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Nonprofit Services
Volunteer Resources

--Last Updated 2/23/2008

Screening your volunteers:
This page contains general links to information on volunteer screening, and links to perform quick background checks.  This is not a comprehensive list and it is not a legal guide, it is only provided to show the many facets of volunteer screening and liability issues.

The most common screening tools used are:
  1. Position Descriptions and Applications:
    Position Descriptions are used to clearly state what you are looking for in a volunteer and what the job will involve.  Have a written application with a release form that authorizes your agency to conduct record's checks, and ask for  3 or more references.

    Nonprofit Risk Management Center:
       Permission to Verify Documents - Example
         http://nonprofitrisk.org/tools/volunteer/review/permission.htm
       Sample Disclaimer Language for Volunteer Applications:
         http://nonprofitrisk.org/tools/volunteer/review/disclaimer.htm
    Business Owner's Toolkit:
       Main Page:
       http://www.toolkit.cch.com
       Sample Consent Form:
        http://www.toolkit.cch.com/tools/downloads/appinfrl.rtf

  2. Interviews:
    Charity Village:     "Applications & Interviewing"
        http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rvol33.html

  3. Reference Checks:
       Reference Checks by By John Patterson with Charles Tremper and Pam Rypkema From Staff Screening Tool Kit, 1st Edition
       http://www.energizeinc.com/art/astaf.html
       University of Alabama: Reference Check Guidelines
       http://hr.ua.edu/benefits/documents/reference%20check%20hints.doc

  4. Police Records Checks:
    Local:
    St. Charles County Sheriff
    County Sheriff's Department
    101Crossing Industrial Ct.

    O'Fallon, MO 63366
    Telephone: (636) 949-1818
    St. Louis County & St. Louis City:
    Bureau of Central Police Records
    7900 Forsyth RM B-013
    Clayton, MO
    Telephone: (314)615-5317
    http://www.stlouisco.com/police/cenrecord.html
    Criminal history record checks must be obtained in person by the individual requesting the record check. A record check cost, for a criminal history record check for incidents that occurred within St. Louis County is $4.50 and a criminal history record check for incidents that occurred within the City of St. Louis is $4.50. The total cost for a City and County Record Check is $9.00.
    State Criminal Check (MO):
    Missouri State Highway Patrol:
    Criminal Records and Identification  Division
    1510 East Elm Street
    Post Office Box 9500
    Jefferson City, MO 65102
    Telephone:  (573) 526-6153
    Webpage: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/CRID/crimRecChk.html
    Email: mshpcrid@mshp.dps.mo.gov
    Cost: $5 - A search can be processed with name, date of birth and social security number and will provide only "possible matches" based on your search criteria.
    $14 - A search can be processed based on fingerprints  and provide a "positive match" to the person in question.
    National Criminal Check:
    FBI: Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System:
    Only the FBI can run a nation-wide search. An individual, however, may request their FBI record.
       http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/iafis.htm (about the system)
       http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm (request sheet)

    The Myth of the National Criminal Records Check
    Lynn Peterson, PFC Information Services, Inc. writes about the types of background checks available, and explains why there is no national criminal background check available. http://www.virtualchase.com/articles/archive/criminal_checks.html 

  5. Motor Vehicle Records:
    You can request driving records that do not contain the personal information of an individual. Non-personal information includes the driving history showing speeding tickets and other violations.

    Write to:
    Department of Revenue, Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau
    PO Box 200
    Jefferson City, MO 65105-0200

    Or Go to any Department of Revenue Branch or Fee License Office and pay the correct fee.
    Cost:
    $1.25 Driving Record
    $4.00 Certified Copy of Driving Record
    $0.50 Fax fee

    Those companies that are exempt from the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), can access driving records with personal information.
    Must submit Form 4681, Request from Record Holder with Notary signature
    Submit by mail or at any Department of Revenue Branch or Fee License Office.

    More information on Requesting a Driving Record:
        http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/records.htm
      Form 4681
        http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/forms/4681.pdf

  6. Credit Bureau Checks:
    Fair Credit Reporting Act
    http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm
    CCH Business Owners Toolkit: "Credit Checks"
    http://www.toolkit.cch.com/text/P05_1575.asp

  7. Others:


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