided.
9. Please make sure that once you have completed the criminal background check that you print or save the certification form with the logo in the background.  If your PATCH clearance indicates Pending you will need to wait until you receive a confirmation email that the PATCH request has been completed.  Click here for an example of the PA State Police Response for Criminal Record Check.
10. Please upload a copy of the clearance results to your Personalized URL for further review.  See Uploading Clearance Results for additional instructions.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance (http://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home

1. Please make sure that you know where you have resided and whom you have resided with since 1975. You will need this information to complete the on-line form.
2. Please also note that once you go into the site, it will ask you for a Keystone ID. You will need to create this login. It will later ask you to create a password, among a series of security questions.
3. Click on Create Individual Account.  Select NEXT.
4. Create a unique Keystone ID and add required personal information and select security questions.  Select NEXT.
5. Check your email for temporary password and close the browser and sign in again at (http://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home)
6. Select Access my Clearances.  Scroll to bottom of screen and select Continue.
7. Type in Keystone ID and use temporary security password you received in email.
8. Select your choice to verify your account. Follow directions for verifying.
9. You will be asked to create a password and Submit.  Please save your Kestone ID and password for future access.
10. Close browser window and log-in with your new personal password.
11. Review terms and Conditions and select option.  Select NEXT
12. Scroll down and select CONTINUE
13. Click on Create Clearance Application. Read information provided on the screen. At the bottom of the screen select BEGIN.
14. Please make sure you select VOLUNTEER as the purpose for the application. Select Volunteer Category as Other and Agency Name: Villanova. Go to bottom of the screen and select: Next
15. Complete the Clearance Application including previous address and people you lived with.
16. Provide e-Signature information and select Next.
17. Under Application Payment, “Did organization provide a payment code for your application?” – Select No. This clearance is free for volunteers every 57 months.
18. You will receive an email notification when the results are available.
19. Click here for an example of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance.
20. Print or save the results once they are available and upload a copy to your Personalized URL for further review. See Uploading Clearance Results for additional instructions.

FBI Fingerprinting (https://uenroll.identogo.com) 

If you are volunteering in a program or activity involving the participation of minors that is registered through the University Compliance Office Minors Programs Online Registration System or that is sponsored or officially recognized by Villanova University, the University will cover the cost of obtaining the FBI clearance once during your years as an undergraduate or graduate student.  

Below is the process VU student volunteers will need to follow for Villanova University to cover the associated costs for the FBI clearance check ($23.25).

1. Student volunteers will be sent the Authorization (Coupon) Code and Site Code from their Program Director via their Personalized URL prior to registering.
2. The registration process is completed online at https://uenroll.identogo.com. 
3. You will be prompted to enter a Service Code to begin enrollment. 
4. Student volunteers will register under the Department of Human Services (DHS). The Service Code for DHS volunteers is 1KG6ZJ. 
5. On the next screen select Schedule or Manage an Appointment.
6. The next few screens will collect essential information such as name, date of birth, address, etc. You will need to complete all required information. You must indicate you have an Authorization (Coupon) Code. Please note that you are now able to request that your clearance results be mailed to your local address at Villanova University which may expedite your receipt and, in turn, your ability to upload the results via your Personalized URL as explained in the Uploading Clearance Results section below. 
7. You will be prompted to select a required proof of identification to bring with you when being fingerprinted.  The site will provide a list of acceptable documents.  VU Public Safety has requested that applicants bring a driver’s license or state ID card, if possible.
8. On the Location selection screen in the "Search for an Enrollment Center by Postal Code, City and State, or Airport Code” field you will enter the Site Code provided to you on your Personalized URL.  Please note that you cannot copy and paste the code into this field. With this code you will be able to walk in (no appointments can be made) to VU Public Safety to have your FBI fingerprints done.
9. Select the Garey Hall location and click Next.
10. Enter your Authorization (Coupon) Code and click Next.
11. On the Appointment Date and Time screen, check the box for Walk In and then Submit.
12. Please print your Service Summary Report or record your Universal Enrollment Identification number (UEID).  The UEID will assist VU Public Safety in retrieving your registration.
13. Once the registration is complete you will receive a confirmation email.   
14. Take the confirmation email or your UEID along with the preferred method of identification you selected during the registration process and your Authorization Code to the VU Department of Public Safety for fingerprinting (24 hours/day; 7 day/week).
15. The fingerprint scan process takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and will require your picture to be taken.  
16. You may have the ability to receive your clearance results electronically, if you provided an email and security questions during the registration process.  Shortly after your  fingerprints have been taken and a result can be provided, you will receive an email which will advise you to click on the link within the email and enter the security question and answer.  This is a one time link only so you must be able to download it, save it and print it for future needs. There will be no second access to this electronic result. 
17. Clearance results will also be mailed to you within 7 to 10 days. 
18. Once the results are obtained via email or electronically you will notice the heading only indicates Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and does not indicate it is an FBI clearance (FBI clearance example).  
19. Upload a copy to your Personalized URL for further review and keep the original. 
20. See section on Uploading Clearance Results for additional instructions.  Please do not upload a copy of your FBI confirmation email or receipt

For printable instructions on registering for the FBI clearances along with screenshots, please click here.