[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Garfield as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Officers and employees — See Ch. 39.
Parks and playgrounds — See Ch. 233.
[Adopted 10-24-2006 by Ord. No. 2473; amended in its entirety 2-13-2007 by Ord. No. 2481]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CITY SPONSORED PROGRAMS
Any programs sponsored by the City of Garfield or the City of Garfield Recreation Advisory Board or Recreation Department.
CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD BACKGROUND CHECK
A determination of whether a person has a criminal record by cross-referencing that person's name and/or fingerprints with those on file with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Identification Division and/or the State Bureau of Identification of the New Jersey State Police.
CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION or CHRI
Information collected by criminal justice agencies concerning persons and stored in the computerized data bases of the New Jersey State Police SBI Criminal History Information System, the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System or other states' computerized repositories containing criminal history record information consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, indictments, or other formal criminal charges, and any dispositions arising therefrom, including convictions, dismissals, correctional supervision and release.
DEPARTMENT
The City of Garfield Police Department.
NONCRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSE
Any purpose, other than administration of criminal justice or criminal justice purpose, including employment and licensing, for which applicant fingerprints or name search requests are submitted by authorized requesters, as required or permitted by a federal or state statute, rule or regulation, executive order, administrative code provision, local ordinance, resolution or by this article, to the State Bureau of Identification for the dissemination of history record information.
NONPROFIT YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATION or ORGANIZATION
Any corporation, association or other organization established pursuant to Title 15 of the Revised Statutes, Title 15A of the New Jersey Statutes, or other law of this state, but excluding public and nonpublic schools, and which provides recreational, cultural, charitable, social or other activities or services for persons younger than 18 years of age, and is exempt from federal income taxes.
STATE BUREAU OF IDENTIFICATION orSBI
The New Jersey State Bureau of Identification created by P.L. 1930, c.65 (N.J.S.A. 52:1-12 et seq.), a bureau within the division of State Police.
A. 
The City requires that all employees and volunteers who serve as coaches, assistant coaches or direct supervisors of children, and who are 18 years of age or older, of a nonprofit youth-serving organization request through the Recreation Advisory Board that the State Bureau of Investigation conduct a criminal history record background check on each prospective and current employee or volunteer of the organization.
B. 
The Division of State Police shall inform the Department and the individual whether the person's criminal history record background check reveals a conviction of a disqualifying crime or offense set forth in § 116.4 of this article.
C. 
The Recreation Advisory Board shall conduct a criminal history record background check only upon receipt of the written consent to the check from the prospective or current employee or volunteer.
D. 
The City shall bear the costs associated with conducting the criminal history record background checks.
E. 
The criminal history record background check described in this article shall be effective for a period of three years from the date of the report. At the end of the three-year period, the Recreation Advisory Board, in consultation with the Police Department, shall have the right to request an additional, updated criminal history record background check.
A. 
Prospective or current employees and volunteers of nonprofit youth-serving organizations and/or employees and volunteers of City-sponsored programs involving minors shall submit their name, address, fingerprints, other required information and written consent to the Recreation Advisory Board for the criminal history record background check to be performed. The Recreation Advisory Board shall submit this documentation to the State Bureau of Identification.
B. 
The Department shall act as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information obtained as a result of conducting criminal history record background checks pursuant to this article.
C. 
The Recreation Advisory Board may, in its discretion, engage the services of a third-party independent agency or a volunteer group authorized by the Chief of Police to conduct the criminal history record background checks authorized under this article.
A. 
A person may be disqualified from serving as an employee or volunteer of a nonprofit youth-serving organization if that person's criminal history record background check reveals a record of conviction of any of the following crimes or offenses:
(1) 
In New Jersey, any crime or disorderly persons' offense:
(a) 
Involving danger to the person, meaning those crimes and disorderly persons' offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1 et seq.; N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1 et seq.; or N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1 et seq.
(b) 
Against the family, children or incompetents, meaning those crimes and disorderly persons' offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1 et seq.
(c) 
Involving theft, as set forth in Chapter 20 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
(d) 
Involving any controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog, as set forth in Chapter 35 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes except paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10.
(2) 
In any other state or jurisdiction, conduct which, if committed in New Jersey, would constitute any of the crimes or disorderly persons' offenses described in Subsection A(1) of this section.
B. 
For purposes of interpreting the information recorded in a criminal history record to determine the qualifications of the employee or volunteer of a nonprofit youth-servicing organization and/or the employee or volunteer involved with City-sponsored programs involving minors, the City shall presume that the employee or volunteer is innocent of any charges or arrests for which there are no final dispositions on the record.
C. 
The determination of whether the information contained in the criminal history record is sufficient to disqualify an employee or volunteer shall be made by the Recreation Director together with the Police Department and be forwarded to the Recreation Advisory Board. Any employee or volunteer dissatisfied with the determination shall be entitled to file an appeal with the Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel created pursuant to this article.
A. 
Access to criminal history record information for noncriminal justice purposes, including licensing and employment, is restricted to the Police Department and Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel, on a need-to-know basis, as authorized by federal or state statute, rule or regulation, executive order, administrative code, local ordinance or resolution regarding obtaining and dissemination of criminal history record information obtained under this article.
B. 
Such persons or organizations shall limit their use of criminal history record information solely to the authorized purpose for which it was obtained, and criminal history record information furnished shall not be disseminated to persons or organizations not authorized to receive the records for authorized purpose. Use of this record shall be limited solely to the authorized purpose for which it was given, and it shall not be disseminated to any unauthorized persons. This record shall be destroyed immediately after it has served its intended and authorized purpose. Any person violating federal or state regulations governing access to criminal history record information may be subject to criminal and/or civil penalties.
If this criminal history record may disqualify an applicant or existing employee or volunteer for any purpose, the disqualified person shall have an opportunity to complete and challenge the accuracy of the information contained in the criminal history record or request an exception. The disqualified person shall be afforded a reasonable period of time to correct and complete this record. A person is not presumed guilty of any charges or arrests for which there are no final dispositions indicated on the record.
A. 
Criminal background check appeal process. If the City disqualifies an employee or volunteer, the employee or volunteer may appeal that disqualification by filing a written notice of appeal with the Chief of Police no later than 20 days after receiving notice of the disqualification. Any appeal requested shall proceed before the Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel.
B. 
Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel. In order to monitor and supervise the enforcement of this article the City of Garfield hereby creates a Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel, which shall consist of three members. The composition of the Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel shall be as follows:
(1) 
One member of the Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel shall be the Police Chief or his designee.
(2) 
One member of the Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel shall be the Director of the City of Garfield Recreation Department.
(3) 
One member of the Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel shall be a member of the City of Garfield Police Department selected by the Chief of Police.
C. 
Powers. The Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel is granted and shall have and exercise, in addition to other powers herein granted, all the powers necessary and appropriate to carry out and execute the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to the following:
(1) 
To hold hearings and adjudicate appeals by employees and volunteers dissatisfied with the disqualification.
(2) 
To hold hearings and adjudicate appeals by employees and volunteers dissatisfied with the determination concerning the accuracy of the criminal history record.
(3) 
To grant exceptions where appropriate.
D. 
Findings. Not later than 45 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the Criminal Background Check Appeal Panel shall issue its findings of fact and the Panel's decision to the employee/volunteer involved in the appeal and the Recreation Advisory Board, who shall act in accordance with the Panel's decision.