Conducting a background check for your Maryland youth sports organization might seem like a simple task. With everything that club admins have to juggle in a day, it’s easy to pick the cheapest background check option. We get it: no one wants to spend hours trying to decide between all the packages out there.
But the problem with the quick and easy solution is that you could put your players and club at risk if the program you choose doesn’t meet vital screening criteria. In this article, we’ll break down what you should look for in a screening provider in Maryland.
Why searching for records outside of Maryland is crucial
A dedicated safety program can help your organization manage the ins and outs of your operations safely, ensuring that you’re keeping your participants safe. When it comes to background checks, it’s important to check outside of your state’s borders—you can’t assume that your applicants have only lived in Maryland. That’s the issue with background checks like the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) search.
In our internal 2016 case study of Maryland organizations, we discovered that 16% of criminal records uncovered by NCSI would not have been found using the in-state-only CJIS search.
How can records be missed on a background check?
It’s important to remember that not all background checks are created equal. While you might assume a background check will uncover all criminal records in an applicant’s past, it matters where the background screening company looks for these records. The crucial part is knowing where to look.
The address traces that NCSI conducted quickly discovered crimes committed outside of Maryland. But had NCSI only searched in state—like the standard CJIS search—then people could have been put in danger unnecessarily.
Protect your organization by going beyond CJIS searches
Since the Maryland CJIS search only looks at in-state records, it’s important to realize how this can impact the safety of your organization.
Understanding how background checks actually work can go a long way in helping to protect your organization and participants.
Want to learn more about keeping children safe? Visit NCSIsafe.com or reach out to us at c[email protected].
