[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Cresskill as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-6-2004 by Ord. No. 04-09-1285]See also
Criminal history background checks of any person
with unsupervised direct access to minors involved in any youth-serving
recreation organization shall be authorized and may be required as
a condition of using Borough facilities.
Relative to this "Criminal History Background
Ordinance," the following words and terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Borough provision of funding or facilities, including maintenance
of facilities.
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 the State Bureau of identification in the Division of State Police.
The Borough of Cresskill Police Department.
A three-member Committee consisting of the Director of Recreation,
Chief of Police and the Cresskill Personnel Officer or his/her designee.
The Committee shall be charged with the review of all appeals by any
employee or volunteer whose criminal history background check reveals
a disqualifying criminal conviction.
Recreation run directly by the Borough of Cresskill Recreation
Department, including oversight, control and/or fiscal contribution.
To have the direction and oversight of the performance of
others.
Not supervised or under constant observation.
Any person involved with a Borough of Cresskill sponsored
or cosponsored sports program or league who has regular unsupervised
direct access to minors as a result of a minor's involvement with
the organization.
A corporation, association or other organization, including
those with nonprofit status, which provide recreation related activities
or services for persons younger than 18 years of age, in connection
with Borough of Cresskill sponsored or cosponsored sports programs
or leagues.
A.
The Borough of Cresskill requires that all employees
and volunteers of a youth-serving recreation organization request
through the Cresskill Police Department that the State Bureau of Identification
in the Division of State Police conduct a criminal history record
background check on each prospective and current employee or volunteer
of the organization. There shall be a thirty-day grace period for
each new employee or volunteer of the youth-serving organization to
make application for this criminal history record background check.
All coaches must have their fingerprinting and applications completed
by the end of the thirty-day grace period.
B.
The Borough shall conduct a criminal history record
background check only upon receipt of the written consent for the
check from the prospective or current person with direct unsupervised
access to minors.
C.
The Borough of Cresskill shall bear the costs associated
with conducting a criminal history background check in accordance
with the fees established by the State Bureau of Identification in
the Division of the State Police and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 15A:3A-2(d).
D.
The Division of State Police shall inform the Cresskill Police Department whether the person's criminal history record background check reveals a conviction of a disqualifying crime or offense specified in §§ 85-4 and 85-7E of this article. Any information received by the Cresskill Police Department shall be confidential.
E.
Any person who, by virtue of his/her occupation, is
required by statute to undergo a federal and state criminal history
record background check similar in nature to the requirements contained
herein, and who can provide proof of the results of such background
check, is exempt from the requirement hereunder until three years
has elapsed since the most current background check.
A.
A person may be disqualified from serving as an employee
or volunteer of a youth-serving recreation organization if that person's
criminal history record background check reveals a record of conviction
of any of the following crimes and offenses.
(1)
In New Jersey, any crime or disorderly persons offense:
(a)
Involving danger to the person, meaning those crimes
and disorderly persons offenses as set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1 et
seq., such as criminal homicide; N.J.S.A. 2C:12-l et seq., such as
assault, reckless endangerment, threats, stalking; N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1
et seq., such as kidnapping; N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1 et seq., such as sexual
assault; or N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1 et seq., such as robbery;
(b)
Against the family, children or incompetents, meaning
those crimes and disorderly persons offenses set forth in N.J.S.A.
2C:24-l et seq., such as endangering the welfare of a child;
(c)
Involving theft as set forth in Chapter 20 of Title
2C of the New Jersey Statutes;
(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 this section.
A.
A prospective or current employee or volunteer of
youth-serving recreation organizations shall submit his/her name,
address, fingerprints and written consent to the organization for
the criminal history record background check to be performed. The
organization shall submit this documentation to the Cresskill Police
Department through the Chief or Deputy Chief of Police, who shall
cause to be conducted the background check and refer the information
to the State Police and FBI for the initial check. Thereafter, all
subsequent background checks shall be submitted to the Cresskill Chief
or Deputy Chief of Police, who shall coordinate a background check
every three years after the date of the initial check.
B.
The Cresskill Police 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.
A.
Access to criminal history record information for
noncriminal justice purposes, including licensing and employment,
is restricted to the members of the Review Committee, as authorized
by federal or state statute, rule or regulation, executive order,
administrative code, local ordinance or resolution, regarding obtaining
and disseminating of criminal history record information obtained
under this article.
B.
The Review Committee shall limit its use of criminal
history record information solely to the authorized person 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 purposes. 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
or entities. Any person violating federal or state regulations governing
access to criminal history record information may be subject to criminal
and/or civil penalties.
A.
If a criminal history record may disqualify an employee
or volunteer for any purpose, the Review Committee's determination
shall be provided to the employee or volunteer with an opportunity
to complete and challenge the accuracy of the information contained
in the criminal history record. The employee or volunteer 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.
The New Jersey State Police shall make the initial recommendation,
based solely on the New Jersey State Statutes, to the Police Department
who shall provide the information to the Review Committee. It shall
advise the Review Committee whether or not the volunteer is being
recommended. The Review Committee will receive a preprinted form on
each individual submitted to the State Police for a background check.
One form will be for recommendation and the other will be for rejection.
If there is a rejection, the Review Committee may still allow the
employee or volunteer to participate. The New Jersey State Police
will make a recommendation based on the record only. It is within
the Review Committee's discretion to overturn the decision of the
New Jersey State Police recommendation.
B.
The Review Committee shall promptly notify a prospective
or current employee or volunteer whose criminal history background
check reveals a disqualifying conviction. The person shall have 30
days from the receipt of that notice to petition the Review Committee
for a review and cite reasons substantiating the review.
C.
Notwithstanding the provision of § 85-4 of this article, no person shall be disqualified from serving as an employee or volunteer of a nonprofit youth-serving organization on the basis of any conviction disclosed by a criminal history record background check, if the person can affirmatively demonstrate rehabilitation to the Review Committee. In determining whether a person has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation, the Review Committee shall consider the following factors:
(1)
The nature and responsibility of the position which
the convicted person would hold or has held, as the case may be:
(2)
The nature and seriousness of the offense;
(3)
The circumstances under which the offense occurred;
(4)
The date of the offense;
(5)
The age of the person when the offense was committed;
(6)
Whether the offense was an isolated or repeated incident;
(7)
Any social conditions which may have contributed to
the offense; and
(8)
Any evidence of rehabilitation, including good conduct
in prison or the community. counseling or psychiatric treatment received,
acquisition of additional academic or vocational schooling, successful
participation in correctional work-release programs, or the recommendation
of those who have had the person under their supervision.
D.
The Review Committee shall promptly advise the organization,
in writing, if a current or prospective employee or volunteer whose
criminal history record background check reveals a disqualifying offense
has affirmatively demonstrated rehabilitation under this section.
E.
This section shall not apply to persons who have been convicted, adjudicated delinquent or acquitted by reason of insanity of aggravated sexual assault; sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual contact; kidnapping pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of N.J.S.A. 2C:13-1; endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child pursuant to subsection (a) of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4; endangering the welfare of a child pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4; luring or enticing pursuant to section 1 P.L. 1993, c.291 N.J.S.A. 2C:13-6); criminal sexual contact pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b, if the victim is a minor; kidnapping pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:13-2 or false imprisonment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:13-3, if the victim is a minor and the offender is not the parent of the victim; knowingly promoting prostitution of a child pursuant to paragraph (3) or paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1; or an attempt to commit any of these enumerated offenses.
F.
When the Review Committee receives written notification
from the Police Department stating whether the criminal history record
background check of a current or prospective employee or volunteer
performed pursuant to the provision of N.J.S A. 15A:3A-4 reveals a
disqualifying offense or stating that the person had affirmatively
demonstrated rehabilitation under this Act, the organization or Review
Committee may file that written notification with the Police Department.
G.
The Police Department shall keep the written notification
on file for three years from the date it was issued.
H.
The Review Committee may request the Police Department
to review its files to determine if there is written notification
on file stating whether a criminal history record background check
of a current or prospective employee or volunteer revealed a disqualifying
offense or stating that the person has affirmatively demonstrated
rehabilitation under this Act. A current or prospective employee or
volunteer shall not he required to submit to another criminal history
record background check if such written notification was issued within
the past three years.
I.
No person or entity shall be held liable in any civil
or criminal action brought by any party based on any written notification
on file with the Police Department pursuant to the provisions of this
article.
Failure to comply with this article may result
in the Borough withholding funding for the program or league, prohibiting
the use of facilities, and/or prohibiting the use of facility maintenance.
