CORI Check for Foster Care in Massachusetts: What You Need to Know

Background checks are the most anxiety-inducing part of the Massachusetts foster care application for many families. If you have any history in the criminal justice system — even something minor, even something decades old — the question "will this disqualify me?" is understandable. The honest answer is: it depends, and more records are subject to discretionary review than people assume. Here is exactly how the process works.

What Background Checks Are Required

Massachusetts requires four distinct checks for all foster care applicants. Every household member aged 14 and older must clear all of them before a license can issue.

1. CORI — Criminal Offender Record Information A query of Massachusetts state criminal records. CORI covers all criminal charges filed in the Commonwealth, including cases that were dismissed or resulted in a continuance without a finding (CWOF). Even sealed records may appear under some circumstances and in some contexts.

2. SORI — Sex Offender Registry Information A search of the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) records tied to your name and address. Massachusetts uses a tiered sex offender registry (Level 1, 2, and 3). Any registration on SORB triggers a review.

3. DCF Central Registry An internal DCF check for any supported findings of child abuse or neglect linked to your name. If you have lived outside Massachusetts in the last five years, DCF will also request an equivalent registry check from those states under the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

4. FBI Fingerprint Check (SAFIS) A national criminal history check conducted through the SAFIS program (Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification Services). Fingerprints are submitted through IdentoGO enrollment centers, which are located throughout Massachusetts. You register online at identogo.com using a Program Identification Number provided by DCF. The fee is approximately $35 per person, payable by credit card online or check/money order at the center.

5. Driving Record Applicants must have a driving record clear of major offenses — specifically Operating Under the Influence (OUI) — that would affect the safe transportation of children.

What Automatically Disqualifies You

Massachusetts regulations under 110 CMR 18.00 define a set of permanent disqualifying offenses. These are non-waivable: a supported finding for any of these offenses results in denial, regardless of time elapsed or rehabilitation evidence.

Permanent bars generally include:

• Murder, voluntary manslaughter, and other serious violent felonies
• Any sexual offense involving a minor
• Major felonies that directly implicate child safety
• A supported finding on the DCF Central Registry for sexual abuse of a child

DCF does not publish a complete enumerated list publicly, but your licensing worker can walk you through whether a specific offense on your record falls in the permanent bar category or the discretionary category.

What Goes Through Discretionary Review

Most other criminal records do not automatically disqualify you. They go through a discretionary review process, where DCF evaluates:

• The nature and severity of the offense
• How long ago it occurred
• Whether there were subsequent offenses
• Evidence of rehabilitation (stable employment, community involvement, character references)
• The relevance of the offense to child safety

Common records that go through discretionary review include:

• Old drug possession charges
• Minor assault charges from many years ago
• A single OUI (depending on recency and other factors)
• Dismissed charges and CWOFs (continuances without a finding)

One thing that often surprises applicants: DCF treats lack of transparency as a serious issue. If a discretionary-review offense surfaces that you did not disclose on your application, the omission itself — perceived as dishonesty — can result in denial even when the underlying offense would have been waivable. Disclose everything. Let the discretionary review process work.

Sealed and Expunged Records

In Massachusetts, sealed records may still appear in certain CORI contexts. If you have a sealed record, check with an attorney about what visibility it has for DCF purposes before assuming it will not come up. Similarly, out-of-state expungements may or may not be recognized depending on the laws of the state where the offense occurred.

Practical Tips for the IdentoGO Process

• Schedule your IdentoGO appointment as early in the process as possible. Processing times for federal FBI checks run two to four weeks on average, and delays here can hold up your entire application.
• Bring government-issued photo ID and the DCF-provided Program Identification Number to your appointment.
• Both members of a couple must schedule separately — the appointment is individual, not joint.
• If you have lived in multiple states, expect the process to include out-of-state registry requests, which can add additional weeks.

What Happens If a Check Comes Back with a Result

If CORI, SORI, or the FBI check returns with a record, your licensing worker will discuss the finding with you. For discretionary records, you will typically be given the opportunity to provide context — a written statement, character references, or documentation of rehabilitation.

You have the right to review your own CORI record in Massachusetts. You can request a copy from the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) before your DCF application to know what the check will show. This is worth doing if you have any uncertainty about what is in your record.

The Bottom Line on Background Checks

The Massachusetts background check process is thorough, but it is not designed as a wall. It is designed to protect children. Most applicants with old, minor records — particularly those with no subsequent offenses — can make it through the discretionary review process if they are honest upfront and prepared to provide context.

The cases where records become a problem are almost always cases where someone underestimated what would appear or assumed an old charge was no longer visible. Transparency with your licensing worker from the start gives you the best chance of working through the process rather than being blindsided by it.

For a detailed breakdown of the discretionary review process and how to build a strong case for waiver consideration, the Massachusetts Foster Care Licensing Guide covers the background check sequence step by step.

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