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Recent Changes in Law Slow Background Check Processing |
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Recent Changes in Law Slow Background Check Processing
Following the passage of Senate Bill 337, which went into
effect September 28, 2012 and which removes some of the restrictions
connected to job searching for ex-offenders, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal
Investigation (BCI) is no longer able to release charges that are
dismissed, or that do not have a disposition. This has created a
backlog for background checks for individuals that have criminal
history. According to BCI officials, the backlog does not affect
background checks that do not have criminal history, and those
background checks are still processing in 24-48 hours. BCI reports that
its current computer system is not designed to easily remove the
charges that can no longer be released from individuals’ reports. This,
combined with the problem that many charges do not have a disposition
attached and now have to be researched, has caused the backlog. BCI is
working to make changes to systems that will allow the agency to process
all background checks within 30 days, but at this point does not know
how long it will take for all the changes to be put into place. It is
recommended that employers submit their background check requests as
soon as possible for new and potential hires, and that BCI be contacted
if a worker is nearing the end of the 30-day exclusionary period.
Following 30 days, the individual’s conditional employment must be
terminated.
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