Why Run a Self Background Check in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's criminal record system is compact, just 10 counties, but that doesn't mean it's mistake-free. Records flow from district, circuit, and superior courts to the State Police Criminal Records Unit in Concord, and gaps in disposition reporting still happen. Running a self-check is the only way to know what's actually in your file before someone else opens it.
1. Find and Fix Errors Before Employers See Them
The most common errors on a New Hampshire criminal record: dispositions that never made it to Concord, name-confusion matches with similar individuals, and annulled cases that are still showing as active. The $25 self-check identifies these quickly, and the Criminal Records Unit has a formal correction process.
2. Confirm Your RSA 651:5 Annulment Was Processed
An annulment order from a New Hampshire court needs to make its way to the State Police and ultimately to the FBI's records system. The transmission isn't instant. Running a self-check 30–60 days after the court grants annulment confirms the record was actually removed.
3. Prepare for Healthcare, Education, and Licensing Reviews
The NH Board of Nursing, Board of Medicine, Department of Education, and other licensing bodies run fingerprint-based checks. Knowing what's on your record in advance gives you time to seek annulment or prepare disclosures.
4. Tenant Screening in the Seacoast and Beyond
Landlords in Portsmouth, Manchester, Nashua, and the Lakes Region pull commercial screening reports that rely on NH State Police data. Errors flow downstream into those reports. Fixing them at the source is more efficient than appealing a tenant denial.
What Shows Up on a Personal Background Check in New Hampshire?
Felony and Misdemeanor Convictions
Felony convictions and most Class A and B misdemeanor convictions processed in New Hampshire superior, circuit, and district courts appear on the State Police record unless they've been annulled. The report shows offense, court, conviction date, and sentence.
Arrests and Open Cases
Arrest records are part of the New Hampshire criminal history file. Pending cases, charges filed but not yet resolved, also appear. If a case was dismissed and the court didn't transmit the disposition to the State Police, the record may still show "pending."
Annulled Records
Cases annulled under RSA 651:5 should be removed from the State Police record entirely. If you see an annulled record on your self-check, contact the Criminal Records Unit to correct it.
What's Not Included
Federal court records, out-of-state convictions, juvenile records (sealed by default), most traffic offenses, and civil cases fall outside the State Police system. A complete personal check usually combines the state report with federal and multi-state sources.
How to Check Your Own Background in New Hampshire
Option 1: Mail-In DSSP 256 Form ($25)
Download Form DSSP 256, fill it out, and mail it to the Criminal Records Unit in Concord with $25 (cash, check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, or Discover). Turnaround is typically 2–3 weeks.
Option 2: In-Person Walk-In Request
The Criminal Records Unit accepts in-person requests Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 33 Hazen Drive, Concord. Same-day processing in most cases. Same $25 fee.
Option 3: Fingerprint-Based Check ($48.25)
For the most accurate record, and what licensed professions require, submit fingerprints to the State Police. The $48.25 covers state and FBI portions. Useful for catching aliases or preventing identity-mismatch errors.
Option 4: Search New Hampshire Courts
The NH Judicial Branch's Case Access Portal provides public access to superior and circuit court records. This catches cases that may not yet be in the State Police database.
Option 5: FBI Identity History Summary ($18)
For nationwide coverage based on fingerprints, request an Identity History Summary from the FBI directly. Essential if you've lived or been arrested in multiple states.
New Hampshire Background Check Laws You Should Know
RSA 651:5 (Annulment)
New Hampshire calls expungement "annulment," and the process is governed by RSA 651:5. Waiting periods from completion of sentence:
- Violations and certain misdemeanors, 1 year
- Most Class B misdemeanors, 3 years
- Class A misdemeanors, 3 years
- Most felonies, 5 to 10 years depending on class
- DUI and certain violent felonies, 10 years
Annulment is judicially discretionary, even when you meet the waiting period, the court weighs public safety, behavior since conviction, and other factors. Sex offenses and certain violent felonies cannot be annulled.
HB 253 (Public-Sector Ban the Box, 2020)
HB 253 removes criminal-history questions from initial state employment applications. The question can be asked after the initial interview or after a conditional offer. Private employers are not covered by the statewide law.
RSA 169-A (Juvenile Records)
New Hampshire juvenile records are sealed by default and not accessible to private employers. Juvenile annulments are even easier to obtain than adult ones.
Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act
Third-party background checks in New Hampshire are governed by the FCRA: written consent required, pre-adverse-action notice required, right to dispute errors, and 7-year cap on non-conviction reporting.
NH Law Against Discrimination
The NH Commission for Human Rights enforces anti-discrimination law that does not specifically list criminal history as a protected class. EEOC individualized-assessment guidance is followed in practice.
Should You Check Your Background Before Applying in New Hampshire?
For $25 and a single mailed form, the answer is yes, especially if you have any older conviction that might be annullable, any arrest without a confirmed disposition, or an annulment you've never verified at the state level. A self-check tells you exactly what an employer or licensing board is going to see, and gives you weeks to fix anything that's wrong.
Run Your Self Background Check in New Hampshire
Take control of your New Hampshire background information before applying for jobs or licenses. Review your records and fix errors early.
Order a Personal Background CheckUse your report to verify your history, then contact the appropriate New Hampshire state agency or county courts if corrections are needed.
FAQs: Self Background Check in New Hampshire
How do I run a self background check in New Hampshire?
The official route is Form DSSP 256 submitted to the NH State Police Criminal Records Unit in Concord: $25 by mail or in person. For broader coverage, request a fingerprint-based check ($48.25), search the NH Judicial Branch case portal, or use a professional multi-state service.
How far back do background checks go in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has no state cap on how far back convictions can be reported. The federal FCRA caps non-conviction records (arrests not leading to conviction) at 7 years on third-party employment reports. Annulled records are removed entirely.
Will annulled records show up on a New Hampshire background check?
Records annulled under RSA 651:5 should be removed from the State Police database and should not appear on FCRA-compliant employer background reports. If you see an annulled record on your self-check, contact the Criminal Records Unit to correct it.
How much does a background check cost in New Hampshire?
NH State Police name-based check: $25. Fingerprint-based check (state + FBI): $48.25. FBI Identity History Summary: $18. Professional comprehensive multi-state checks: $20 to $80.
Do New Hampshire employers need my permission to run a background check?
Yes, when they use a third-party background check company, the federal FCRA requires written authorization. State agencies covered by HB 253 cannot ask about criminal history on the initial application. You always have the right to see any report used in a hiring decision and dispute inaccuracies.