Note: Please see previous post for explanation of below
Circa 2010
Circa 2010
I
noticed that there were some previous blog posts on “chops” regarding the topic
of background checks. This is an important issue and good place to start this
week’s security post.
Many
states require background checks for anyone who will be working with children.
It is important for your church to have an application process for selecting
and vetting individuals to work in children’s ministry. These laws normally
always apply to both employees of the church, as well as, volunteers. Part of
the application process should include a questionnaire regarding past criminal
history. You want to be sensitive and provide an environment for this
questionnaire to be private and confidential. Many people are ashamed of their
sinful past. Even if they have turned from their sins, many still do not want
to open up the door to the past issues of their former life. You want to
respect there privacy; however, you also need to stress the importance of them
being open and honest when it comes to the legal ramification of a criminal
past. The Lord may have forgiven them; however, the many legal systems have
not. Regardless of forgiveness and change some convicted crimes legally require
disclosure.
The
application and questionnaire should just be a starting point. As mentioned
before many states require a background check to be conducted by both the state
and the FBI to allow someone to work with children. This may sound like it is a
big and confusing task. Do not be alarmed! It is easier than you think.
Some
states will allow the person wishing to be checked to initiate the process on
their own by going to the local or state police station. The police station
will finger print them on the spot. Most of the time there is a preprinted card
with a background questionnaire on the back of the form. This form is then sent
into the state and for a small fee, normally paid by the person submitting the
application. The state will return a full background check to the person noted
on the form. Please be aware of an important detail related to how this
normally works. Fingerprint background checks only investigate if a person has
been convicted of a crime in the
past. It will not give you a detail report of every incident they have been
involved in. A fingerprint based background check also does not involve
interviewing and questioning an applicant, their friends, relatives, or
co-workers. This is simply a check to identify prior convictions of a crime. It
is also critical to note that some jurisdictions only require a state level
fingerprint background check. This means that if a person has committed a crime
in another state it may not show up on the check. If your church is going to
require a fingerprint background check than make sure that it also includes the
National FBI check as well.
You
might be tempted to think that this is a little overkill. In my opinion and
professional judgment when it comes to protecting the children of our church,
nothing is overkill. Would you be comfortable with a convicted felon watching
your child?
We
all want to protect our children; however, we should also want to protect those
members of our church that do have a criminal past. Some members may still be
on probation. The terms of their probation may limit them from certain activities.
For example, many states restrict convicted felons from ever working with
children. As a church we want to ensure that we do not have a member of our congregation
volunteering to serve in a position that ultimately is causing them to break
the law? We want to serve and protect them as well.
Many
people have already posted other suggestions for companies that will conduct
detailed background checks for you. All of these are great ideas. A fingerprint
background check in just a start. Your goal should be to strive for your church
to conduct full checks of all volunteering and employees working at your
church, especially with children!!
Please
feel free to comment on my posts, as well as, ask any security related question
that your church is seeking answers to.
Helpful
Link:
This
site is the official national database for registered sex offenders. It is free
to use and should be a start for all your searches.
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