Archive for the ‘In the News’ Category
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
This week, a terrible tragedy struck.
In the state of Connecticut, a Hartford Distributors employee, Omar Thornton, shot 8 people before killing himself. As the shock of this horrific event has begun to subside, people are starting to ask the question — was comprehensive background screening conducted when Thornton was hired?
Though no information has been released as of the writing of this post in terms of how (or whether) Hartford Distributors conducts background checks on potential employees, it is definitely the right inquiry to make… albeit too late for Thornton’s victims. For instance, did Thornton have a past history of problems with co-workers? Did he have a criminal record? Was there something that could have been a “red flag” on his record?
Obviously, the most important part of the story isn’t background screening; it’s the lives that were needlessly stolen. But chances are good that in the days that follow, many thoughts will be raised and Hartford Distributors will have to answer.
Our thoughts go out to all the victims’ families and friends.
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Tags: Ask Question, Background Checks, background screening, Co Workers, Criminal Record, Hartford, Red Flag, State Of Connecticut, Tragedy
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Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
It’s official! VerifyProtect has solidified its partnership with MidAtlantic Employers’ Association (MEA) to provide even more customized employment background screening solutions, implementation services and drug screening program’s to MEA’s membership (current more than 700 companies.)
If you’re not familiar with MEA, it’s the mid-Atlantic region’s largest source for human resources, employee training and development services, and business counseling and problem-solving. MEA works with small and mid-sized businesses, the ideal fit for VerifyProtect, a background screening powerhouse!
Notes Kristina Taylor, president of VerifyProtect, “This new relationship allows VerifyProtect to help MEA’s members not only make secure hiring decisions but to also ensure their companies are comprised of quality employees.” She adds, “We’re excited to join MEA’s portfolio of innovative partnerships!”
MEA is equally thrilled with the relationship, as Jim Devine, president and CEO, MEA, attests: “VerifyProtect.com’s business philosophy is closely aligned with MEA’s as a ‘customers-first’ organization that focuses on delivering value at every opportunity. That’s why we’re partnering with them as our provider of choice for screening services going forward.”
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Tags: Background Checks, Business Philosophy, drug screening, Employee Training And Development, Employers Association, Employment Background Screening, Human Resources Employee, Implementation Services, Jim Devine, Mea, Mid Atlantic Region, Midatlantic Employers, Organiation, Powerhouse, Quality Employees, Screening Options, Screening Program, Screening Services, Screening Solutions, Sized Businesses
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Friday, June 11th, 2010
After a slew of bad press and legal woes, Florida is finally getting tough on would-be employees who plan to work with kids, the elderly and/or the disabled.
Lawmakers have passed a new law that goes into effect on August 1st and requires national background screening checks for those wishing to work at home health care agencies, day cares, assisted living homes and similar institutions.
It’s no surprise that debate against the law was, for all intents and purposes, nil. In fact, it passed unanimously a week ago, ending its route through the legislature with Governor Charlie Crist’s signature.
This is comforting news to not only the people who will be working with these types of employees, but also to the families of those in assisted care facilities. Florida has received tons of negative press thanks to gaps in its background screening procedures that left both children and adults in harm’s way.
We’re thrilled to be a part of an industry that can do so much good in terms of protection and prevention. Bravo to Florida for taking this step!
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Tags: Assisted Care, August 1st, Background Checks, background screening, Charlie Crist, Florida Children, Gaps, Governor Charlie Crist, Health Care Agencies, Home Health Care, Home Health Care Agencies, Institutions, Intents And Purposes, Lawmakers, Legal Woes, National Background, Prevention, Screening Procedures, Signature, Slew
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
From NBC New York, we’ve learned that several NY athletic refs have been fired after the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) discovered that they had “rap sheets”. Sex offenses, felonies and other records were unknown because background checks were not done on the referees.
In response from public outcry (and embarrassment), background checks and fingerprinting will now be a standard part of the employment process for any person who desires to work for the PSAL.
Ironically, the state of New York did pass The Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act in 2000 which should have covered the employment of refs. However, the PSAL was given an exemption which allowed them to avoid fingerprinting applicants.
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Tags: Background Checks, Education Act, Embarassment, Felonies, Nbc, Psal, Public Outcry, Public School Athletic League, Rap Sheets, Referees, Refs, Safe Schools, Sex Offenses, Violence
Posted in In the News, Schools | No Comments »
Monday, May 24th, 2010
A recent incident has brought questions to the table in terms of the U.S. Government’s background checking policy for census workers.
In Indianapolis, Indiana, a census worker allegedly raped a young woman after essentially “casing” the home to determine when the woman would be alone.
As a response to this shocking crime, government officials insist that their background screening methodologies are rigorous and that all census workers must pass the background checks before being allowed to work.
The public is asked to always be on alert when talking to census workers, who should never force their ways into someone’s home. Additionally, if a census worker behaves inappropriately or makes an individual feel comfortable, it’s recommended that the census worker’s name be taken and submitted to the local authorities.
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Tags: background checking, Background Checks, background screening, Census Worker, Census Workers, Government Census, Government Officials, Indiana Census, Indianapolis Indiana, Local Authorities, Methodologies, Raped, Young Woman
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Friday, May 21st, 2010
The Milton Hershey School, Hershey, PA, recently dealt with a particularly unpleasant scandal involving the molestation of students. The perpetrator is the son of a Milton Hershey School houseparent (the school offers room and board to students) who assaulted and abused students 20 years ago.
The victims finally came forward and identified the person responsible several months ago, and Milton Hershey School recently settled in the case, giving the victims an undisclosed amount. Meanwhile, the perpetrator has been charged and sentenced.
Since the molestation 20 years ago, the Milton Hershey School revealed to reporters that it has changed its background checking policy on visitors and those who would be accessible to their students.
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Tags: background check, background checking, Background Checks, Case Changes, Milton Hershey School, Milton Hershey School Hershey Pa, Molestation, Perpetrator, Scandal
Posted in Background Checks and Screening, In the News | No Comments »
Friday, May 14th, 2010
You make copies of I9s, social security cards, driver’s licenses, etc. all the time. It’s just routine, right?
Certainly, it’s a common practice to take a record of a new employee’s information as well as other critical business and human resources docs, but have you ever wondered what happens when a copy is made?
Check out this investigative report from CBS. If you’re not thoroughly surprised and a little concerned, watch it again.
Does this mean that you should never use a copy machine? Of course not. But when you dispose of your digital imaging unit, it’s critical to have the drive scrubbed clean. That way, you’ll protect your business and your employees.
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Tags: Background Checks, Cbs, Critical Business, Digital Imaging, Human Resources, Identity Theft, Investigative Report, Social Security, Social Security Cards
Posted in Identity Theft, In the News, Security Risks | No Comments »
Monday, April 26th, 2010
Thanks to a new bill passed by the Florida State Senate, all Florida youth sports coaches must now pass background checks in order to work with kids.
Would-be coaches will now be background screened on their criminal histories, including any sexual charges. (Convicted sexual offenders would be immediately removed from the candidate pool for obvious reasons.)
This move comes from a slew of national cases of coaches taking advantage of and/or physically (or mentally) abusing their team players. All-in-all, we think it will be an excellent law.
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Tags: Advantage, Background Checks, Candidate Pool, Checks Order, Criminal Histories, Florida Senate, Florida Sports, Florida State Senate, Florida Youth, Sexual Offenders, Slew, Sports Background, Sports Checks, Youth Sports
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Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
A recent editorial from the Northwest Herald (Illinois) caught our eye.
In the piece, editor Kevin Lyons makes a good case for homeless shelters to require those receiving long-term assistance to undergo background checks to ensure the safety of the other homeless persons. Basically, these types of background checks would screen out the more violent individuals, leading to a more secure experience and environment for the rest of the people at the shelters (including volunteers.)
It’s an interesting concept and one that could have many merits. Obviously, it would have to be studied to find out how background checks could easily be run on people who may not be willing to give their real names (or may not have or know their social security numbers.)
What do you think? Would background checks allow community homeless shelters to better serve their target populations?
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Tags: Background Checks, Editorial, Herald Illinois, Homeless Persons, Homeless Shelters, Kevin Lyons, Merits, Northwest Herald, People, Real Names, Social Security, Social Security Numbers, Target Populations, Term Assistance, Violent Individuals, Volunteers
Posted in Background Checks and Screening, In the News | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
A new story from ESPN highlights just how important thorough criminal background checks are when it comes to sports coaches working with kids.
USA Swimming has concluded that many previously-convicted child molesters have been able to slip through incomplete background checking systems and snag coaching positions that allow them to continue to abuse young persons.
As a result of this investigation, more complete background checks (including more in-depth criminal ones) will now be mandated for USA Swimming coaches. As always, we encourage parents of any sport-playing child to demand that any person working with their youngster — whether volunteer or paid staff — be completely vetted.
After all, no organization — even the large USA Swimming — can afford this kind of national scandal.
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Tags: Child Molesters, Criminal Background Checks, Criminal Checks, Espn, Parents, Scandal, Snag, Sports, Swimming Coaches, Usa Sex, Usa Swimming, Volunteer, Working With Kids, Young Persons, Youngster
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