Gardner Parks and Recreation conducts annual background checks on individuals who apply to be head coaches as well as class instructors through a company called Protect Youth Sports.  Gardner Parks and Recreation has always done checks on individuals but with Protect Youth Sports, the process will provide a more detailed check.  The background checks will be conducted by Protect Youth Sports and the results will be provided to the City of Gardner's Human Resources Department.  All information is confidential and will remain with Human Resources.  Parks and Recreation employees will be provided only the information that a coach is approved.  Individuals who do not pass the initial check may appeal the results. Those appeals must be directed to and be handled by Protect Youth Sports, not the City of Gardner.  

The criteria in which we will follow will be adopted from the National Park and Recreation Association's Recommended Guidelines For Credentialing Volunteers.  The goal of the recommendations is to make communities safe by advancing optimum volunteer practices. 

A person will be disqualified and prohibited from serving as a volunteer if the person has been found guilty of the following crimes: 

Guilty means that a person was found guilty following a trial, entered a guilty plea, entered a no contest plea accompanied by a court finding of guilty, regardless of whether there was adjunction of guilt (conviction) or a withholding of guilt.  This recommendation does not apply if criminal charges resulted in acquittal, Noelle Prossed, or dismissal.

SEX OFFENSES -

All Sex Offenses- Regardless of the amount of time since offense.  Examples include: child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sodomy, prostitution, solicitation, indecent exposure, etc.

FELONIES-

All Felony Violence- Regardless of the amount of time since offense.  Examples include: murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated burglary, etc.

All Felony offenses other than violence or sex within the last 10 years.  Examples include: drug offenses, theft, embezzlement, fraud, child endangerment, etc.

MISDEMEANORS-

All misdemeanor violence offenses within the last 7 years.  Examples include: simple assault, battery, domestic violence, hit & run, etc.

All misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses within the last 5 years or multiple offenses in the past 10 years.  Examples include: driving under the influence, simple drug possession, drunk and disorderly, public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, etc.

Any other misdemeanor within the last 5 years that would be considered a potential danger to children or is directly related to the functions of that volunteer.  Examples include: contributing to the delinquency of a minor, providing alcohol to a minor, theft- if the person is handling monies, etc. 

A member of the Parks and Recreation staff will send the link for the background check via email if chosen as a volunteer or coach for our programs and/or events.