In an effort to close the loopholes that allowed felons to work with the state's most vulnerable population – children, the elderly, and the disabled – Florida Governor Charlie Crist has ordered a review of the background check system for caregivers, according to a story in the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The background check review follows a Sun Sentinel investigation that uncovered thousands of felons with criminal records – including rape, child molestation, and even murder – working at jobs in day care centers and nursing homes, and involves eight state agencies responsible for background checks and licensing of caregivers.

“They will be able to come up with some effective recommendations to make sure that appropriate background checks are not only done, but done with the frequency that will be necessary to protect the people,” Crist told the Sun Sentinel in an interview.

The Sun Sentinel series – "Trust Betrayed" – discovered that under Florida law caregivers could begin working even before their background checks were completed or, in some cases, even started. The six month investigation also found that felons barred from working with children because of criminal records on their background checks could still qualify by obtaining an exemption for being rehabilitated.

The Sun Sentinel obtained a statewide database of background checks since 1985 showing at least 2,400 people were already employed in day care before background checks uncovered their criminal records, while another 2,900 people with criminal records found on background checks were cleared for day care work through exemptions though guilty of crimes such as child abuse, kidnapping, and murder.

This shocking story from South Florida serves as another reminder of the important role background checks play in protecting all people – particularly vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and the disabled – in every type  of workplace, whether a day care center, nursing home, or office building.

Pre-Employ.com – a leading provider of background checks and employment-related services – offers a variety of solutions to ensure a safe and secure workplace for employees and employers alike. For more information about our background check services, take a tour at www.pre-employ.com/tour, visit www.pre-employ.com, email info@pre-employ.com, or call 1-800-300-1821. Follow Pre-Employ.com on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PreEmploy.

tahearn@pre-employ.com

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