Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 8/12/04)

Since 1991. The policy was updated in 2003. The entire policy is online in English and Spanish at www.arlingtondiocese.org.

All employees of the Diocese of Arlington and contracted employees must complete Criminal History Record Checks and annual training in child protection. Volunteers of the Diocese of Arlington having "substantial contact with children" must also complete Criminal History Record Checks and annual training in child protection.

Because of the numerous and varied opportunities to serve the Church, a common sense approach to determining who has "substantial contact" with children is necessary. The definition to be used in determining who falls into this category is twofold.

Substantial contact is:

A person who volunteers for service that is designed to minister to the young automatically falls under the category of significant contact. Some examples of this are any activity in schools, coaching, volunteer service in parish religious education programs, participation in youth retreats and chaperones for youth activities.

Others, while not volunteering for activities designed to minister to youth, may be considered as having significant contact if it is reasonable to think that they may at times have contact with children outside the sight or hearing of other responsible adults. Some examples of this might be the parish sacristan who (it is reasonable to think) will at points have contact with children in his/her duties. Other examples might be maintenance volunteers with access to school or parish education areas, parish office volunteers and landscaping volunteers, if such activities take place while children are present.

The bottom line is child safety. Since 1991, all employees and volunteers have had to complete a background questionnaire, which included a question on the applicant’s criminal history record. We believe the vast majority those who volunteer or work with children would never harm a child. Sadly, however a small percentage do.

To minimize the impact on parishes and other organizations, one-third of all diocesan personnel will be fingerprinted for a criminal background check each year for the next three years. Those who do not have their background checked through the fingerprint method this year will sign consent for a background check using checks of public records and checks of the Child Protective Services records. These checks will be conducted by Southeastern Security Consultants, an established private background check consulting firm.

At the end of the three years all employees and volunteers having substantial contact with children will have completed a background check using the fingerprinting method.

All new employees and volunteers will complete a background check using the fingerprint method prior to beginning their service in the diocese.

Fingerprints are required in order to access the national criminal database files of the FBI. The fingerprints are a means of positive identification and do not enter the person being checked into any database. The use of fingerprints for background checks also eliminates the problem of misidentifying a volunteer or employee because of similar names or a fraudulent use of social security numbers by convicted felons.

For the current fiscal year, the diocese will pay for the background checks. Some volunteers have offered to donate the cost of their check, but that is voluntary.

Security clearances are unique to a specific position and your employer cannot share your personal information with the diocese.

The results from background checks will be sent to the diocesan office for Child Protection and Safety. Only those persons specifically designated by the bishop will have access to any background information.

The background checks are conducted under the authority of the Virginia State Police. Virginia law requires that trained police personnel be used in taking fingerprints being used for access to criminal records.

The police agency responsible for fingerprinting varies depending upon county or city. It may be city, county police or sheriff. Please call your local policy agency to determine the proper location in your area.

The actual process takes about 10 to 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, we cannot make any exceptions to the Criminal History background check requirement, so you would not be able to volunteer or work in a position that requires significant contact with children.

The commonwealth of Virginia recognizes a number of crimes as being disqualifying from service in relation to children. These crimes are delineated in the Code of Virginia 63.2-1719. Basically these crimes are: a) any violent crime, b) any sexual crime, c) drug trafficking, d) production, distribution or possession of child pornography, e) crimes involving abuse and neglect. The diocese will consider these crimes as disqualifying for service in any diocesan organization. Other convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Background checks for persons with no past histories contain no information except for that fact. If any background check should be returned with any other information, a copy will be forwarded to the applicant and a request for further information will be provided.

You may receive the necessary forms for background checks from the parish, school or other diocesan organization for which you work/volunteer. Each set of forms includes detailed instructions on how to complete the checks.