Training Children & Youth
Ideally, all children/youth should receive training and education on issues of personal safety and abuse prevention. However, not every organization…
Home / Screening & Hiring / Screening Toolbox: Massachusetts Criminal Background Checks
Criminal background checks are an important tool in your screening and selection process—and you should ensure that you’re aware of any federal, state, or organizational requirements for background checks that pertain to your organization. While these checks are essential, they do not, by themselves, guarantee that sexual offenders will be identified, and can present significant limitations. Not all sex offenders have criminal records, and if they do, their criminal history may not include sexual offenses.
In Massachusetts, the acronym “CORI” stands for “Criminal Offender Record Information.” The term CORI is commonly used to refer to the specific criminal history information that employers, landlords, schools, and others can obtain directly from the Commonwealth via an online system called iCORI. Adult court records are public information unless sealed by court order. There are various ways that individuals and organizations can access CORI information, including by registering the organization with the online iCORI service, conducting an online search, or submitting a request form directly to the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice and Information Services (DCJIS). There is also a level of CORI access available to the public called an “Open” CORI. Additional details about access to Massachusetts criminal records, the CORI and iCORI process, organizational requirements, and the types of information CORI can provide can be found on the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) website and the Massachusetts Court System.
Similarly, the acronym “SORI” stands for “Sex Offender Registry Information” and pertains to information about convicted and/or adjudicated sex offenders residing, working, or attending school in the Commonwealth. In Massachusetts, sex offenders are classified by the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) as to their risk to reoffend sexually and the degree of danger they pose to the public. A Level 1 designation means the offender has been deemed a low risk, Level 2 is an offender deemed a moderate risk, and Level 3 is designated as a high risk to re-offend. The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Law allows for the release of information on sex offenders categorized at Level 2 and Level 3.
While all Level 3 sex offender information is available on the SORB’s website, the website only lists Level 2 sex offenders classified after July 12, 2013. Organizations and the public can make SORI requests both from local police departments (all Level 2 and Level 3 sex offender information is available upon request) and the SORB. Agencies and organizations can also register with the SORB to utilize its online search process called “eSORI” for employment and volunteer screening purposes. More information about sex offenders and the SORI/eSORI process can be found on the websites of the SORB and the Department of Public Safety.
Training
Ideally, all children/youth should receive training and education on issues of personal safety and abuse prevention. However, not every organization…
Reporting
Who Are Mandated Reporters? Massachusetts law defines a number of professionals as mandated reporters (for the full list, see MGL Chapter 119,…
Reporting
Mandated reporters are required to immediately report suspicions of child abuse and neglect to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families…
Policies & Procedures
In order to create concrete and detailed Policies and Procedures at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO), it is necessary to analyze what policies…
Policies & Procedures
Sample Self-Audit Form for YSOs You can use the following “Self-Audit” form to take an inventory of your youth-serving organization’s abuse…
Safe Environments
How is Your Facility Designed to Keep Children Safe? Child development and school-age programs operate in many different types of facilities….
Reporting
You can help protect the children you serve by maintaining an environment that prioritizes both preventing child abuse before it occurs and—since…
Reporting
Recognizing Abuse & Neglect The minimum required safety elements for you to prepare leadership, staff, and volunteers to recognize, respond…
Reporting
When a member of your staff suspects that a child is being abused and/or neglected, they are required to immediately call your local Department of…
Screening & Hiring
Your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) should create protocols for the application, interviewing, and screening process. Each step of the process…
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
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