Community Accountability Programs Information ... - Ministry of Justice

• Volunteers and any other persons involved in the program must adherestrictly to program policies on the release of information to individualsor agencies.• Information on the disposition of a case or the results of a person’sparticipation in the restorative justice process may be disclosed only toauthorized personnel of the referring agency.• No aspect of a case may be discussed with any person outside theprogram.Anyone associated with the program should be made fully aware of thepolicy and should commit to abide by it. Swearing an oath or affirmationhas the effect of solemnizing such a commitment and emphasizes theseriousness of the issue. (Appendices I and J contain a sample oath ofconfidentiality and a sample Community Accountability ProgramAgreement, respectively.)CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKSWe also recommend that you develop a policy on criminal record checks forprogram volunteers. A criminal record check is a database search carriedout by police to determine whether a person has a criminal record. Inaccordance with the requirements of the BC Freedom of Information andProtection of Privacy Act and Section 8(1) of the federal Privacy Act, thisprocedure cannot be performed without the person’s consent.All those who apply for volunteer positions in your program should beinformed that this check is an application requirement and should be askedwhether they consent to it. They should also be informed that the resultsof the check may or may not disqualify them from involvement in theprogram. If applicants agree to the procedure, they should bring a signedconsent form to the local detachment. Fingerprinting may be required tocomplete the process. Results are sent directly to the organization.Applicants should then be given the opportunity to explain any findingsthat may preclude them from involvement in your program.When developing your criminal record check policy, consider the following:• How will the applicant’s privacy be protected during this process? Forexample, where and how will the information be stored and who willhave access to it?Getting Started 39