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
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