Visitor Aware provides a way to complete background checks on potential volunteers and visitors. Below are the instructions on how to purchase tokens and manage volunteers including their background checks.


Important: If your state requires that you use a specific database to run background checks, please continue to use that service and record the background check date on the volunteer's profile. You can use Visitor Aware's background check in addition to that service if you choose to do so.




Initial Volunteer Screening

Each school has access to set up a free online volunteer application form through Visitor Aware. Upon completing the volunteer application form, applicants will undergo an initial screening against the National Sex Offender Registry, Interpol, national and international watch lists (if enabled). If the applicant comes back positively matched, it will be up to the school to determine if they'd like to pursue running a complete background check on the individual. Please find information on how to set up the Volunteer Application form here: https://visitoraware.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/43000485802-volunteer-application-form-setup


Criminal Background Check

We search 200 million federal, state, and county criminal records. Depending on what is considered to be public record (definition changes per jurisdiction) there is the potential that the following may be returned: felonies, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, sexual offense details…etc. Then within the information returned you may see: jurisdiction, charge, offense, disposition type, sentence, probation and conviction (if applicable). (disclaimer: not all information is available for all records - this is dependent on what is considered public record within the jurisdiction)


Collecting Social Security Number

The client can choose to enable the ability to collect the applicant's social security number. This is primarily collected to keep on file or to allow schools the ability to use a third party service that can run a SSN Address Trace. Visitor Aware does not complete the social security number address trace.


For written instructions on how to complete the background check process. Please reference "How to run a Criminal Background Check".


If you'd prefer to use a 3rd party vendor to complete the background check, feel free to record the background completion date in Visitor Aware to receive automated email reports for annual renewal. That help article is available here.