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Guardsmark Urges Passage of New Bipartisan Bill Allowing Private Security Firms Access to FBI Background Checks |
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Bill introduced by Senators Levin, McConnell, Lieberman, Alexander and Schumer Aids in Screening Security Officers
NEW YORK, April 3, 2003 - Guardsmark, one of the world's largest private security firms, today called for urgent Congressional enactment of the Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act of 2003, which would allow private security firms to obtain FBI background checks to discover criminal records of prospective employees. Guardsmark has been the pioneer in advocating federal standards for the private security industry.
This bill was jointly introduced Wednesday, April 2, by Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).
"Private security is a vital front-line defense against terrorism and crime," said Ira A. Lipman, Chairman of Guardsmark. "Private security officers today outnumber public law enforcement by 3-to-1. We need to know as much as possible about the backgrounds of the individuals who are increasingly charged with protecting vital industry and infrastructures."
This legislation will alert security firms to the criminal records of security officer applicants. At the same time, it will protect employee privacy rights by not divulging specific information. Firms will receive only an "approval" or "denial" decision from a state's criminal identification bureau or similar agency authorized by the U.S. Attorney General, based on the existence of a criminal record. The legislation also provides criminal penalties for misuse of the information by an employer.
Known for its rigorous employment standards, Guardsmark has repeatedly called for quick access to FBI criminal databases. Current state background checks through various agencies in the 40 states that regulate private security firms can take as long as 90 to 120 days to obtain. Additionally, 10 states do not regulate or license security firms or security officers at all, creating a loophole that the enactment of the proposed legislation would eliminate by establishing a national pre-employment criminal background examination system.
The proposed legislation will help protect society from poorly screened security officers. This has long been an important issue and has become even more critical in the wake of terrorist attacks on America and the war in Iraq, which increased the need for diligence in protecting our nation's infrastructure.
Additionally, allowing private security firms access to the FBI criminal history reports of prospective employees would address the same basic safety concerns that prompted Congress to provide access to such records for the banking, day care, home health care and nursing home industries.
About Guardsmark, LLC
Guardsmark has been recognized as having the toughest screening standards in the industry and is regarded as the foremost proponent and practitioner of quality control for private security. Guardsmark has historically supported regulation of the private security industry and has sought the adoption of meaningful standards for the employment of security officers.
Privately held Guardsmark operates in more than 400 cities throughout North America, employing 18,000 people, including more former FBI agents than any other company in the world. Guardsmark is the first security services firm to attain ISO 9001 registration at its U.S. home office and a growing number of branch offices. Ira A. Lipman, who founded Guardsmark in 1963, is the author of How to Protect Yourself From Crime, the most complete guide to self-protection in print.
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"Private security is a vital front-line defense against terrorism and crime. Private security officers today outnumber public law enforcement by 3-to-1. We need to know as much as possible about the backgrounds of the individuals who are increasingly charged with protecting vital industry and infrastructures."
- Ira A. Lipman, Chairman and President
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Known for its rigorous employment standards, Guardsmark has repeatedly called for quick access to FBI criminal databases. |
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