Mississippi Background Checks

Valid photo ID, whether this is military, student-based, or another type of official identification such as a US Passport, must accompany requests for Mississippi birth, death, marriage and divorce records. The current fees for copies of these documents, that may be used for Mississippi background checks, are $15 each. The fee still applies to the search if a certificate is not found by the Vital Records department of the Mississippi State Department of Health and in that case, a “Not on File” certificate will be administered.

Mississippi law holds that $1 from each vital records search fee collected must be deposited by the state into the Mississippi Department of Human Services’ Children’s Trust Fund. Vital records requests, such as those required for Mississippi background checks, may be made at Vital Records in person or through the mail. Cash, checks and money orders are accepted in person, but a check or money order only must be used for mail in requests. While 7-10 business days is a common processing time for mail in requests, the process could take longer.

It’s important to note that Vital Records doesn’t provide copies of divorce documents directly. A search can be conducted for the $15 fee though, or the Chancery Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted should be contacted. Marriage records for Mississippi background checks may also be found by contacting the Circuit Clerk in the county that issued the license.

Mail in records requests:
Mississippi State Department of Health
Vital Records
PO Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700

In person records requests:
Mississippi State Department of Health
Vital Records
571 Stadium Drive
Jackson, MS 39216

Office hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm
Public counter closes at 4:30
Phone: (601) 576-7981
Fax: (601) 576-7505

MS Background Check

Mississippi Criminal Background Checks
The Mississippi State Department of Health provides criminal history record checks through its Fingerpro Transmission System. The Criminal History Record Check Division can be reached at (601) 364-1101 if you are conducting Mississippi background checks. In Mississippi, clearance on a criminal history background check indicates no conviction or guilty plea to a felony, violent or sexual crime.

Battery of a vulnerable adult and child abuse are crimes covered by health care and child care criminal history checks. Make sure you know exactly what is covered and what isn’t in your Mississippi background checks. If you’re screening someone else, you may want to have full information. If you’re a health or child care worker, you’ll have to have certain clearances to continue in your career.

The State of Mississippi can provide a login and password to a website to check clearance and Mississippi criminal background check results. For example, health and child care workers can login and find out when their screening cleared. The Criminal History Record Check Division should be contacted for information and questions.

The Mississippi State Department of Health
Criminal History Record Check Division
(601) 364-1101