Governor Jack Markell is ordering a review of state background check laws for those who work with children in Delaware.
In an Executive Order issued Monday, Markell says the review is necessary because state background check laws are at times inconsistent when it comes to employees, volunteers and others who come into contact with Delaware’s youth.
The newly-formed Criminal Background and Child Protection Registry Task Force will include lawmakers and officials from a number of state agencies. The group will review who must receive a background check before being allowed to work with children.
The governor’s office indicates the task force will specifically focus on volunteers and employees working at camps or on holiday breaks, as well as both private and non-state operated schools.
Secretary Jennifer Ranji of the Department of Services for Children Youth and Their Families has been chosen to lead the taskforce. She says there isn’t one particular issue that has spurred the review.
"It was just time to bring everyone together and try to take a more holistic look at what we’re doing and what we’re not doing, and maybe what we can do better," said Ranji.
The task force will also look at the feasibility of establishing a consolidated background check system for a number of criminal offenses, including child abuse and sex offenders.
Ranji explains why that database would be helpful.
"I think there’s always this interplay between the criminal and civil sides when do investigations, and the same could be said about background checks. The whole thing could work a lot more smoothly if the front end of it looked at both of those processes together instead of separately," said Ranji.
The group will make recommendations to the Gov. Markell by the end of this year.