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Fingerprinting Policies and Guidelines
Effective July 1, 2005 ~ Revised August 20, 2007
In September 2004, the Archdiocese coordinated and distributed Fingerprinting Policies and Guidelines for the Archdiocese, certain of which have been updated as the Archdiocese has implemented its internal fingerprinting program. The following outlines the Fingerprinting Policies and Guidelines in effect at July 1, 2005, and revised August 20, 2007.
Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting is a key component of the Archdiocese’s background checking procedures for clergy, religious, paid personnel and volunteers who have regular contact with minors.
To facilitate the process, the Archdiocese has purchased Livescan machines and provides fingerprinting on a regular schedule. The schedule will continue to be distributed monthly to parishes by fax. Since launching the program in spring 2004, between 40,000 and 50,000 persons have been fingerprinted on the Archdiocesan machines. Questions concerning fingerprinting should be addressed to William Heinen, Director, Human Resource Department, at 213 637 7596.
Please note: Effective July 1, 2005, all new fingerprinting in California must be done through a Livescan System.
1. School Principals, Teachers and all Paid Personnel in Catholic Schools: All principals, teachers, coaches, and other administrators, professional and paid personnel working at an elementary or high school must be fingerprinted under the Education Code before they commence employment. Preschool personnel must be fingerprinted under the Health and Safety Code. The fingerprints are submitted to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI. Fingerprint reports for teachers and other staff at the school will be channeled through the individual schools. The Principal will be the confidential Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) reporter and receive any subsequent arrest notifications. Fingerprints for principals will be channeled through the Department of Catholic Schools. The Director of Elementary School Personnel will be the confidential CORI reporter for all principals and will review any subsequent arrest notifications.
2. Parish Personnel and Vendors: Any paid parish staff who have regular access to a school facility or school grounds and are likely to be alone with minors at the school will be subject to fingerprinting under the Education Code. Third party vendors and their employees at schools are generally required by the State of California to have a criminal history clearance, through fingerprinting or otherwise, before they commence activities at the school.
3. School Volunteers: Any volunteer, including volunteer coaches, parents, persons assisting in the classroom, and others who regularly supervise students or minors at an elementary or secondary school, will be subject to fingerprinting under the Education Code. Other volunteers at an elementary or secondary school who are involved regularly with students will be subject to fingerprinting under the Penal Code. The Principal will consult with the Department of Catholic Schools, as necessary, to resolve any uncertainties concerning which protocol to follow for a particular volunteer. Preschools should consult with the Department of Catholic Schools on the requirements for fingerprinting of volunteers at a preschool.
4. Clergy: All clergy who are active in any ministry for the Archdiocese will be fingerprinted under the Education Code. All clergy fingerprints will be submitted to the DOJ and the FBI. This requirement covers the Cardinal, all priests (whether an Archdiocesan priest or a member of a Religious Order) with faculties in the Archdiocese, as well as all deacons, all seminarians and any clergy who wish to have a short-term assignment in the Archdiocese. Fingerprints will be channeled through the Vicar for Clergy who will be the confidential CORI reporter and will personally receive any subsequent arrest notifications. Priests who are assigned to oversee preschools also will need to be fingerprinted under the Health and Safety Code.
5. Men and Women Religious: Men and Women Religious who are active in any ministry or other assignment within the Archdiocese will be fingerprinted in accordance with procedures at their assignment (e.g., in a school, a parish, in a detention or special ministry, or at the ACC). Their fingerprints will be channeled accordingly.
6. Pastoral Associates and Parish Life Directors: Pastoral Associates and Parish Life Directors will be fingerprinted under the Education Code and the fingerprints will be submitted to the DOJ and the FBI. Fingerprints will be channeled in accordance with procedures at their assignment or may be channeled to the Vicar for Clergy if they are assigned to a parish ministry.
7. Directors of Religious Education, Catechists, Youth Ministers and Music Ministers working with Youth Choirs or Parish Music Groups: Directors of Religious Education (DREs), Catechists, Youth Ministers and Music Ministers working with youth choirs or parish youth music groups, whether paid or volunteer, will be fingerprinted under the Penal Code and the fingerprints will be submitted to the DOJ unless the person has already been fingerprinted under the Education Code for another current assignment in the Archdiocese. Fingerprint reports will be channeled through the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department as the confidential CORI reporter and that office will receive any subsequent arrest notifications.
8. Parish Volunteers: It is recommended that all other adult parish volunteers who have regular supervisory contact with minors be fingerprinted under the Penal Code. The fingerprints will be submitted to the DOJ. Generally, unless someone at a parish is already a CORI reporter, the fingerprint reports will be channeled through the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department as the confidential CORI reporter and that office will receive any subsequent arrest notifications. The Archdiocesan policy is to not fingerprint minors. Therefore, it is recommended that any minors who volunteer in youth ministries need to work with an adult as members of a team, and, as a general matter, should not work alone in a supervisory capacity with other minors.
9. Fingerprinting for VIRTUS® Facilitators: VIRTUS facilitators who have not already been fingerprinted under the Education Code because of other assignments in the Archdiocese, will be fingerprinted before they commence training parish volunteers. The fingerprints will be under the Penal Code and will be submitted to the DOJ. Fingerprint reports will be channeled through the Archdiocesan Human Resources Department as the confidential CORI reporter and that office will receive any subsequent arrest notifications.
Please contact the office listed in each item or, as needed, the Legal Department at 213 637 7511 should you have questions or comments.
