Volunteers – Background Screening Past Behaviors is the BEST Indicator of Future Behaviors

Volunteers – Background Screening

Past Behaviors is the BEST Indicator of Future Behaviors

HPER R472Youth Sport

Management 2 of 14

Background Checks in Youth Sports

“Participation in extracurricular activities can put children at risk unless safety measure are in place to prevent physical or mental abuse by volunteer youth sports workers.”

» NAYS

7.5% of all would be coaches and volunteers have criminal histories!


Management 3 of 14

Nine-step Background Screening Process

Step 1: Have a screening policy in writing.• All volunteers should go through the process• Communicate this policy to everyone

Step 2: Provide job descriptions for every position.• A job description should be detailed and outline

all responsibilities and duties of the job• Make sure it is read, signed, dated, and filed


Management 4 of 14


Step 3: Obtain completed application form for all positions• Regardless of the need, every volunteer should

complete a form which includes name, address, references and former employees.

Step 4: Consent/release form must be signed and dated• Authorizes your agency to investigate his/her

background and inform volunteer what will be done


Management 5 of 14


Step 5: Evaluate application and review references, employers and information• Take the time to do a thorough job of this!

Step 6: Interview the applicant• Use a systematic approach and develop a

standard interview plan and process.• Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions


Management 6 of 14


Step 7: Conduct a criminal background check• Contact local law enforcement agencies for help• Consider the financial costs of checks• 13% of all crimes are found outside of the current

residence state.• Information should not be disclosed to anyone

except those authorized in the agency.• Disclose information only if the law requires that

it be disclosed.• Respect privacy of each individual.• KEY: consult with your legal department or HR

department…these departments should be your FRIENDS!!!


Management 7 of 14

Background Checks

Minimum standards for background checks:• Social security number and name verification

• Social security card, driver’s license, etc.

• Address verification for last 7-10 years• Driver’s license• Important to know what counties and states

individual has lived

• Sexual offender registry search


Management 8 of 14

Background Checks

County Courthouse Search• 95% of convictions occur at county level• Location where felonies and misdemeanors

originate• Most current database• Accurate source• Most traditional type of search used by employers


Management 9 of 14

Background Checks

Local Law Enforcement• Most current source of info and most used• Sometimes at no cost• Limited to searches in that jurisdiction (city or

county)• Provided by volunteer (name, DOB, SSN, address)• Provides raw count and data and no interpretation


Management 10 of 14

Background Checks

FBI fingerprint-based database• Expensive and long process• Most thorough• Requires fingerprint• Cost $36 + per volunteer• Arrest numbers with no details on crime

committed

Database Screening companies• Mostly federal convictions and not state/local• Use as an add-on• See course website


Management 11 of 14

Background Checks

Sex Offenders Registry (SOR)• Not available in all states• Relies on “self-reporting”• Only sex offenders…no murders, robberies,

kidnapping, etc.• However, every agency should at least do this

type of search.• In Indiana, here is the web link:

http://www.insor.org/insasoweb/initAdvancedSearchForm.do


Management 12 of 14


Step 8: Review results and provide continuous oversight of volunteers• Decide how to evaluate screening results and

determine what issues make a volunteer undesirable

• Document decision• Periodically evaluate a volunteer’s performance

Step 9: Provide training for all volunteers and hold them accountable• Have volunteers pledge to uphold a code of ethics• Hold them accountable


Management 13 of 14

Disqualifiers in a Background Check

Any sort of abuse or assault/battery Rape Any crime of a sexual nature including possession of

pornography Homicide or manslaughter Attempted murder Domestic violence Child neglect Felony drug crimes Animal cruelty Theft/robbery Forgery/fraud Kidnapping Arson Weapons Any misdemeanor or felony involving children


Management 14 of 14

Other Potential Disqualifiers in a Background Check

DUI or DWI within last 15 years or vehicular manslaughter• Especially if volunteer will be driving a child

Multiple driving citations or accidents Misdemeanor drug charges within last 15

years Petty theft within last 15 years

• Especially if volunteer will be handling money

Documents

Volunteers – Background Screening Past Behaviors is the BEST Indicator of Future Behaviors