Diocese of Lansing Revenue and Competitors

The Diocese of Lansing is committed to safeguarding the children who attend our parishes and schools, and who participate in other programs offered by our parishes and schools. To that end, it is necessary that we check the background of employees and volunteers, as set forth below. 1. This policy covers all employees and volunteers of the Diocese of Lansing, including employees of its parishes, schools, and agencies of any type. For the purpose of this policy, the word "employee" includes coaches, lunchroom and playground supervisors, substitute teachers, and other persons who are paid to provide instruction or assistance of any kind to children, without regard to whether such a person qualifies as an "employee" for other purposes. 2. Before an employee is hired, a criminal background check that includes fingerprinting will be conducted. 3. An employee may be conditionally hired if (a) materials for a criminal background check have been submitted, but the report is not yet available, and (b) the employee signs a statement identifying all prior convictions and agreeing that employer can terminate the employment relationship immediately if the statement is contradicted by the report. 4. An employee who is arrested or charged with a crime must report that information to the employer. 5. A person who has been convicted of a "listed offense" under MCL28.722(e) may not be employed by a school or serve as a volunteer at a school. 6. Before a volunteer who regularly will have four or more monthly hours of contact with minors begins to serve, a criminal background check will be conducted. The criminal background check on such a volunteer will include fingerprinting unless the volunteer has resided continuously in the state of Michigan for the preceding ten years. A volunteer may be conditionally engaged if materials for a criminal background check have been submitted, but the report is not yet available. 7. If a parish, school, or other diocesan agency discovers that it has an employee or volunteer for whom no criminal background check has been conducted, it must notify the employee or volunteer and must conduct the criminal background check without delay. 8. It is the intention of the Diocese to conduct updated criminal background checks at approximately five-year intervals. However, the Diocese reserves the right to conduct an original or updated criminal background check on any employee or volunteer at any time for any reason or for no reason, in the sole discretion of the Diocese.