Minnesota Department of Human Services Disqualifications

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) conducts background studies on individuals before they can provide any direct contact services or, in the case of nursing homes or boarding care homes, before they can access residents and their belongings. This applies to facilities licensed by DHS, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Department of Corrections (for programs serving youth and children), and non-licensed personal care provider organizations. The background study is thorough and includes criminal history from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and records from county adult and child protection services, DHS, and MDH.

Certain crimes carry automatic disqualifications from direct contact and access. Convictions for such crimes can disqualify individuals for seven, ten, or 15 years, or even permanently (see below). However, any record of a disqualifying crime, even without a charge or conviction, could still result in a disqualification because the standard is preponderance of the evidence, which means it’s more likely than not that something happened. This can occur in any number of situations, but here are three examples. First, someone who received a stay of adjudication and avoided any conviction on their criminal record could still be disqualified with their guilty plea. Second, someone who was acquitted after a trial could still be disqualified because although the jury found that the state did not prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the DHS commissioner could find that they committed the disqualifying crime by the much lower standard of preponderance of the evidence. Third, someone who was never charged could still be disqualified because there was a police report of the alleged disqualifying offense, which DHS used to say that the offense occurred in accordance with the preponderance of the evidence standard.

If you work in a field subject to DHS background studies and are facing criminal charges, contact one of our attorneys today at 763.421.6366.

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, Minn. Stat. § 609.342;

• Criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.343;

• Criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, Minn. Stat. § 609.344;

• Criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, Minn. 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, Minn. 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).