File #: 18-4210    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Report Status: Filed
File created: 6/6/2018 In control: Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
On agenda: 6/6/2018 Final action: 11/21/2018
Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONDUCTING COOK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BACKGROUND CHECKS PROPOSED RESOLUTION WHEREAS, An investigative report recently exposed multiple counts of sexual abuse of Chicago Public School (CPS) students at the hands of staff and teachers; and, WHEREAS, Ineffective background checks or the disregard of negative background checks exposed students to educators and staff with criminal convictions and arrests for sex crimes against children; and, WHEREAS, Although all school districts require potential school staff, volunteers and contract workers to pass a background check before they work with students, the report cited a lack of control over commissioning, receipt, and action of information received from background checks; and, WHEREAS, Currently the Chicago Police Department, like CPS a department of the City of Chicago, conducts criminal background checks on all CPS potential staff; and, WHEREAS, ...
Sponsors: BRIDGET GAINER, LARRY SUFFREDIN, STANLEY MOORE, LUIS ARROYO JR, RICHARD R. BOYKIN, JERRY BUTLER, DENNIS DEER, JOHN A. FRITCHEY, JESÚS G. GARCÍA, GREGG GOSLIN, EDWARD M. MOODY, SEAN M. MORRISON, TIMOTHY O. SCHNEIDER, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS, JEFFREY R. TOBOLSKI
title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONDUCTING COOK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BACKGROUND CHECKS

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, An investigative report recently exposed multiple counts of sexual abuse of Chicago Public School (CPS) students at the hands of staff and teachers; and,

WHEREAS, Ineffective background checks or the disregard of negative background checks exposed students to educators and staff with criminal convictions and arrests for sex crimes against children; and,

WHEREAS, Although all school districts require potential school staff, volunteers and contract workers to pass a background check before they work with students, the report cited a lack of control over commissioning, receipt, and action of information received from background checks; and,

WHEREAS, Currently the Chicago Police Department, like CPS a department of the City of Chicago, conducts criminal background checks on all CPS potential staff; and,

WHEREAS, The background check function could be directed to an outside vendor, however, such a contract would still be under the management and control of a department of the City of Chicago; and,

WHEREAS, As is best practice in law enforcement, currently the city and the county operate a separation of powers in law enforcement functions; and,

WHEREAS, It is imperative to have separation of power to ensure all units of government are performing its core functions to the highest standard; and,

WHEREAS, The Cook County Sheriff's Office has the ability to conduct in depth criminal background checks, including criminal records, educational credentials, and prior employment on potential staff and conduct random checks to catch the arrests of current staff; and,

WHEREAS, It is the first duty of any unit of government to ensure the protection of children, especially those entrusted in the care of such government.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners...

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