DDS_Employment_Practices.pdf

This document is a Policy Memorandum (#423) issued by the State of California's Health and Welfare Agency, Department of Developmental Services, Residential Services Division, dated July 25, 1994. The policy memorandum establishes comprehensive employment practices and hiring guidelines for developmental centers, specifically focusing on restricting employment for individuals with certain criminal convictions. The policy applies to all applicants for employment and aims to prevent hiring individuals who might pose a potential risk to clients residing in or receiving services at developmental centers.

The policy provides detailed instructions on handling applicant background checks, with specific prohibitions against hiring individuals convicted of serious felonies such as sexual crimes, murder, battery, child abuse, and robbery. The memorandum outlines a multi-step review process where a Senior Special Investigator reviews conviction circumstances and forwards findings to the Executive Director, who then evaluates factors like the nature of the position, offense seriousness, recency of the offense, and the applicant's personal conduct history. The policy also specifies that certain types of convictions, such as marijuana possession or judicially dismissed cases, should not be considered in hiring decisions, demonstrating a nuanced approach to evaluating an applicant's criminal history.