Sexual Abuse & Molestation: What is it?

Any time an organization or its volunteers work with children or other vulnerable populations, this coverage should be considered.

While some Carriers will provide this coverage within the general liability section of an insurance contract, others will provide the coverage on a stand-alone policy.

Criminal Background Resources

Fingerprinting - To obtain fingerprints to submit to California's Department of Justice, there are a few options:

• Order fingerprint cards from the Department of Justice directly at (916) 227-3834. There is no cost to you. You will need an inkpad for the taking of the fingerprints.
• The local police station offers fingerprinting for about $10 per person. Tell them the fingerprinting is for criminal history/record searches so the correct card is used. The DOJ will require reprinting if the wrong card is used.
• Live Scan - In 1999, the California Department of Justice introduced a device called Live Scan. Live Scan takes a picture of fingerprints and electronically transmits them directly to the Department of Justice. Most county Sheriff offices offer fingerprint services using a live scan device. For an application to use Live Scan, learn more about the service, and to obtain a list of agencies in your county that offer fingerprinting with the use of a live scan device, contact the Department of Justice at 1-916-227-3815, or visit their web site at http://caag.state.ca.us/fingerprints/.
• Intellicorp Criminal Checks. Many of our carriers offer discounted criminal checks through Intellicorp Criminal Background Checks.

FBI Background Checks - For a processing fee, plus the cost of taking fingerprints, the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducts nationwide background checks as opposed to California only. To learn more about FBI background checks, please call the Department of Justice at (916) 227-3743.

Registered Sex Offender CD-ROM - The "Megan's Law CD Rom" is an invaluable resource and positive addition to an organization's background check policy, however, it is limited information. "Megan's Law CD Rom" provides the public with the names of California's "serious" or "high-risk" sex offenders. Whereas a fingerprint background check will provide your organization with pending convictions or other criminal sexual acts not subject to Megan's Law such as pornography, indecent exposure, sexual battery, incest or spousal rape.

Prevention

No One-on-One Contact: One-on-one contact between faculty/staff and students/clients is not permitted. In situations that require personal attention, such as private conferences, instruction, or the like, the meeting is to be conducted in view of other adults and/or students. Should an exceptional situation require direct one-on-one contact (such as a single staff member driving a sole student to camp), such contact may be permitted only with the clear and direct approval of the student's legal parent or guardian.

Separate Accommodations: When activities require overnight stays, no student/client is permitted to sleep in the same room as a faculty/staff member or parent volunteer, other than his/her own legal parent or guardian. Further, male and female students are required to have separate restroom and shower facilities. When separate facilities are not available, separate times for male and female student use of the common facility should be scheduled and posted.

Two-deep Interaction: Either two members of the faculty or staff, or one member plus a parent volunteer, one of whom must be at least 21 years of age or older, are required to be present for every gathering or outing.

Proper Preparation to Minimize Risk: All activities involve inherent risk. All activities should be reviewed. No activity that involves increased risk should be undertaken without proper preparation, equipment, clothing, supervision, and safety measures.

Appropriate Attire: Proper clothing for activities is required. For example, skinny-dipping is not appropriate as part of the organization's programs.

Constructive Discipline: Discipline used in the organization should be constructive and reflect high values. Corporal punishment is never permitted. Please see the he organizational handbooks for specifics in this area. Please see the organizational handbook for specifics in this area.

Hazing Prohibited: Any kind of hazing and/or initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any the organization's programs.

Training and Supervision of New Faculty/Staff: Adult faculty and staff must monitor and guide the leadership/instruction techniques used by junior faculty and staff to ensure that policies are followed.

No Secret Organizations/Social Groups: The organization does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program. All activities of the organization are open to observations by parents, faculty, and staff.