Background Screening

Important Note:  Our current policy is undergoing revisions.  Provisions of this policy may have been or are being changed, redacted or updated. 

Introduction
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston, a Corporation Sole (“Archdiocese of Boston”) is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable population to whom the Archdiocese ministers. Pursuant to the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Archdiocese is committed to obtaining all available criminal offender record information for the following: all volunteers who minister to or have the potential for unmonitored access to children, youth, elderly or the disabled on behalf of the Archdiocese of Boston; all paid parish staff; all Roman Catholic clergy; and all school staff, faculty, school volunteers and any individual at a Catholic school within the Archdiocese, who may have direct and unmonitored contact with children. As such, the Archdiocese, through its Office for Background Screening, has developed a process by which it will conduct background checks through the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). The process allows the Archdiocese to receive and review Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Reports from the DCJIS for the above categories of individuals.

The Archdiocese has established guidelines, adapted from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, to determine whether these individuals are appropriate for employment and/or volunteer service in the Archdiocese of Boston. The implementation of these guidelines is set forth in this CORI Policy of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Parishes Schools

This section includes criteria that are adapted from the Massachusetts Health and Human Services and used to categorize the offenses recorded on returned CORI.  Once classified the results are evaluated to determine whether an individual is appropriate for a particular employment position or a particular ministry service.

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The following ministries are among those required to complete an annual CORI check of their members who are 18 years of age or older.

• Ministries Dedicated To Serving Youth
  • Babysitters – individuals who care for young children during Sunday Mass, WINGS meetings, etc.
  • CAP Team – Parishioners who serve on the parish Child Abuse Protection Team.
  • Religious Education – catechists, substitute teachers, assistants, babysitters and other Religious Education support staff serving the children and youth of the parish. 
  • Scouting – leaders and others involved with Boy Scout or Girl Scout Troops IF the parish charters the troop. 
  • Youth Ministry – chaperones, leaders, drivers, instructors, coordinators, coaches, referees and others who serve parish youth. 
• Ministries Dedicated To Serving The Elderly
  • Home Chore Program – helpers who go into homes of the elderly and disabled to clean, shop, carry out repairs, etc.
  • Ministry to the Dying – respite care givers, house cleaners, babysitters and others who minister to those at the end of life and their families.
  • Parish Health Care – nurses, home health aides, drivers and any others who volunteer to serve the sick of the parish. 
  • Pastoral Visitation To The Sick And Homebound – Eucharistic Ministers, friendly visitors, pastoral visitors and others who minister, in the name of the community, to the sick, homebound or disabled in their homes or at a care facility. 
• Other Ministries Dedicated To Serving the Parish Community
  • Music Ministry – choir directors, coordinators of children and youth music programs, helpers and others who have contact with children and youth.
  • Worship Ministry – Eucharistic Ministers, lectors and ushers.
  • Saint Vincent DePaul Society - Members providing services to children, youth, elderly, or the disabled including members making home visits.

 
All volunteers in any parish ministry who have the potential for interaction with children.

1. What is the meaning of CORI?
CORI stands for criminal offender record information.

2. Why must I have a CORI check?
The law of the Commonwealth mandates a CORI check on current volunteers and employees as well as qualified prospective employees and volunteers, prior to their service or employment,
who have particular duties and responsibilities relative to children and youth, the elderly and/or disabled.

3. Why do I have to fill out a CORI request form every year?
The CORI Policy of the Archdiocese as well as Archdiocesan Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Children require an annual CORI. 

4. If I fill out a CORI form some place else, why do I have to fill one out for the Church?
Criminal offender record information may not be shared among entities certified to have access to CORI.

5. Why do I have to provide so much personal information on the CORI form? 
The Commonwealth determines what information must appear on the CORI request form.  The specific information ensures that the returned CORI belongs to the person who filled out the request form.

6. What type of government issued photographic identification must I present when I have my CORI information verified?
You may present a license from Massachusetts or another state, a passport, a Mass ID or other government issued picture identification documents.

7. What if I don’t have a picture ID?
If you do not have a government issued photo identification you may present a birth certificate or social security card.  However, a notation must be made on the CORI form that you have no available photo identification.

8. Who will have access to my CORI results?
The staff of the Office for Background Screening is certified to have access to your CORI.  They are bound by the law not to disclose your CORI information to any agency or person not authorized to receive CORI.

9. Where are returned CORI kept?
All CORI request forms and returns are secured in locked files that are kept in a locked file room.

10. If I have something on my record does that mean I can’t be employed or serve in ministry?
Not necessarily.  CORI are evaluated according to a standardized process that includes established criteria.  You may click on CORI Policy and/or CORI Evaluation Criteria for more specific information.

11. May I have a copy of my CORI?
Yes, you may request a copy of your CORI return. Instructions are at the bottom of the request form.

Please contact the Office for Background Screening for answers to your specific questions.

In September 2013, Governor Patrick signed into law Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2013, “An Act Relative to Background Checks.” This new law requires a fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check for school employees through the Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS). 

The individuals required to submit to the national fingerprint check are all newly hired school employees, contractor employees, educators, student teachers, maintenance staff, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers (if applicable). Please note that certain dedicated volunteers such as coaches would also be required to submit to the national check as well. 

The only approved vendor for collecting prints is IdentoGO operated by MorphoTrust USA. Appointments can be made by calling MorphoTrust at 866-349-8130 or by visiting the website at http://www.identogo.com/FP/Massachusetts.aspx .

The fee is $55.00 for licensed educators and $35.00 for all other school staff. This fee is to be paid at the time of scheduling an appointment or at the time of fingerprinting. It is at the discretion of the school to pay the fee or reimburse the employee all or part of the fees. 

Individuals Required for Fingerprinting.

• Newly Hired School Employees
• Contract Employees
• Educators
• Student Teachers
• Maintenance Staff
• Cafeteria Workers
• Bus Drivers (if applicable)
• Volunteer Coaches

Any questions about the fingerprint process can be directed to:

Carol L. Thomas, M.Ed.
Director of Background Screening
Email: [email protected]
Office: (617) 746-5840

What is the new law requiring expanded background checks for Schools?  
In September 2013, the Governor signed into law Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2013, “An Act Relative to Background Checks.” This new law requires a fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check for school employees. 
 
 Who is required to submit fingerprints under the new law?  
Beginning in December of 2014 all existing/newly hired school employees, contract employees, educators, student teachers, substitute teachers, maintenance staff, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers (if applicable). Dedicated volunteers such as coaches would also be required to submit fingerprints. 
 
 When do employees complete the fingerprint check?  
All new hires must have their fingerprints submitted as part of the hiring process. Once an individual is CORI cleared they may then complete the fingerprint check. 
 
 What are the fees associated with fingerprinting and who should pay?  
The fee is $55.00 for licensed educators and $35.00 for all other school employees. This fee is to be paid at the time of scheduling an appointment or at the time of fingerprinting. It is at the discretion of the school to pay the fee or reimburse the employee all or part of the fees. There is a hardship exception in which a school may reimburse their employees on the grounds of financial hardship.
 
Can an employee use a fingerprint check from other state or a fingerprint check used for other purposes?
No. Under federal and state law, fingerprint-based record checks obtained for other purposes cannot be accepted. All employees will need to submit to a fingerprint based record check under this regulation. 
 
Can we accept fingerprint results from other schools?   
No. All employees and/or volunteers are required to be fingerprinted for the Archdiocese of Boston. 
What if an employee/volunteer was previously fingerprinted for an Archdiocesan School, will they need to be fingerprinted a second time?
Many of our schools are vetted through the Office of Background Screening (OBS). If a school is vetted through the OBS, employees and/or volunteers will not have to repeat the process. If an individual is from a school that is not vetted through OBS, they will need to be fingerprinted for your school. You may contact the OBS for verification.
 
Where can employees/volunteers go to submit fingerprints?  
There is only one vendor who is approved to process fingerprints. IdentoGO by MorphoTrust USA, https://www.identogo.com/locations/massachusetts. Phone: 866-349-8130. 
May we go to the local police department to submit fingerprints?
No. Fingerprints can only be processed through the approved vendor. 
 
How often do we need to be fingerprinted?  
The Archdiocese is currently reviewing policy regarding the frequency of conducting fingerprint based record checks.  At this time compliance with the regulations is paramount for all schools. If a policy calls for an additional fingerprint requirement that will be communicated to you at a later date.   
 
Where can I go to find additional information about the law?  
You can visit the Massachusetts Department of Education and Secondary Education web site at:
www.doe.mass.edu.