Re: Leader Apps Bachground Checks
Ted Burton (scouter@VALINT.NET)
Tue, 30 Mar 1999 20:44:11 -0800
At 09:49 -0800 on 3/29/1999, Richard C. Ickler mailed Re: Leader Apps
Bachground Checks:
>There is a mechanism to get background checks. Someone on the list
>can certainly tell you exactly how. I've never had a reason to use
>it. It does cost though (about $50 the last time I heard anyone
>talk about it).
We do it for free.
>Most groups don't do background checks though they should check references
>for several reasons. The most basic is that with BSA Youth Protection
>Program, NO adult is allowed to be alone with a scout. Unless you happen
>to have 2 close buddies who are abusers that pretty much puts an end to the
>threat because few abusers will do it in front of other adults.
I beg to differ. The problem is the contacts that will be made, and a
wrongdoer will build on that with other activities away from
Scouting. Scouting is at risk of providing an innocent introduction.
>I can't think of any situation where the information a background
>check will provide you useful information. Background checks only
>provide information on convictions, they won't tell you that this
>man is a Hell's Angel or Crip or Blood or whatever. They
>also don't tell you that he was arrested 10 times but never convicted.
A criminal records check will bring up all arrests (at least for
felonies and in most jurisdictions, also misdemeanors) and all
Federal charges, whether or not a conviction resulted. Gang
membership will not be revealed, necessarily.
>Ultimately, the best protection you have is to get the leader
>involved slowly, watching how they perform and making sure that
>everything is open so that problems are spotted and dealt with
>before they become serious.
This is the least dependable way to discover a pedophile. Pedophiles
are usually very good at manipulating people.
Thanks for listening.
Ted
========================
Asst Scoutmaster, District Committee, District Commissioner,
Lewis-Clark Trails District, Inland Northwest Council 611, & 'a good
ol' Fox too'; Es Kaielgu Lodge 311, Tseminicum Chapter, Vigil,
mailto:scouter@valint.net ; and Macintosh fan.
