Gym Clubs Are Increasingly Using Background Checks on Sex Offenses

Gymnastics club owners have long relied on references for coaches they want to hire, but that is changing. USA Gymnastics, which governs the sport in this country, urges club owners to perform criminal background checks, although it is not always easy. Some states will report only felony convictions, not misdemeanors, even though many sex offense cases are plea bargained down so the victim does not have to testify.

In California, public, private and volunteer organizations who work with children can request a background check on job applicants through the State Department of Justice. For private businesses, the fee is $32, and the information is restricted to convictions for sex, drug and violent offenses committed in California. National background checks are available only to some public agencies, such as schools and those youth organizations that are considered nonprofit. The fee for public and nonprofit organizations varies, ranging from no cost to $32.

Beginning in July, individuals in California will be able to call a 900 number and, for a nominal fee, determine if someone has past felony convictions for child molestation. In plea-bargain cases, the information may include misdemeanor offenses. The caller will need to have a valid reason for the request.

“The 900 number will be limited . . . with no other information disseminated other than a ‘Yes, there is a felony’ for a particular sex crime, or ‘No, there is not,’ ” said Mike Van Winkle, information officer of the state Department of Justice. “The person convicted of a rape against another adult--or if he has any other kind of criminal history--will not show up on the 900 line. The reason for this is that we are trying to give parents or adult guardians another tool to protect their children.”

There are 65,000 registered sex offenders in California--dating back to the 1940s--including about 30,000 to 35,000 child molesters.