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.

If you are accused of maltreatment, your professional license is at risk. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will investigate to determine if there was serious maltreatment. Based on its findings, officials can recommend license revocations, disqualification and other actions.

Defending Your License

Disqualification

Workers rely on their licenses to make a living. When you are facing license revocation, need an attorney who can help protect your livelihood. Our lawyers work diligently to protect the licenses of clients including nurses, personal care attendents, and child care providers, who may be facing administrative action related to thier license.

Debra J. Hilstrom

Attorney At Law, PLLC​ 

525 Park Street, Suite 320 Saint Paul, MN 55103

Phone (763) 479-9304

DISQUALIFYING CRIMES (This was updated in during the 2025 legislative session.  When the revisor of statute has completed the update this will be modified)
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).