The Bureau of Criminal Identification, in Salt Lake City, Utah, has warned that budget cuts may curtail its ability to conduct background checks. The BCI’s responsible for conducting background checks on teachers for their criminal history and for clearing concealed weapons applicants. Possible budget cuts may force the Bureau to lay off 20 employees. With such a reduction in staff, the overload may cause applicants with criminal records to fall between the cracks.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the Bureau of Criminal Identification presently conducts tens of thousands of background checks each year on teachers and bus drivers, gun buyers, concealed weapons permit applicants, law enforcement officers, daycare providers, real estate agents, housing applicants, and others. They may have to stop conducting background checks and adding to their database searches altogether.
The Bureau also warned budget cuts would cause delays in its ability to update law enforcement agencies with criminal information. Criminal databases would not be current, leaving police officers less informed when stopping and questioning people for possible violations. A recent Salt Lake Tribune investigation found that about two-thirds of the teaching license revocations and suspensions since 1992 involved sexual misconduct, including pornography offenses.
The article reflected assurances from certain legislators that they would find the revenue to allow the BCI to continue conducting background checks. Any state bureaucracy or public service should understand this is the prudent move, that is conducting background checks. Not only does it screen employment candidates and applicants for weapons permits, but it can go a long way in preventing physical violence and theft in the work place. Background Searches will help prevent liability issues, which are far more expensive than running the background checks.
It should also be noted that many states and public service agencies have been embarrassed over the past number of years by allowing applicants and personnel to slip through the cracks, when they have criminal records, including convictions as sex offenders. This is dangerous, and it is embarrassing as well as costly.
My advice–if you are cutting budgets. Cut them somewhere else.
Check them out before you hire.
