MN DHS Disqualification for Criminal Convictions

Minnesota Department of Human Services:
Disqualification for Criminal Convictions

Learn how criminal convictions can affect your job and career in Minnesota: background checks, state laws, licensing issues, and practical steps.

Most occupations that provide care to children, medical patients and vulnerable adults require background studies by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MN DHS). People who work in schools, hospitals, medical facilities, treatment programs, day care centers, detox facilities, and more are subject to DHS background studies. People involved in foster care, who work as guardians or are planning to adopt a child also must pass these background checks. Minnesota Statute 245C.03 defines who is required to have a DHS background study.

What is involved in a background study?

A Department of Human Services (DHS) background study includes a review of criminal history information maintained by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) records of substantiated maltreatment of a child or vulnerable adult and other applicable records to determine whether a person has committed a disqualifying act. An FBI record check may also be required for some background studies. In these cases, the person subject to a background study receives written instructions on how to be fingerprinted and how the fingerprints are submitted to MN DHS.

Further information about MN DHS background studies is available here, and in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 245C.

Can I be disqualified from working for a criminal conviction?

Criminal convictions for many crimes will disqualify a person from working in jobs that require a DHS background check. Being disqualified from having access to and direct contact with people served by a DHS program often causes people to lose their jobs. Disqualifications can be for seven years, ten years, fifteen years and even permanent disqualifications. A full list of disqualifications can be found in Minnesota Statutes §245C.14 and §245C.15. (See below.)

Should I get a lawyer when facing DHS Disqualification?

Even a misdemeanor theft (like shoplifting) or domestic assault charge can result in a seven year DHS disqualification. Criminal charges can have drastic consequences for teachers, health care workers and others who are subject to Minnesota Department of Human Services (MN DHS) background checks. Disqualification periods range from 7 to 15 years, and even permanent disqualification. DHS disqualification can cause people to lose their jobs by being disqualified from working in their chosen careers. If you work in a field that requires a DHS background study and you are facing criminal charges, contact me to discuss what can be done to avoid disqualifying you from working in that occupation. When facing a criminal charge that puts your job or occupation at risk, it usually makes sense to get an experienced criminal defense lawyer. When facing a potential DHS disqualification you should get the best lawyer you can find.

Disqualifying Crimes

Permanent Disqualification

• Violation of predatory offender registration law, Minn. Stat. § 243.166;
• Murder in the first degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.185;
• Murder in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.19;
• Murder in the third degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.195;
• Manslaughter in the first degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.20;
• Manslaughter in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.205;
• Felony assault in the first or second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.221 or 609.222;
• Felony domestic assault, spousal abuse, child abuse or neglect, or a crime against children, Minn. Stat. § 609.2242 and 609.2243;
• Domestic assault by strangulation, Minn. Stat. § 609.2247;
• Great bodily harm caused by distribution of drugs, Minn. Stat. § 609.228;
• Aggravated robbery, Minn. Stat. § 609.245;
• Kidnapping, Minn. Stat. § 609.25;
• Murder of an unborn child in the first degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2661;
• Murder of an unborn child in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2662;
• Murder of an unborn child in the third degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2663;
• Solicitation, inducement, and promotion of prostitution, Minn. Stat. § 609.322;
• Prostitution, Minn. Stat. § 609.324, subdivision 1;
• Criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, Stat. § 609.342;
• Criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, Stat. § 609.343;
• Criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, Stat. § 609.344;
• Criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, Stat. § 609.345;
• Criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.3451;
• Criminal sexual predatory conduct, Minn. Stat. § 609.3453;
• Solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct, Minn. Stat. § 609.352;
• Incest, Minn. Stat. § 609.365;
• Felony malicious punishment of a child, Minn. Stat. § 609.377;
• Felony neglect or endangerment of a child, Minn. Stat. § 609.378;
• Arson in the first degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.561;
• Drive-by shooting, Minn. Stat. § 609.66, subdivision 1e;
• Felony-level stalking, Minn. Stat. § 609.749, subdivision 3, 4, or 5;
• Shooting at or in a public transit vehicle or facility, Minn. Stat. § 609.855, subdivision 5;
• Indecent exposure involving a minor, Minn. Stat. § 617.23, subdivision 2, clause (1), or subdivision 3, clause (1);
• Use of minors in sexual performance prohibited, Minn. Stat. § 617.246; or
• Possession of pictorial representations of minors, Minn. Stat. § 617.247.

15-Year Disqualification (Felony, Within 15 Years of Discharge from Sentence)

• Wrongfully obtaining assistance, Minn. Stat. § 256.98;
• False representation; concealment of facts, Minn. Stat. § 268.182;
• Federal Food Stamp Program fraud, Minn. Stat. § 393.07, subdivision 10, paragraph (c);
• Felon ineligible to possess firearm, Minn. Stat. § 609.165;
• Criminal vehicular homicide or injury, Minn. Stat. § 609.2112, 609.2113, or 609.2114;
• Suicide, Minn. Stat. § 609.215;
• Assault in the third or fourth degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.223 or 609.2231;
• Assault in the fifth degree, repeat offenses, Minn. Stat. § 609.224;
• Crimes committed for benefit of a gang, Minn. Stat. § 609.229;
• Criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.2325;
• Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.2335;
• Use of drugs to injure or facilitate crime, Minn. Stat. § 609.235;
• Simple robbery, Minn. Stat. § 609.24;
• False imprisonment, Minn. Stat. § 609.255;
• Manslaughter of an unborn child in the first degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2664;
• Manslaughter of an unborn child in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2665;
• Assault of an unborn child in the first degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.267;
• Assault of an unborn child in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2671;
• Injury or death of an unborn child in the commission of a crime, Minn. Stat. § 609.268;
• Coercion, Minn. Stat. § 609.27;
• Attempt to coerce, Minn. Stat. § 609.275;
• Medical assistance fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.466;
• Aiding an offender, Minn. Stat. § 609.495;
• Aggravated first-degree or first-degree tampering with a witness, Stat. § 609.498, subdivision 1 or 1b;
• Theft, Minn. Stat. § 609.52;
• Possession of shoplifting gear, Minn. Stat. § 609.521;
• Bringing stolen goods into Minnesota, Minn. Stat. § 609.525;
• Identity theft, Minn. Stat. § 609.527;
• Receiving stolen property, Minn. Stat. § 609.53;
• Issuance of dishonored checks, Minn. Stat. § 609.535;
• Arson in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.562;
• Arson in the third degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.563;
• Burglary, Minn. Stat. § 609.582;
• Possession of burglary tools, Minn. Stat. § 609.59;
• Insurance fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.611;
• Aggravated forgery, Minn. Stat. § 609.625;
• Forgery, Minn. Stat. § 609.63;
• Check forgery; offering a forged check, Minn. Stat. § 609.631;
• Obtaining signature by false pretense, Minn. Stat. § 609.635;
• Dangerous weapons, Minn. Stat. § 609.66;
• Machine guns and short-barreled shotguns, Minn. Stat. § 609.67;
• Adulteration, Minn. Stat. § 609.687;
• Riot, Minn. Stat. § 609.71;
• Terroristic threats, Minn. Stat. § 609.713;
• Fraud in obtaining credit, Minn. Stat. § 609.82;
• Financial transaction card fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.821;
• Indecent exposure, not involving a minor, Minn. Stat. § 617.23;
• Obscene materials and performances, repeat offenses, Minn. Stat. § 617.241;
• Certain persons not to possess firearms, Minn. Stat. § 624.713;
• Drugs, controlled substances, Chapter 152; or
• A felony-level conviction involving alcohol or drug use.

Ten-Year Disqualification (Gross Misdemeanor, Within Ten Years of Discharge from Sentence)

• Wrongfully obtaining assistance, Minn. Stat. § 256.98;
• False representation; concealment of facts, Minn. Stat. § 268.182;
• Federal Food Stamp Program fraud, Minn. Stat. § 393.07, subdivision 10, paragraph (c);
• Criminal vehicular homicide or injury, Minn. Stat. § 609.2112, 609.2113, or 609.2114;
• Assault in the first or second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.221 or 609.222;
• Assault in the third or fourth degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.223 or 609.2231;
• Assault in the fifth degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.224;
• Assault in the fifth degree by a caregiver against a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.224, subdivision 2, paragraph (c);
• Domestic assault, Minn. Stat. § 609.2242 and 609.2243;
• Mistreatment of persons confined, Minn. Stat. § 609.23;
• Mistreatment of residents or patients, Minn. Stat. § 609.231;
• Criminal abuse of a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.2325;
• Criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.233;
• Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.2335;
• Failure to report maltreatment of a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.234;
• Abduction, Minn. Stat. § 609.265;
• Attempt to coerce, Minn. Stat. § 609.275;
• Minor engaged in prostitution, Minn. Stat. § 609.324, subdivision 1a;
• Disorderly house, Minn. Stat. § 609.33;
• Malicious punishment of a child, Minn. Stat. § 609.377;
• Neglect or endangerment of a child, Minn. Stat. § 609.378;
• Medical assistance fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.466;
• Theft, Minn. Stat. § 609.52;
• Bringing stolen goods into Minnesota, Minn. Stat. § 609.525;
• Identity theft, Minn. Stat. § 609.527;
• Receiving stolen property, Minn. Stat. § 609.53;
• Issuance of dishonored checks, Minn. Stat. § 609.535;
• Burglary, Minn. Stat. § 609.582;
• Possession of burglary tools, Minn. Stat. § 609.59;
• Insurance fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.611;
• Check forgery; offering a forged check, Minn. Stat. § 609.631;
• Dangerous weapons, Minn. Stat. § 609.66;
• Riot, Minn. Stat. § 609.71;
• Disorderly conduct against a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.72, subdivision 3;
• Interference with privacy (repeat offenses), Minn. Stat. § 609.746;
• Stalking, Minn. Stat. § 609.749, subdivision 2;
• Fraud in obtaining credit, Minn. Stat. § 609.82;
• Financial transaction card fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.821;
• Indecent exposure, not involving a minor, Minn. Stat. § 617.23;
• Obscene materials and performances, Minn. Stat. § 617.241;
• Indecent literature, distribution, Minn. Stat. § 617.243;
• Harmful materials, dissemination and display to minors prohibited, Minn. Stat. § 617.293; or
• Violation of an order for protection, Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subdivision 14.

Seven-Year Disqualification (Misdemeanor, Within Seven Years of Discharge from Sentence)

• Wrongfully obtaining assistance, Minn. Stat. § 256.98;
• False representation; concealment of facts, Minn. Stat. § 268.182;
• Federal Food Stamp Program fraud, Minn. Stat. § 393.07, subdivision 10(c);
• Criminal vehicular homicide or injury, Minn. Stat. § 609.2112, 609.2113, or 609.2114;
• Assault in the first degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.221;
• Assault in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.222;
• Assault in the third degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.223;
• Assault in the fourth degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2231;
• Assault in the fifth degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.224;
• Domestic assault, Minn. Stat. § 609.2242;
• Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult 609.2335;
• Failure to report maltreatment of a vulnerable adult, Minn. Stat. § 609.234;
• Assault of an unborn child in the third degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.2672;
• Coercion, Minn. Stat. § 609.27;
• Violation of an order for protection, Minn. Stat. § 609.3232;
• Medical assistance fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.466;
• Theft, Minn. Stat. § 609.52;
• Bringing stolen goods into Minnesota, Minn. Stat. § 609.525;
• Identity theft, Minn. Stat. §  609.527;
• Receiving stolen property, Minn. Stat. § 609.53;
• Issuance of dishonored checks, Minn. Stat. §  609.535;
• Insurance fraud, Minn. Stat. §  609.611;
• Dangerous weapons, Minn. Stat. § 609.66;
• Spring guns, Minn. Stat. § 609.665;
• Interference with privacy, Minn. Stat. § 609.746;
• Obscene or harassing telephone calls, Minn. Stat. § 609.79;
• Letter, telegram, or package; opening; harassment, Minn. Stat. §  609.795;
• Fraud in obtaining credit, Minn. Stat. § 609.82;
• Financial transaction card fraud, Minn. Stat. § 609.821;
• Indecent exposure, not involving a minor, Minn. Stat. § 617.23;
• Harmful materials, dissemination and display to minors prohibited, Minn. Stat. § 617.293; or
• Violation of an order for protection under section 518B.01 (Domestic Abuse Act).