MS HB368

Directors of juvenile detention centers must obtain and check criminal records, background checks, sex offender registries, and child abuse registries for all current and prospective detention staff, effective July 1, 2010.

Applicants must be fingerprinted, and if no disqualifying record is found at the state level, fingerprints are forwarded to the FBI for a national criminal history check.

Applicants with felony convictions for specific crimes including drug possession/sale, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, rape, sexual battery, child abuse, arson, grand larceny, burglary, gratification of lust, or sex offenses listed in Section 45-33-23(g) are ineligible for employment as detention staff.

Directors may grant waivers allowing employment of otherwise disqualified applicants if mitigating circumstances are demonstrated, including age at time of crime, time elapsed since conviction, work history, character references, and evidence that the applicant poses no threat to children's safety.