What Information Will Be Checked?

Background checks ordered by the diocese will check criminal history as well as the Iowa Child Abuse Registry. A credit check is NOT part of the normal screening process.

Who will be permitted to serve?

DISQUALIFYING OFFENSES

No person may serve with youth, children or the elderly who has ever been convicted of any disqualifying offense, been on probation or received deferred adjudication for any disqualifying offense, or has presently pending any criminal charges of any disqualifying offense before a determination of guilt is made including any person who is presently on deferred adjudication.

Disqualifying offenses are as follows, but not limited to:

• A felony or misdemeanor classified as an offense against the person or family or involves an offense against the person or family.
  Examples: Offenses against the person include, but are not limited to: murder, assault, sexual assault, injury to a child, and abandoning or intentionally or recklessly endangering a child.
• Offenses against the family include, but are not limited to: bigamy, incest, and interference with child custody, enticing a child, and harboring a runaway child.
• A felony or misdemeanor classified as an offense against public order or indecency.
  Examples: Offenses against public order or indecency include, but are not limited to: prostitution, obscenity, sexual performance by a child, possession or promotion of child pornography, and disorderly conduct.
• A felony or misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of more than six months constituting a violation of any law intended to control the possession or distribution of any substance considered a controlled substance.

Arrest leading to convictions for driving while intoxicated is NOT necessarily a disqualifying offense for employment or volunteering, but it may disqualify someone from driving a school bus, church vehicle or any other vehicle on church sponsored activities or events.