Volunteers wary of new company performing city of Salem background checks 

Volunteers who help Salem Public Library visitors research genealogy are quitting over privacy concerns with a new city of Salem background check process, leaving the group’s leader concerned about their ability to maintain the program.

Nine of 31 volunteers for the Willamette Valley Genealogical Society have dropped out of staffing the library desk since the new system was implemented last month president Doug Crosby told Salem Reporter.

Verified First, the new company contracted by the city to perform background checks on volunteers, has sparked privacy concerns after the company sent out a waiver to volunteers requesting permission to engage in investigatory tactics including going door to door to gain personal information.

Those tactics were included in the company’s disclosure form, causing some to forgo volunteering rather than sign.

Crosby notified society members of the change in a March 26 email. 

“The city states that only a volunteer’s name, address, and criminal record will be checked,” he wrote. “However, the required Verified First agreement appears to have no limits. Apparently, any aspect of a volunteer’s background could be searched in any way, whether criminal, medical, financial, political, social, or otherwise at any time now or in the future.” 

City spokeswoman Courtney Knox Busch said the new background check process with Verified First only applies to volunteers who assist in positions where they might interact with vulnerable populations including minors or seniors, or who will be given access to city property or sensitive financial information.

Volunteers who require a background check are used at the library, Center 50+, the Salem Police Department, and at the city’s parks.

Officials last fall said more than 3,600 people volunteered for the city in the past year.

Prior to the change, the city did not have a standard approach to conducting background checks, Knox Busch said. 

In the past, the Salem Police Department had been performing limited checks on certain volunteers through a local law enforcement database, Knox Busch said.  

“The check performed by the Salem Police Department is not considered to be a background check,” Knox Busch said. “The check does not include information from any other law enforcement agencies or databases, nor does it include a search of criminal history.” 

The city’s Human Resources Manager Michele Bennett said the city has done background checks on volunteers for a long time, particularly volunteers who interact with vulnerable groups in the community. 

Bennett said the city’s volunteer management system called Volgistics uses Verified First to conduct background checks for $25 per person. 

Crosby said the genealogical society has a contractual obligation to provide 32 volunteer hours per week to the Salem Public Library in exchange for housing the society’s reference library. Crosby said that if too many volunteers decide to leave because of Verified First’s terms, the society might not be able to hold up its end of the bargain.

Crosby received a letter on March 21 from the city’s Risk Manager Gail Freeman following a conversation confirming that the city only requires the identity and address verification and a nationwide background check to complete the process. 

“I understand that Verified First has a general release form that states you agree to all of the possible services they offer,” Freeman said. “Please be advised that your background with the city will only include the items listed above.” 

Knox Busch told Salem Reporter that it is currently testing Verified First and said certain things about the new system could be changed.

Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.

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