Criminal Background Check Consideration Policy
All prospective Iowa College AmeriCorps members are subject to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Criminal Background Check (the FBI check includes fingerprinting). Prospective members will also be checked against the National Sex Offender Registry using the National Sex Office Public Website (NSOPW). Any prospective member with criminal offense(s) reported by these agencies or listed as a sex offender will be dealt with on an individual basis according to the nature, degree and timing of the offense.
Iowa Campus Compact will disclose the information found in these Criminal Background Checks to the potential member. If appropriate and necessary, members will be asked to disclose information to the site and campus supervisor so that all parties involved are informed of previous incidents and able to put safeguards in place if needed.
The record that is most often found with the population of AmeriCorps members applying to this program is an OWI or Possession Under the Legal Age. Below is an example of what would be asked of the member following this finding:
While conducting a background check on John Doe for the ICAP AmeriCorps Program, we received a hit. He has been arrested for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI). This does not make him ineligible for the program, but we do need to take appropriate steps to ensure safety for all. To do this, we ask that both the member and community partner he will be assigned to, are aware that this has come to our attention and that both communicate (in writing) that this will not hinder or affect the services being rendered. Please also address whether or not the member will be driving as part of his responsibilities.
Federal Corporation for National and Community Service policy explicitly exclude prospective members for the following reasons. If the individual:
Iowa Campus Compact will disclose the information found in these Criminal Background Checks to the potential member. If appropriate and necessary, members will be asked to disclose information to the site and campus supervisor so that all parties involved are informed of previous incidents and able to put safeguards in place if needed.
The record that is most often found with the population of AmeriCorps members applying to this program is an OWI or Possession Under the Legal Age. Below is an example of what would be asked of the member following this finding:
While conducting a background check on John Doe for the ICAP AmeriCorps Program, we received a hit. He has been arrested for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI). This does not make him ineligible for the program, but we do need to take appropriate steps to ensure safety for all. To do this, we ask that both the member and community partner he will be assigned to, are aware that this has come to our attention and that both communicate (in writing) that this will not hinder or affect the services being rendered. Please also address whether or not the member will be driving as part of his responsibilities.
Federal Corporation for National and Community Service policy explicitly exclude prospective members for the following reasons. If the individual:
- Is registered, or required to be registered, on a State sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry;
- Has been convicted of murder, as defined in section 1111 of title 18, United States Code; or
- Refuses to consent to a criminal background check, or who makes a false statement in connection with a program’s inquiry concerning the individual’s criminal history.
consecutive terms
ICAP members are allowed and encouraged to serve consecutive terms.
Members who serve consecutive terms in ICAP with a break of less than 180 days between terms do not require another background check for the additional term. However, if the member will have recurring access to vulnerable populations during his/her consecutive term and did not receive the three-component check during the previous term, he/she is required to receive a heightened background checks prior to the consecutive term, regardless of the amount of time between terms. A campus service site enrolling a member who has served previously with another AmeriCorps program (e.g., Summer VISTA) within the last 180 days is not waived of the background check requirements and must complete its own full ICAP background check.
Members who serve consecutive terms in ICAP with a break of less than 180 days between terms do not require another background check for the additional term. However, if the member will have recurring access to vulnerable populations during his/her consecutive term and did not receive the three-component check during the previous term, he/she is required to receive a heightened background checks prior to the consecutive term, regardless of the amount of time between terms. A campus service site enrolling a member who has served previously with another AmeriCorps program (e.g., Summer VISTA) within the last 180 days is not waived of the background check requirements and must complete its own full ICAP background check.
Processes
All documents described in this section are available on the paperwork webpage. Additionally, all documents must be received by Iowa Campus Compact no later than three days prior to the member's start date. Questions or concerns regarding the ICAP background check process can be made to Iowa Campus Compact by using the contact form available on this website.
Acknowledgement form
Effective 12/1/2014 all ICAP applicants must sign and date the background check acknowledgement form.
Effective 12/1/2014 all ICAP applicants must sign and date the background check acknowledgement form.
NSOPW (Sex offender Check)
Iowa Campus Compact will process the NSPOW check on all ICAP applicants and verify the results against the applicant's provided government issued identification.
Iowa Campus Compact will process the NSPOW check on all ICAP applicants and verify the results against the applicant's provided government issued identification.
State of Iowa Background Check
All ICAP applications must submit the state of Iowa background check form and waiver documentation. Iowa Campus Compact will process the state of Iowa check on all ICAP applicants and verify the results against the applicant's provided government issued identification.
All ICAP applications must submit the state of Iowa background check form and waiver documentation. Iowa Campus Compact will process the state of Iowa check on all ICAP applicants and verify the results against the applicant's provided government issued identification.
Federal Background Check (fingerprint check)
Only ICAP applicants who have recurring access to vulnerable populations must receive this check. All paperwork must be completed by the member including a fingerprint card. The member is responsible for having the fingerprint card completed. A cost is sometimes associated with having a member's fingerprints taken. Iowa Campus Compact will reimburse for all direct background check costs. A member may pay an initial fee, but they must be reimbursed for any direct background check costs.
All fingerprint cards must be mailed to the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. A billing form must accompany the fingerprint cards. A copy of the billing form is available below.
Only ICAP applicants who have recurring access to vulnerable populations must receive this check. All paperwork must be completed by the member including a fingerprint card. The member is responsible for having the fingerprint card completed. A cost is sometimes associated with having a member's fingerprints taken. Iowa Campus Compact will reimburse for all direct background check costs. A member may pay an initial fee, but they must be reimbursed for any direct background check costs.
All fingerprint cards must be mailed to the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. A billing form must accompany the fingerprint cards. A copy of the billing form is available below.
Download the Billing Form
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Download the Sample Fingerprint Card
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AmeriCorps Background Check Requirements
Under the Serve America Act (SAA), all grantees must conduct National Service Criminal History
checks on participants and program employees in AmeriCorps. National Service Criminal History check regulations have been in effect since November 2007 when two-part checks were first required under specific programs, and only on individuals in recurring contact with a vulnerable population. Coverage was expanded under the SAA to all national service programs and covered individuals even without contact to a vulnerable population. Since that time, all grantees must conduct at least two-part National Service Criminal History checks on participants and program employees in AmeriCorps. All participants, even if the activities don't involve service with vulnerable populations, must receive the checks prior to beginning employment or service.
Beginning April 21, 2011, the law required that programs conduct three-part checks -- including FBI, statewide repository, and sex offender registry checks -- on individuals who will have recurring contact with vulnerable populations.
Recurring Access Definition
Since April 21, 2011, programs have been required to conduct a heightened three-part on individuals in covered positions, who have recurring access to children 17 years of age or younger, to persons age 60 or older, or to individuals with disabilities.
Iowa Campus Compact strongly encourages all host sites to err on the side of caution when considering if a position has recurring vs. episodic access to vulnerable populations and complete all background checks.
Use the Recurring Access Checklist to help you make this determination.
No Recurring AccessNational Sex Offender Public Website check
Statewide criminal history registry check
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Recurring AccessNational Sex Offender Public Website check
Statewide criminal history registry check
FBI nationwide Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) check
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Accompaniment Policies
In the event that a member's Criminal History Record Information results (State OR FBI) are pending while the member is in service, that individual must either not have recurring access to vulnerable populations during this period, OR be accompanied up until their Criminal History check has been received.
Accompaniment of an ICAP member must be performed by "an authorized program representative who has previously been cleared for such access" (IA Program Director Manual).
Documentation of the accompaniment must be provided to the program director in order for the member to participate in this level of service. Documentation must include the dates of accompaniment, the individual accompanying the member, and the name of the service site(s) where this is occurring.
Accompaniment of an ICAP member must be performed by "an authorized program representative who has previously been cleared for such access" (IA Program Director Manual).
Documentation of the accompaniment must be provided to the program director in order for the member to participate in this level of service. Documentation must include the dates of accompaniment, the individual accompanying the member, and the name of the service site(s) where this is occurring.