American Red Cross Minimum Background Check Standards

The Background Check Screening Process consists of verifying the candidate’s social security number and checking any record of criminal convictions.

SSN Verification
A person has a clear background check if the report matches the name and social security number provided. If an individual does not have a social security number, they should contact the Office of Volunteers & Youth.

Volunteers, employees and candidates will be barred from service if the background check shows 2 or more names listed under the SSN provided, (unless they are maiden names or AKA), the name and social security number provided do not match or the report states that the SSN was not issued.

Review of National Criminal Database
A person has a clear background check if the report indicates no record found, if the report contains crimes that do not fall within the crimes described below, or if the report contains a criminal record that indicates not guilty; nolle prosse; nolle presequi or dismissed.

Volunteers, employees and candidates will be barred from service if the background check shows a court imposed penalty for a violent crime, sex crime, financial crime or drug crime within the past 7 years. Court ordered penalties include guilty, no contest, nolo contender, probation (including probation pending), deferred (including deferred adjunction, deferred prosecution or deferred dismissed) or expunged/sealed.

If a background check includes a court imposed penalty that includes any of the examples listed below, or similar key words, the person will be barred from service. Furthermore, any person on a state or federal sex offender registry will be excluded from Red Cross employment and volunteer service.

Even if an individual’s background check report includes an arrest for a violent crime, sex crime, financial crime or drug crime, the individual will have a clear report if the following entries appear as the disposition of those crimes: not guilty, nolle prosse, nolle prosequi or dismissed.