While mandatory background checks for school employees, coaches, child care personnel and other individuals who may have contact with minors as part of their job are certainly useful, sometimes determined offenders can find a way around them. This is particularly true when it comes to private activities where oversight may be lacking and background check requirements become difficult to enforce.

One example of this problem comes from the state of Virginia, where a convicted offender repeatedly gained access to minors by coaching in private youth basketball leagues.

The offender, Antwain Fletcher, has two worrisome convictions on his record. The first one is a sexual battery conviction from 2010. This conviction is related to an incident involving a 17-year-old player that Fletcher was coaching at the time. In 2012, Fletcher was again convicted of a crime against a minor, namely taking indecent liberties. This minor in this case was 15 years old. Following this conviction Fletcher spent four months in jail.

A background check should have revealed the first conviction and prevented Fletcher from coaching again and having the opportunity to commit the second crime. For example, a national criminal search across multiple jurisdictions using a product like US OneSEARCH from backgroundchecks.com could have returned the first conviction, even though the incident took place in the neighboring state of North Carolina and Fletcher was coaching in Virginia. US OneSEARCh includes offender registries from every state.

However, Fletcher was able to avoid background checks by starting his own basketball team after his first conviction. This meant that he did not have any oversight from a school or other sponsoring organization. The local Amateur Athletic Union didn’t require background checks on coaches until 2012, so Fletcher was able to register his team for AAU events without a problem.

Parents were aware that Fletcher had been denied certification from the NCAA after failing a background check. Yet, buoyed by Fletcher’s promises that he could get basketball scholarships for their kids by having them play in tournaments that college recruiters attend regularly, the parents ignored the problem. Some parents even helped Fletcher out by registering his team for certain events in their own names, to prevent Fletcher’s criminal background from interfering with their kids’ chance at a scholarship.

After the second incident and conviction, parents no doubt felt betrayed by Fletcher and chagrined by their own complicity in helping him to coach minors and participate in various events. This story just goes to show that just having a policy that requires background checks is not enough. All individuals involved in the process must be fully committed to it and unwilling to help people like Antwain Fletcher slip through the cracks.

In the end, a background check is only valuable if people consistently execute it, know how to interpret it correctly and actually use that information to keep kids safe. If Fletcher had only had arrests on his record, the parents’ actions could have been explained away. After all, arrests are not proof of guilt and can’t legally be used as a sole deciding factor in denying someone employment opportunities. However, Fletcher had convictions that solidly indicated guilt. These convictions would have been revealed by a background check and should have been taken more seriously.

About backgroundchecks.com

Founded during the Internet boom in 1999 by an executive in both the staffing and information industry, backgroundchecks.com – a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) – has been able to create a service that provides a blend of flexible screening programs that included instant, cost effective and comprehensive solutions. Our experience in database modeling of public records information has led Backgroundchecks.com to become the leader in the acquisition and delivery of public records information by harnessing the power and technology of the Internet. To learn more visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://www.nbc12.com/story/22176685/convicted-boys-coach-reportedly-skirted-background-checks

Author: Michael Klazema

After discovering that they had admitted Level II and Level III sex offenders, the University of Washington (UW) officials are now debating whether they should include criminal background checks on their college applications. Vice provost of UW Eric Godfrey states, “We have a high obligation to ensure that this campus is safe.” If UW does include criminal background questions on its application, it will join around 64 percent of other schools in the nation.

Godfrey notes that the disclosure of a criminal past will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being granted admission to the college. Only those who note a violent crime or a high-level sex offense would potentially be weeded out. Even then, a group of mental and health experts as well as the police would evaluate applicants. Those who are deemed too unstable will be denied admission to the university. The ACLU will also take a close look at any decision about applicants getting accepted or denied based on the criminal background check. The organization noted that a person’s criminal record “does not mean that he or she should be denied the opportunity of a college education. Nor does a record alone mean that a person will be a safety problem on campus.” Among current students, the idea of implementing these criminal background questions is split in half. Some students agree with these measures, while others believe that it could keep talented student from receiving an education. Godfrey notes that the decision is a difficult one as the college wants to keep the campus safe but does not want to deny anyone an education. The other issue UW will have to deal with is the fact that the college is state-funded, which could mean potential legal liability and discrimination lawsuits if they deny an applicant admission because of the criminal history.

As of 2012, the incidents of on campus violence have compelled many parents of students and colleges to call for background checks on applicants. As stated previously, around 64 percent of colleges have a section in the application that asks potential students to divulge any criminal history. Around half of these colleges actually follow up on the information they receive. A smaller amount, around 7 percent of colleges, performs actual criminal background checks on all applicants. Most colleges prefer to keep the criminal history on the applications, because checking criminal history records of all the applicants would be a useless expense for universities. Even if there was some useful information, college officials cannot control human behavior. Aside from the expense, many colleges avoid detailed criminal history records, as they do not want to become embroiled in the middle of a discrimination lawsuit. UW is discussing the pros and cons of adding this new measure to protect the students on their campus. Should they decide to move forward with the decision, the criminal history questions will appear on their Fall 2014 applications.

When it comes to either employee or students applications, organizations who decide to use background screening need to use a professional and reputable company like backgroundchecks.com. This way, although more than 400 million criminal records across the state would be searched with tools like US OneSEARCH, they could be sure that the records are secure and the staff will only release the appropriate information to officials. Colleges might also be interested in using the Reference Verification tool, in order to make sure the students they are admitting have the personal qualities described on their applications.

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) and cofounder of the Expungement Clearinghouse - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/UW-may-soon-use-criminal-history-in-admissions-decisions-191510771.html

Author: Michael Klazema

New York State Assemblyman Jim Tedisco and New York State Senator Katy Marchione have drafted a new piece of legislation in response to the recent arrest of Richard Ragone, a man who allegedly sexually abused a 91-year-old woman. Ragone, a maintenance man at an elder care facility since 2008, was a Level 3 offender and had been convicted of rape, sodomy, and attempted sexual abuse and served 16 years in prison. Ragone was fired immediately after the incident was reported to the supervisors of the home and is currently being held in Albany County jail on $25,000 bail. Currently, there is no law in place that requires any kind of background check of senior care facility employees. The adult care home that hired Ragone stated that they do perform background checks, but it remains unclear if they conducted one on Ragone since he was a maintenance worker. The proposed legislation would require that all employees of adult homes and assisted living residences pass a sex offender background check. If any current or prospective employees were convicted sex offenders, they will be automatically barred from working at the facility.

Tedisco, a strong voice in the civil confinement law back in 2007, believes that these background checks are necessary in order to keep the seniors in assisted living safe and give their families a piece of mind. He states that, "Dangerous sex offenders...should never be able to work in any adult home or assisted living residence ever again." Although the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's new hiring practices state that companies cannot immediately disqualify a person because of their criminal background, legislation such as this could override EEOC policy. Even without legislation, employers can disqualify candidates based on the criminal history if the nature of the crime and job are inherently linked. Companies must, however, provide an opportunity for an individualized assessment for people excluded by such screening. Even with proper justification, many companies might still find themselves in a precarious situation with the interpretations by the EEOC. Legislation such as the one that Tedisco and Marchione have proposed is intended to take that burden off of elder care facilities.

If the legislation is passed, it will not necessarily put any monetary burden on the elder care facilities, as it is free for businesses to run background checks of potential employees through the New York's Sex Offender Registry. It will not put any burden on the state either, as the employers will be responsible for conducting the background checks. Tedisco and Marchione view the legislation as a necessary step to ensure the safety of the senior citizens in New York. Marchione states, "Requiring prospective employees seeking to be entrusted with that responsibility to undergo background review is a proactive step that could help prevent future tragedies from occurring." The new bill is currently being considered in the new legislative sessions.

When it comes to positions in which one person has control over the care of another, it’s always a good idea to get thorough screenings through reputable organizations like backgroundchecks.com. This way, companies have access to not only verification checks, but also multi-jurisdictional databases like US Offender OneSEARCH that search across all states for records including sex, violent, and drug offenses. For a search that access more than 450 million criminal records, companies can also use US OneSEARCH to get as much of the most accurate conviction information as possible about potential employees.

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) and cofounder of the Expungement Clearinghouse - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://www.marchione2012.com/2013/01/04/tedisco-marchione-call-for-elder-care-facility-sex-offender-law/

Author: Michael Klazema

A longtime swimming trainer working for the YMCA swim team in Somerville, New Jersey, has been dismissed after Y officials discovered he was convicted 17 years ago for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old. Joe Weber pleaded guilty in August 1995 amid allegations he engaged in a sexual relationship with the young woman he was coaching at a school near Philadelphia the previous year. At the time, Weber was 28 years old. According to a statement released by the Somerset Valley YMCA CEO Paul Kieltyka, the parents of those on the swim team have been informed of Weber’s dismissal.

Kieltyka said the decision to let Weber go was “very easy” and that “protecting our kids and their safety” is the organization’s top priority. He also said that Weber’s past is “not in sync with” their “values” or beliefs. There was no comment from Kieltyka on why the conviction was overlooked during the process of the customary background checks performed on new hires when Weber was hired six years ago. He did say however, that a decision was made not to renew the contract for Weber after consulting with the branch’s staff leaders and volunteers. Of the decision, Kieltyka said that regardless of how long ago the conviction occurred, a vendor such as Weber was not “consistent with the kind of people we want around our kids.”

Weber was working for the Y through a business called Mindsport, a firm specializing in mental and physical wellness. Weber has served as the head of that firm since 2003, according to his LinkedIn account. Weber has also recently conducted a swim training program for area teen swimmers during the 2010-2011 school year, and was providing “mental and physical advice” to the young swimmers according to a past article regarding the program. There is no indication whether or not the Somerset Valley YMCA will be reviewing or strengthening their background check policies due to this incident.

Does your business routinely hire outside vendors to perform services for your company? If so, do you always perform background checks on these outside contractors? Many businesses who check the backgrounds of employees forget about doing the same for vendors, which could prove to be a costly mistake. Don’t be held liable for the actions of an outside vendor. By using a reliable company such as backgroundchecks.com, you can be assured you are getting the best and most thorough background check screening techniques available. With special contractor screening solutions and access to countless criminal databases nationwide they have many options available, several with instant results. Their US OneSEARCH gives you instant information from more than 430 million criminal records from counties, Department of Corrections (DOC), Administration of Courts (AOC) and State Sex Offender Registries covering 49 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. Or try their Ongoing Criminal Monitoring tool, which allows you to automatically run a continuous background check against a name and date of birth. You will be notified via email of any new information that may appear on their record. They will run the name for one year and remind you when it is time to renew the monitoring, plus you can remove the name from being monitored at any time.

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20120801/NJNEWS/308010052/YMCA-fires-swim-trainer-over-1995-sex-conviction?odyssey=nav|head

Author: Michael Klazema

Effective September 1st of this year, officials at Duke University in North Carolina are requiring everyone on campus who works in programs or activities with minors to undergo criminal background checks and to complete special training. There is also a requirement that all staff, faculty and students report abuse or suspected abuse to authorities. Every year, Duke is the host to anywhere from 8,000 to 9,000 students younger than 18 years old participating in various academic programs, atheletic camps, art festivals, and a host of other learning activities. Vice president for administration, Kyle Cavanaugh, said that it is the responsibiltiy of everyone at the university to protect these young people. He said the requirement to report any suspected abuse “is simple and empowers anyone to act.”

As of September 1st, all Duke programs open to minors must register with the university’s Corporate Risk Management office and be a staff or faculty member. The policy will require the registered programs to conduct background checks on anyone in the programs working with minors and to complete the required training that aims to educate about and protect against abuse. Program requirements, along with instructions are available on the Duke Event Management Website. Cavanaugh met with campus staff and coaches who regularly work with minors in order to talk about the reporting requirements. Cavanaugh said that “the recent tragic events” at other universities necessitated that they “revisit…policies and seek…improvement” even though they already “had policies and procedures in place.”

Some of the policies have already been implemented over the summer, such as with the Duke Talent Identification Program, or TIP, where background checks and training were given to staff members working with minors. TIP’s domestic education director, Shayne Goodrum, said she was happy to answer questions from parents regarding the new abuse policy. She said that they fielded many more calls about safety this summer than previously. Goodman said that TIP has about 4,000 young people participating in multiple locations, and they have always maintained a safe environment for students. The new policy does not apply to Duke students under the age of 18, minors employed by or acting as interns in laboratories headed by a dean or directors, or those working in health care on campus, since those programs already have their own policies in place.

When it comes to the safety of minors, more universities are implementing stronger background check requirements. Officials realize it is in the best interest not only of the children, but for the reputation of their school. The same can be said for any business employing workers who will have access to children. Don’t leave the safety of children or your business to chance. By using a reputable company like backgroundchecks.com, you can be assured you are getting the best and most thorough background check screening techniques available. With access to more than 430 million criminal records nationwide, they have many options available, several with instant results. Their US AliasSEARCH is a multi-faceted search that combines US OneSEARCH with the known aliases provided from a SSN trace. All information derived from this search is run through the US OneSEARCH instant criminal database, assuring all possible aliases are found. Or try their US Offender OneSEARCH, which is includced in their comprehensive US OneSEARCH. The data includes sex offender information from 49 states (plus Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico) with photos.

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) and cofounder of the Expungement Clearinghouse - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://today.duke.edu/2012/08/minorsoncampus

A recent audit has found that during a ten year period from 2002 to 2012, there were twenty-eight sex offenders living in child care and foster homes regulated or subsidized by Washington State, including one who worked for nine years in a high school as a janitor. The review stated that the problem could be prevented if state laws were followed more strictly, and offered several recommendations for procedures the state should follow to better keep children safe from sex crime offenders. However, the auditor’s office spokeswoman, Mindy Chambers, said the state agencies should be commended for taking action to quickly improve procedures after learning about the problems. Lawmakers contend that the audit shows more should be done in order for children to be protected, including improved communication and background checks.

State Representative Bruce Dammeier said he was very concerned that only certified school workers such as teachers and librarians were regularly being checked against sex offender lists. Since 2005, Washington State law has required that any school employee must be searched for in the State Patrol’s sex offender database. Dammeier said that while he was glad to see that an auditor ran the database check and “that they only uncovered one (school) employee with a sex offense…one is too many.” The school janitor that the audit uncovered had initially passed his background check, but within two years was convicted of voyeurism, while continuing to work at the school. State law enforcement officials failed to alert the school district or education department of the offense. The State Patrol was also faulted by the audit for failing to disclose conviction information provided by other states.

Seventeen of the remaining sex offenders the audit uncovered were living in residences operating as home child care providers, and 11 resided in foster care homes. In most of these cases the offenders were undetected due to the care providers neglecting to inform state agencies that the offenders were living there, according to the audit. Two of the home daycares were licensed as Department of Early Learning Child Care Sites, and one had its license revoked while the other ceased operations. In the foster home cases, children were removed from homes and licenses were revoked. State Senator Mike Carrell said next year he would like to introduce a bill that would look more closely at unlicensed home daycares to make sure sex offenders were not working or living there.

State governments are becoming increasingly more vigilant when it comes to background checks, especially for those working with children. However, there are still many offenders out there who fall through the cracks. By using a reputable company like backgroundchecks.com, you can be assured you are getting the best and most thorough background check screening techniques available.With access to countless criminal databases nationwide they have many options available, several with instant results. Their Ongoing Criminal Monitoring tool allows you to automatically run a continuous background check against a name and date of birth. You will be notified via email of any new information that may appear on their record. They will run the name for one year and remind you when it is time to renew the monitoring, plus you can remove the name from being monitored at any time. Or start with their US Offender OneSEARCH, which includes information contained in their comprehensive US OneSEARCH. Plus, this data includes sex offender information from 49 states (plus Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico) with photos.

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) and cofounder of the Expungement Clearinghouse - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018843974_apwaauditsexoffenders2ndldwritethru.html

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Friends of the Helmerich Library nonprofit group has decided to withdraw their support of the Tulsa City County Library system due to concerns that their nonprofit status would be impacted by changes in the library’s background check policy. The group will no longer collect books from the public for fundraising purposes and is not allowed to participate in activities sponsored or promoted by the library. The dispute arose after a vote by the library commission earlier this year requiring background checks for all the officers of foundations that support the library. The Friends group disagrees with the requirement, saying that rules from the IRS disallow third-parties from having authority over policies or activities of a 501c3 nonprofit. They also counter that the officers of the Helmerich Friends group are not library volunteers. The group has suggested they provide results of their own background checks or change their name, according to Friends of the Helmerich Library board president Connie Largess.

According to Gary Shaffer, CEO of the Tulsa Library, the policy is there in order for children to be protected. He said the practice is “a small price to pay” to ensure children’s safety. Library policy requires all employees and volunteers to submit to a criminal background check. However, Largess said the Helmerich foundation does not supply volunteers to the library, nor do their officers act as volunteers. According to Largess, the group simply “provide[s] financial support” and has “no interaction with children.” She said that since many of the group’s members have volunteered for and undergone criminal checks for other organizations that they could provide the results of those to the library. She added that since they are an independent nonprofit, the Helmerich Friends group is not subject to oversight from the library system. Other members of the nonprofit are concerned that by agreeing to the background checks policy, the group is opening itself up to further oversight by library administrators.

Shaffer contends that even board members of groups affiliated with the library are considered volunteers, and all volunteers are subject to complete background checks. Shaffer said the library is currently negotiating with the nonprofit to find a way to complete the checks while alleviating their concerns at the same time. However, he said that the library is prepared to go on without the support of the Helmerich Friends group.

Does your business hire contractors or third parties who have access to the public or sensitive information? If you’re not conducting background checks on every person involved in your business, you could be making a mistake. By using a reputable company like backgroundchecks.com, you can be assured you are getting the best and most thorough background check screening techniques available. With access to countless criminal databases nationwide they have many options available, several with instant results. Their US OneSEARCH gives you instant information from more than 430 million criminal records from counties, Department of Corrections (DOC), Administration of Courts (AOC) and State Sex Offender Registries covering 49 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. Also included are national and international terrorism sources, more than 11 million photos, and their proprietary database of previously completed reports. Or try their US Offender OneSEARCH, which includes information contained in their comprehensive US OneSEARCH. Plus, this data includes sex offender information from 49 states (plus Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico) with photos.

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120731_11_A1_TeFins8243

After arrests of two city employees for child based crimes, the Newton Public School system in Massachusetts is expanding background checks for new employees to include checking the Sex Offender Registry Information system (SORI), a nationwide database of sex crime convictions. Second grade teacher David Ettlinger was arrested in January and charged with possession of child pornography, in addition to later charges of indecent assault of a child under 14, and posing a child in a state of nudity. The following week Newton library employee Peter Buchanan was arrested on charges of possession and dissemination of child pornography.

In light of these two cases, local parents are calling for tougher rules when it comes to hiring employees that will be working with children. Although background checks were performed on Ettlinger and Buchanan, since neither man had prior child related convictions the tighter procedures being adopted would not have alerted city officials. However, the school superintendent and the mayor have implemented the “Background Investigation Team”, a group of city employees gathered to study the matter of background checks as an “extra precaution.” Heather Richards, Director of Human Resources for the School Department says that her department has revised application forms for those seeking school employment, and includes reference checks.

The Criminal Offender Registry Information system (CORI) is already in use by the city and Newton Public Schools. As referenced in an earlier article, Massachusetts has recently revised laws regarding the use of this database. According to city Director of Human Resources Dolores Hamilton, if a new hire shows “a felony conviction, they are disqualified. If there is an open case, they are disqualified.” However, the use of CORI in Massachusetts only extends to a person’s criminal history within the state.

The Background Investigation Team has suggested using the FBI fingerprinting criminal database to expand the background checks on a national scale. A bill that would allow the state to acquire access to the FBI database and national criminal checks using fingerprints of school employees is currently in front of the Joint Committee on Education in the State House. Once adopted by the state and then city, each check will cost the school district $75. According to Mayor Setti Warren, it’s “critically important” for the legislation to pass. The team is also looking into background check vendors, and Richards says that the contracts would run about $200,000, but if the school district partnered with the city they could get a discounted rate.

When it comes to hiring employees that will be working with children, using proper background checks is even more important. Why rely on just one or two databases that only check one state? A reputable background check company like backgroundchecks.com has access to countless criminal record sources nationwide, and provides several options for instant results that cost far less than $75 per check. Their US Offender OneSEARCH combs Sex Offender Registry information from 49 states (plus Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico) with photos, and includes information contained in the US OneSEARCH. Even more comprehensive, the US OneSEARCH provides information from more than 355 million criminal records from counties, Department of Corrections (DOC), Administration of Courts (AOC) and State Sex Offender Registries covering 49 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. Cities looking to implement multi-jurisdictional background screening programs that look further than their own state could achieve significant cost savings vs. the previous stated per record check cost if they partner with backgroundchecks.com

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com.

Source: http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x40861880/Newton-Public-Schools-expands-background-checks-for-new-hires?zc_p=0#axzz1wkuNEP1h

Bouncy play houses and castles are a common site at children’s parties and other events for children, making for a fun time for the children who attend. A small business that provides the inflatable toys had no idea that they had hired a convicted sex offender into their business that caters to children. USA Inflatables, based out of Champlin, MN, learned the hard way when employee Greg Sissala was recently arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. Business owner Kurt Wresh was shocked to find out, since Sissala never made any mention of previous arrests. According to a report from WCCO-TV, it turns out Sissala has an extensive criminal past. Convicted of a sex crime in Chisago county in 1995, fortunately Sissala was not directly working with any children, since he was only assigned to work out of the warehouse.

This is lucky for USA Inflatables, who prior to this incident, were not in the habit of running criminal background checks. In business for eleven years, and with 20 employees, new hires are checked for driving related offenses, including a driver’s license and DOT check, and must pass a drug test. According to Wresh, Sissala was questioned on his background but made no mention of his criminal past.

The Anoka County Sheriff’s department reports that this was not the first time Sissala failed to register, which is a violation of his release conditions. He now waits behind bars while a case is presented to the county attorney for potential charges and extra jail time.

Wresh has learned from this ordeal, and now wants to get the word out to other business owners the importance of background checks on potential employees. This incident is the beginning of hiring policy changes at USA Inflatables. Wresh states that they have now run background checks on their remaining staff. This is especially important if there is a chance any employees in your business could have contact with children.

These stories are becoming all too common. Small businesses are even more prone, as they may not have the resources in place, or think performing background checks is too difficult or time consuming. However, as seen in a recent article, Sex Offenders Have an Open Door in Florida Thanks to Weak Law, organizations who have weak regulations concerning background checks are more likely to allow sex offenders and other criminals through their doors, possibly giving them access to children.

Don’t be caught off guard the way Kurt Wresh was. Many people with criminal pasts will not voluntarily admit so. The only way to know for sure is to perform background checkson both prospective and current employees. A company like backgroundchecks.com provides several affordable options for instant results. Their US OneSEARCH provides information from more than 355 million criminal records from counties, Department of Corrections (DOC), Administration of Courts (AOC) and State Sex Offender Registries covering 49 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. Also included are national and international terrorism sources, more than 4.1 million photos, and their proprietary database of previously completed reports. And if you’re only looking for sex offender records, the US Offender OneSEARCH Offender Registry search includes information contained in the US OneSEARCH. This data includes sex offender information from 49 states (plus Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico) with photos. Make backgroundchecks.com part of your hiring process, and protect yourself from unexpected surprises down the road.

About backgroundchecks.com -

backgroundchecks.com - a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®) - serves thousands of customers nationwide, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies by providing comprehensive screening services. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an Eastern Operations Center in Chapin, S.C., backgroundchecks.com is home to one of the largest online criminal conviction databases in the industry. For more information about backgroundchecks’ offerings, please visit www.backgroundchecks.com

Source: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/05/21/sex-offender-case-highlights-need-for-background-checks/

The House and Senate sent a bill to Governor Deval Patrick last week that would add funding to family shelters, youth jobs, and low-income disabled residents in Boston.  The spending amounted to $72 million for the rest of the year due to funding that would have run out in June.  A portion of the bill, including requiring the Gaming Commission to require background checks and drug screening for all employees, was amended at the last minute, and he decided to veto that section.  The amendment was apparently in response to the Commission attempting to hire Stanley McGee as its new interim executive director.  McGee previously settled a lawsuit out of court with the family of a boy he was accused of sexually abusing.  Patrick did not seem to think this warranted stricter requirements for the state agency though.  Currently, McGee is an assistant economic development secretary for Patrick’s administration, which is causing some to wonder if Patrick had alternate motives for his veto.

Patrick explained his decision by saying that, “the highest levels of background checks and screening may not be necessary nor appropriate for every employee.”  Currently, the Gaming Commission uses its own discretion when it comes to hiring, though some believe any agency with such status should be upheld to the highest of standards.  Now, though they have the option to carry out background checks if they so choose, hiring and the consequences of their hiring will be completely up to the Gaming Commission.  Brad Jones, House minority leader and proposer of the amendment, says that any future consequences on their part will now also, “fall on the doorstep of the governor.” Other representatives are concerned that the veto will lead to more corruption.  With the Gaming Commission being such a tempting industry for financial criminals and other types of criminal interests, “leaving weak links in the chain is an invitation.” said Representative Daniel Winslow as he reminded reporters of mobster James “Whitey” Bulger as a past hire of the Commission.  He, among others, is concerned that this will not be the last major criminal to find their way into the Commission.

The question seems to be whether or not all employees of the Gaming Commission would really need such deep background checking.  The Governor cited secretaries as an example.  When it was the head of the interim Head getting looked into though, he stepped down before background checks could be finished, which does look suspicious to those now calling for the extra safety measures.  One representative hired an outside company, much like backgroundchecks.com which turned up the previous arrests of McGee, including the sexual abuse situation.  Companies like backgroundchecks.com can find convictions relating to these matters using national databases like US OneSEARCH and US AliasSEARCH, which can in some cases catch criminals who have been convicted of crimes in other states before they enter sensitive positions, such as those affiliated with the Gaming Commission.  These databases are regularly updated by dedicated teams, making sure companies who partner with backgroundchecks.com have the most accurate information possible for their hiring processes.

Update 5/31/2012:

it seems like the Massachusetts House of Representatives felt strongly about the full background screening requirement and on Wednesday May 30th voted unanimously to override the Governor's veto, ensuring that all employees of the state's Gaming Commission are again required to undergo a full criminal background check and pass a drug screen test.

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Source: http://articles.boston.com/2012-05-12/metro/31670256_1_background-checks-spending-bill-veto

Source for update: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/05/30/mass_house_overrides_govs_background_check_veto/