Background Checks

Baltimore County Government is committed to facilitating the safety of participants who engage in activities and programs. This commitment is demonstrated through the Volunteer Registration Program. The program includes background checks on all applicants who wish to volunteer for programming sponsored or run by the Department of Recreation and Parks, recreation councils, nature councils, therapeutic recreation and Recreation Activity Centers (RACs).

The Volunteer Registration Program is not meant to take the place of family involvement in programming. It is meant to work in partnership with constituents to ensure that children and all participants enjoy programs and activities in a safe environment.

Volunteer background checks are conducted by the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI), a company specializing in background screenings for volunteers in youth sports. Background checks verify applicants’ identities and search local, national and international criminal records. The results of a background check determine a volunteer applicant’s eligibility to volunteer for our programs.

All volunteers must complete a background check, including:

• Board of Recreation and Parks members
• Recreation and Nature Council Board members, including all officers
• Head and assistant coaches
• Instructors and assistant instructors
• Volunteers who have care, custody or control of children
• Volunteers who have access to confidential information (example: registration forms, financial information, etc.)

• Access the Volunteer Application by going to this county website
• Public computer labs are located at all Baltimore County Public Libraries.
• Once the applications has been submitted in person or online, it can takes up to two weeks for results to post to the updated roster of authorized volunteers. Updates post on Fridays.
• The Recreation Volunteer Coordinator will contact you if there are questions related to the results of your background check. You may be notified that you are not authorized to volunteer or you may be asked to provide additional information. Note that you will not be contacted if you are authorized to volunteer. You will be contacted only if you are not authorized to volunteer.
• If you are approved for participation your name will be listed on the County’s website here
• Volunteers must complete this process once every 12 months.
• There is no cost to the applicant.

Volunteer applicants are considered eligible to volunteer if none of the following offenses appear in the background checks. Any of the following offenses that resulted in charges, convictions, pending convictions, deferred sentences or adjudications, guilty pleas or pleas of no contest automatically disqualify any applicant from volunteering:

• Abuse or Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult-Custodian
• Assault-First Degree Felony
• Attempted Murder
• Child Abuse
• Felony Assault (within the last five years)
• Felony Robbery
• Inclusion on the National Sex Offender Registry
• Indecent Exposure (within the last five years)
• Misappropriation of Funds
• Murder
• Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (within the last five years)
• Rape
• Statutory Rape
• Vulnerable Adult Abuse Physical Injury-Felony