PM423.pdf

This 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 document establishes employment practices and guidelines for hiring at developmental centers, specifically focusing on criminal background checks and conviction restrictions for job applicants. The policy applies to all applicants and aims to prevent individuals with certain criminal histories from being employed in positions that have direct contact with clients.

The memorandum outlines detailed restrictions on hiring, including prohibitions against employing individuals convicted of specific felonies listed in Penal Code Section 290, such as sexual offenses, murder, battery, child abuse, and other serious crimes. The policy provides a comprehensive framework for reviewing an applicant's criminal history, including considerations like the nature of the position, recency and seriousness of the offense, the applicant's age at the time of the offense, and prior criminal record. The document also includes provisions for reviewing misdemeanor convictions and requires additional information gathering for arrests, including situations involving bail, pending trials, and positions with access to clients or medications.