[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Waterford as indicted in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 12-28-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-24]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A determination of whether a person has a criminal record
by cross-referencing that person's name and fingerprints with those
on file with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division,
and/or the New Jersey State Bureau of Identification in the Division
of State Police.
Any youth programs not sponsored by the Township of Waterford
but that utilize municipal facilities or have affiliation with a Township-sponsored
youth program and have contact with persons under the age of 18 years.
Any programs sponsored by the Township of Waterford, including
the Waterford Township Athletic Association and any and all leagues,
boards and commissions falling within the purview of or acting for
or on behalf of the Township of Waterford and having contact with
persons under the age of 18 years.
Any programs that allow for participation in activities by
those persons under 18 years of age. Activities may include, but are
not limited to, sporting activities, passive recreation groups, clubs
or camps and trips or other activities whereby some control and responsibility
for persons under 18 years of age is assigned to some person acting
for or on behalf of the Township of Waterford other than a parent
or caregiver.
A.Â
Prior to any club or organization, not defined as a Township-sponsored
youth program, being authorized to use Township-owned facilities for
functions participated in by children, all adults (those persons 18
years of age or older) in any way assisting in the function, including
but not limited to coaches, assistant coaches, or similar positions,
shall submit sufficient information on forms supplied by the Waterford
Township Police Department from the New Jersey State Police for the
purpose of obtaining a criminal history background check with the
State Bureau of Identification in the New Jersey State Police. Applications
for background check shall be processed by the Waterford Township
Chief of Police. The individual applying for the background check
shall authorize the Waterford Township Chief of Police to be the recipient
of the affirmative or negative response from the State Police based
upon the findings of the background check.
B.Â
The submission of background check findings must be based upon a
check performed within two years of the start of use of the Township-owned
facility. In the case of coaches performing duties as employees of
a school district, the policy of background checks adopted by the
individual school district shall be used to establish eligibility
for use of Township-owned facilities. In all cases, the background
check must comply with the provisions of any applicable laws regarding
same, but not less detailed that those performed by the Township for
individuals involved in administering Township-sponsored youth programs.
The cost of the background checks for individuals not administering
a Township-Sponsored youth program shall be borne by the individual
or program with which they are participating.
A.Â
All adults, (those persons 18 years of age or older), including but
not limited to coaches, assistant coaches, or similar positions, involved
in educating, directing or supervising youth and in any way assisting
in a Waterford Township-sponsored function participated in by children
shall submit sufficient information on forms supplied by the Waterford
Township Police Department from the New Jersey State Police for the
purpose of obtaining a criminal history background check with the
State Bureau of Identification in the New Jersey State Police. Applications
for background checks shall be processed by the Waterford Township
Chief of Police. The individual applying for the background check
shall authorize the Waterford Township Chief of Police to be the recipient
of the affirmative or negative response from the State Police based
upon the findings of the background check. Individuals involved in
Waterford Township-sponsored youth functions, and who are required
to undergo background checks based upon this article, shall not be
responsible for the costs involved with obtaining the criminal background
check. The Township of Waterford shall bear the costs for the background
checks for individuals qualified under this section.
B.Â
All league officers and/or those individuals in charge of each recreation
program are required to ensure compliance with this article for that
league or program. The president or leader of each recreation program
shall file an annual roster of individuals that are required to participate
in the background check procedures of this article through the Chief
of Police to the Waterford Township Police Department Records Bureau
in order to properly maintain the system. The roster shall be on forms
supplied by the Township of Waterford and shall contain a certification
as to the accuracy and completeness of the roster and individual names.
Any person who knowingly certifies a background check roster that
excludes an individual required to be checked shall be in violation
of this article and laws regarding false swearing.
Individuals engaged in providing recreation opportunities for,
or on behalf of, the Township of Waterford shall be issued identification
cards with appropriate expirations based upon the date of their individual
background check. Individuals issued identification cards are required
to display their card while in performance of their duty involving
youth programs.
A.Â
Upon receipt of a completed background check conducted by the State Bureau of Identification in the New Jersey State Police and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Identification Division, the Waterford Township Chief of Police shall notify the applicant and the president or leader of the recreation program of affirmative or negative results. The determination of the State Police and/or Federal Bureau of Investigation shall be based upon § 96-5B of this article. Details in the background check that result in a negative determination shall not be disclosed to any other Township official or employee and are only available to the applicant upon making a formal request to the State Bureau of Investigation.
B.Â
In the event the criminal background check reveals any prior convictions
for crimes or offenses which negatively impact the health, safety
and welfare of children, said person shall not be qualified to participate
in any capacity in any function for persons under the age of 18 years
held at any Township-owned facilities. Such offenses shall include,
but not be limited to:
(1)Â
In New Jersey, any crime or disorderly persons offense:
(a)Â
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)Â
Against the family, children or incompetents, meaning those
crimes and disorderly persons offenses set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:24-1
et seq.;
(c)Â
Involving theft as set forth in Chapter 20 of Title 2C of the
New Jersey statues; or
(d)Â
Involving any controlled dangerous substance or controlled dangerous
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.
C.Â
The list of crimes and violations contained in this section is for
illustrative purposes only and shall not be construed as a limitation
on those criminal activities or violations that would be grounds to
disqualify a person from assisting with youth-related activities as
indicated herein.
D.Â
Refusal by individuals required to submit to background checks will
result in an immediate dismissal of the individual from any Township-sponsored
activities requiring background checks. In addition, refusal to comply
with this article by any individual falling within the scope of requirements
for nonsponsored youth programs will forfeit that individual's ability
to participate with the respective program. Refusals of a nonsponsored
youth program to subscribe to the requirements of this article shall
forfeit that program's ability to use municipal facilities.
A.Â
All nonsponsored youth programs that have individuals subject to
this article shall supply background checks for all of its participants
prior to the individual being able to participate at any function
at a Township-owned facility to the extent covered by this article.
Thereafter, every two years a new background check procedure shall
be required.
B.Â
Township-sponsored youth programs.
(1)Â
All Township-sponsored youth programs that have individuals subject
to this article shall direct those individuals to the Waterford Township
Police Department for the background check submission forms, which
shall be processed through the Chief of Police prior to the individual
being able to participate in any function sponsored by the Township
of Waterford. Thereafter, every two years a new background check shall
be required.
(2)Â
Individuals involved in Township-sponsored youth programs who are
required to undergo background checks shall be given an interim approval
for participation only after submission to the Division of State Police
for a background check. Interim approvals shall only be valid for
the period of time that it takes to receive background checks results.
Such interim approval shall not be valid for a period of time exceeding
45 days. Only one interim approval may be granted per individual.
Any and all criminal background checks obtained from the State
Bureau of Identification in the New Jersey State Police or the Federal
Bureau of Investigation shall be filed and maintained in a secured
and locked cabinet or room at the Waterford Police Department Records
Bureau in the Criminal Investigation Section, which shall take custody
of and maintain such records, which shall not be available to the
public. The Waterford Township Police Department personnel in the
Records Bureau shall take appropriate steps to safeguard such records.
The records shall be exempt from public disclosure under the common
law, the Open Public Records Act and the New Jersey Right to Know
Law.[1] In addition, the Waterford Township Chief of Police shall
not reveal the affirmative or negative response from the State Police
based upon the findings of the background check except as provided
in this article. No Waterford Township official or employee shall
have access to the criminal background checks other than individuals
in the Waterford Township Police Department Records Bureau, whose
only access shall be to take custody of and maintain the files as
provided for in this section. The records shall only be retained for
such period of time as is necessary to serve their intended and authorized
purpose. The Waterford Township Chief of Police shall be the contact
person for Waterford Township for the VRO Program of the State Police.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
Any person violating or failing to comply with the provisions
of this article, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a
fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed
90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion
of the Judge.
