criminal background checks
Va. legislators investigating updating background checks on college students, transfer students
In light of the kidnapping of a University of Virginia student, Hannah Graham, the state’s lawmakers are considering re-vamping the process for conducting background checks not only on the state’s university students, but also how they handle students that transfer from one university to another within the state. Jesse Matthew Jr., a former football player…
Read MoreTypes of background checks landlords should use when renting
While it would be nice if every renter could be a model tenant, landlords have to be careful when renting homes or apartments out. It’s a fine line to walk; you want to have great tenants living in your rentals, but that requires conducting a few types of background checks. You should absolutely run the…
Read MoreWashington D.C. latest to ban the box on job applications
At the beginning of September, Washington D.C. passed its own ban-the-box law, joining the ranks of many other cities and states in preventing employers from requiring job applicants to state whether or not they have ever been convicted of a crime on an initial job application or during a first interview. The new law, called…
Read MoreDon’t leave childcare to chance; conduct an advanced background check
Many working parents have childcare needs, and if local family members are not available (and willing!) to do babysitting duty, parents often look to the community for good childcare. For some families, the best option is a day care center with full-time childcare staff, while others prefer smaller care facilities or even home-based caregivers who…
Read MoreDenver scrambles to perform background checks over ‘kinship’ child placement
routinely failed to conduct federal criminal and fingerprint background checks on the next-of-kin for children who have been removed from their homes due to parental neglect or abuse. Once removed from their parents by DHS, children are often placed with their next-of-kin temporarily, and a lack of screening has put these children at risk of…
Read MoreSenior communities may fall through the cracks under ban-the-box laws
nursing homes and retirement care facilities are supposed to conduct background checks on the nurses and healthcare aides that work with the elderly, senior living retirement communities have different requirements under the law. Independent senior living communities are those communities in which residents live in their own homes within a specified neighborhood, and meet for…
Read MoreN.Y. Governor signs law requiring background checks for volunteer firefighters
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law earlier this month, under which new volunteer firefighters in the state will undergo criminal background checks to prevent sex offenders from working with vulnerable residents. Current volunteer firefighters may also be screened — and let go — if they have certain types of convictions on their…
Read MoreFair fear: employees not screened regularly, consistently
There’s something new to keep in mind when it comes to visiting your state and local fairs this summer and fall, and it’s not your cholesterol after consuming new iterations of unusual fried goodies. Two companies that are hired out to various fairs and carnivals in Washington and Oregon have had problems with hiring criminals…
Read MoreIllinois law bans background checks early in hiring process
Illinois is the latest state to pass legislation preventing employers from conducting background checks early on in the hiring process. Under the new law, which was signed by Governor Pat Quinn in July, private employers that have more than 15 employees may only conduct background checks after an interview has been conducted and the candidate…
Read MoreOregon veterinarians may find background checks necessary for licensing
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board (OVMEB) is considering requiring criminal background checks for those applying for their licenses to practice veterinary medicine. The request for veterinary background checks was not prompted by any particular incident or complaint, though a March audit of Oregon’s health organizations states that veterinarians should be screened because of their…
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