Navigating the Criminal Background System

October 5, 2011

Quality in Action

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Polly RoachVice President of Strategic Services

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Elements of Effective PracticeStandard: Screen prospective mentors to determine whether they have the time, commitment and personal qualities to be an effective mentor. Benchmarks

B.2.6 Program conducts a comprehensive criminal background check on adult mentor, including searching a national criminal records database along with sex offender and child abuse registries.

EnhancementsE.2.1 Program utilizes national, fingerprint-based FBI criminal background checks (e.g., the SafetyNET system operating under the auspices of the Child Protection Improvements Act, in cooperation with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children).

QMAP: Screening K1. Establish written policies for

consistent screening processes including criteria for accepting and rejecting potential participants.

K2. Communicate with mentors about expectations for the program and the match, including minimum commitment.

K3. Mentors complete written applications.

K4. Conduct at least one reference check (personal and/or professional) on potential mentors.

K5. Perform at least one criminal background check on potential mentors (local, state and/or federal).

K6. Check sex offender and child abuse registries for potential mentors

K7. Conduct at least one face to face interview with potential mentors.

K8. Support additional screening processes relevant to program (driver records for mentors who will transport mentees; home visits for mentors who will host mentees in their home; etc.)

K9. Understand and follow the ethical, professional and legal standards related to background checks and screening.

QMAP Data: Screening 40% of programs with K5 in practice reported

that they “conduct federal criminal background checks on every potential mentor”

78% of those programs also reported that they were using a commercial background screening service.

NONE of the companies named by MN programs offer fingerprint-based background checks.

Commercial Background Screening Services

http://www.mpmn.org/files/commercialscreeningservices.pdf

FBI Checks – Worth the Time & Expense? Nearly 40,000 FBI fingerprint checks have

been conducted through the PROTECT Act pilot, and 6.1% of potential volunteers were found to have criminal records of concern.

Over 40% of individuals with criminal records committed crimes in states other than where they were applying to volunteer.

Obtain mentor’s consent

Customize this form from the BCA for

your program

Return form to BCA

If certified Charitable Non-Profit with BCA, return with

$8

If not a Charitable Non-Profit, return with

$15

To qualify for the reduced fee you must provide a copy of the

form issued by the IRS that designates your organization as

a 501(c) 3 organization. This form should be sent to

the BCA, Attn: CJIS/Non-profit account.

Get a copy of mentor’s

fingerprints

Continue for an FBI ScreeningContinue for

Fingerprinting can be done at the

BCA, local station, or private agency, rates vary from $5-

$30.

Check the hours at your county’s office

Fingerprinting can be done

independently. If the prints are not done well, they will be returned.

Download an FBI Fingerprint Card (print

on cardstock).

Return Fingerprint Card, Fees

and Consent Form to BCA

If screening

is for a volunteer mentor,

return with $20.25

If screening

is for a paid

mentor, return with

$24.25

After 2-6 weeks, a

report will come back to your program

How to read a report

State Check

FBI Check

Obtain mentor’s consent

Customize this form from the BCA for your program

Return form to BCA

If certified Charitable Non-Profit with BCA, return with

$8

If not a Charitable Non-Profit, return with

$15

To qualify for the reduced fee you must provide a copy of the form

issued by the IRS that designates your organization as a 501(c) 3

organization. This form should be sent to

the BCA, Attn: CJIS/Non-profit account.

  

Continue for an FBI Screening

Get a copy of mentor’s

fingerprints

Fingerprinting can be done at the

BCA, local station, or private agency, rates vary from $5-

$30.

Check the hours at your county’s office

Fingerprinting can be done

independently. If the prints are not

done well, they will be returned.

Download an FBI Fingerprint Card (print on cardstock).

Return Fingerprint Card, Fees

and Consent Form to BCA

If screening

is for a volunteer mentor,

return with $20.25

If screening

is for a paid

mentor, return with

$24.25

After 2-6 weeks, a

report will come back to your program

How to read a report

Obtain mentor’s consent

Customize this form from the BCA for

your program

Return form to BCA

If certified Charitable Non-Profit with BCA, return with

$8

If not a Charitable Non-Profit, return with

$15

To qualify for the reduced fee you must provide a copy of the

form issued by the IRS that designates your organization as

a 501(c) 3 organization. This form should be sent to

the BCA, Attn: CJIS/Non-profit account.

Get a copy of mentor’s

fingerprints

Continue for an FBI ScreeningContinue for

Fingerprinting can be done at the

BCA, local station, or private agency, rates vary from $5-

$30.

Check the hours at your county’s office

Fingerprinting can be done

independently. If the prints are not done well, they will be returned.

Download an FBI Fingerprint Card (print

on cardstock).

Return Fingerprint Card, Fees

and Consent Form to BCA

If screening

is for a volunteer mentor,

return with $20.25

If screening

is for a paid

mentor, return with

$24.25

After 2-6 weeks, a

report will come back to your program

How to read a report

State Check

FBI Check

Program Experiences Linda Oto, Connected Kids, Northfield

Public Schools

La’Vonne Clarke, Mentors For Success, Hennepin County Juvenile Probation

14

Resources MPM Training

www.mpmn.org/traininginstitute

This presentation & others www.slideshare.net/traininginstitute

Minnesota Mentoring Conference

Mentor Screening and Youth Safety Session 2: 2:30-4:30

This presentation will focus on the recommended tools and approaches from the resource SAFE (Screening Applicants for Effectiveness): Guidelines to Prevent Child Molestation in Mentoring and Youth-Serving Organizations. Research gathered in the writing of the Mentor Screening and Youth Protection chapter for the 2nd edition of the Handbook on Youth Mentoring, scheduled for release in 2012, will be also reviewed. 

Next Quality In Action Webinar

November 2 – Evidence Based Practice for Mentoring Programs, featuring Kristine Marshall from Winning Futures

December 7 – Using Social Media to Promote National Mentoring Month, featuring Sarah Kremer from Friends For Youth