Background checks in question after teacher arrested
Jorge Estrada Landeros, 43, an Anderson Elementary School first-grade teacher, was recruited in November 2002 at a job fair in Monterrey, Mexico, through the state’s Region IV Education Service Center. He came to the United States on an H1B visa, according to CISD officials, and was hired by the district in August 2003 to work as a bilingual teacher at Grangerland Intermediate.After his arrest, Landeros was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on a $15,000 bond and released the next day. An investigation by the CISD Police Department, which so far has included interviews of three 6-year-old girls who alleged Landeros touched them inappropriately at the school, is ongoing and will involve more interviews of students, Montgomery County District Attorney Mike McDougal previously told The Courier. Read More

Background Checks Becoming Rule Of The Day
Tricia Cruz (Rochester, NY) 03/14/05 - Employers are now regularly hiring companies to conduct extensive background checks on applicants. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is just one that’s hired the Rochester Business Alliance to check into potential employees.Parishioners at St. Mary’s are directly affected by the background checks since the church is part of the Rochester Diocese. Read More

Tragedy points to need for background checks
If Monalisa Barber had known that the man she hired as a personal care attendant had a criminal record - including a conviction for carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds - she might be alive today.
But Barber, 44, the divorced mother of three grown children, who lived in the Powder Mill Village housing complex in Westfield, had no way of knowing that Michael Sobers, 20, of 82 Pelham St., Springfield, who is charged with her murder, had a criminal history. Read More

Teacher Background Checks
Karen Huffman from the State Board of Education says during the hiring process, the county and the state require every prospective teacher get a background check through the state police and the F.B.I. After that person passes those tests as well as several other interviews, much of that information becomes classified.
Here’s what you’re allowed to know:

Their teaching certificate

Also, if you’re teacher is considered *highly qualified* for the subject they’re teaching. This is determined through the national clearinghouse. Read More

Background Checks
Background Network, Inc., announced it would begin offering, Web Check, a State Wide criminal record check. The Berea, Ohio based provider of background checks, employment screening and security related products said they will begin offering businesses and the general public a quick and easy fingerprint based criminal record check through The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Ted Moss, President of Background Network Inc. and it’s affiliate Investigations America said they have completed training to utilize Fingerprint Scanners to access the BCI records on behalf of their clients. This technology will dramatically increase the accuracy, turnaround time and feasibility of this type of check for so many of our clients who are required to conduct these types of checks. Legislation requiring more industries to conduct these checks has proliferated since 9/11 said Moss. In fact, on May 31st legislation, which requires drivers who want to renew or transfer HAZMAT licenses, to undergo a background check based on their fingerprints. Schools, Home Healthcare Workers and Private Security Personnel are just a few of the employment sectors, which require a fingerprint check. Typically fingerprint cards are submitted to the BCI and can take weeks for the results to come back. Many applicants lose interest and go elsewhere, or worse, are hired pending the outcome, when in fact; a criminal record existed. The scanner manufactured by California based Cogent Systems will provide Background Network Inc. a powerful tool. Typically results will be returned as soon as the same day or within 24 hours, a significant difference from the current system. In addition the accuracy of scanners over paper and ink is a dramatic improvement. Our goal is to help provide a safe work environment for our customers, employees and their clients said Moss. Many people are unaware that the private security industry helps secure the majority of this nations infrastructure; a job law enforcement alone can not. For more information you may contact Background Network, Inc. at 1-877-99CHECK or visit the company website for more information on background checks.