7000 Background Checks for DFPS Volunteers and Interns
Background Checks June 2026
The DFPS Background Checks program completes background checks on DFPS volunteers and interns.
Background Checks staff process the following background checks for DFPS volunteers and interns:
- Texas name-based criminal history check
- DFPS history check
- Reportable conduct check
- FBI fingerprint check, if the DFPS volunteer or intern, at the time of his or her background check request, meets any of the following criteria:
- Currently lives outside of Texas.
- Has lived outside of Texas in the past two years.
- Will be able to view or access FBI criminal justice information (CJI) in any format, including printed, electronic, or verbal.
If a background check reveals any criminal or DFPS history for a person, the Background Checks staff member considers the history to determine whether the potential volunteer or intern would put DFPS clients or DFPS resources at risk. See 7330 Risk Assessment for the criteria for assessing risk.
A person who has received a cleared/eligible background check under another DFPS Background Checks policy is also required to receive a clear/eligible background check under this policy, before being allowed to volunteer or intern with DFPS.
7100 Defining Staff Responsibilities
Background Checks June 2026
All staff members whose work involves background checks are responsible for doing the following:
- Understanding this policy.
- Maintaining open communication about issues that relate to background checks.
The following DFPS staff members share responsibilities for background checks that DFPS conducts under this policy (7000 Background Checks for DFPS Volunteers and Interns and its subsections):
- Background Checks staff
- Faith-Based and Community Engagement (FBCE) division staff
7110 Background Checks Staff
Background Checks June 2026
Background Checks staff are responsible for doing the following:
- Completing background checks accurately and in a timely manner.
- Notifying the appropriate Faith-Based and Community Engagement staff members about the results of the background checks, according to this policy.
7120 Faith-Based Community Engagement Staff
Background Checks June 2026
Faith-Based and Community Engagement (FBCE) staff members are responsible for making sure that all the following occur before a person is allowed to volunteer or intern with DFPS:
- Potential volunteers and interns comply with 7000 Background Check Procedures in the FBCE Handbook.
- FBCE staff members submit background checks according to the requirements of this background check policy.
- FBCE staff members request FBI criminal history checks, when applicable.
- The appropriate FBCE staff member receives notification that all required background checks are cleared/eligible before allowing the person to volunteer or intern for DFPS.
In addition, FBCE staff members are responsible for making sure that the following occur, when applicable:
- Remove a person’s access to DFPS clients and resources when the person no longer volunteers or interns with DFPS.
- Submit renewal background checks in a timely manner for all volunteers and interns.
7200 Background Check Renewals
Background Checks June 2026
Request for Renewal Background Check
A person who has a background check under this policy must have a new background check every year.
The person can continue volunteering or interning with DFPS while a Background Checks staff member is processing the results, if the Faith-Based and Community Engagement (FBCE) staff member has requested the renewal background check in a timely manner.
The Background Checks staff member processes the renewal background check according to this policy.
Results of Renewal Background Check
The Background Checks staff member notifies the FBCE staff member about the results of the renewal background check.
If these results reveal anything that would make the subject ineligible/barred from volunteering or interning (either criminal or DFPS history, as described in 7320 Absolute Bars), the FBCE staff member does as follows:
Makes sure the person is no longer allowed to volunteer or intern with DFPS.
Removes the person’s access to DFPS clients and resources.
See 7300 Background Check Determinations.
7300 Background Check Determinations
Background Checks June 2026
Background Checks staff determine whether the subject is cleared/eligible or ineligible/barred based on the person’s background check results.
The initial determination is based on:
Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff
The charts indicate the types of criminal convictions, DFPS history, and reportable conduct history that are absolute bars for volunteering or interning for DFPS.
Background Checks staff do not disclose criminal history, reportable conduct history, or DFPS history of abuse, neglect, or exploitation found on volunteers or interns to anyone outside of DFPS.
7310 Eligible/Cleared
Background Checks June 2026
The Background Checks staff member notifies the Faith-Based and Community Engagement (FBCE) staff member that the person is eligible/cleared to volunteer or intern with DFPS if the person meets all the following criteria:
- Has not been convicted of an offense listed on Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff.
- Is not required to register as a sex offender. See 7321 Sex Offender Registration.
- Does not have any DFPS history listed as a bar in Appendix 1: Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Reportable Conduct Check History Bars for DFPS Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, and Interns, Non-DFPS Staff, and CASA Employees, Volunteers, and Board Members.
- The person has criminal, reportable conduct, or DFPS history that was reviewed by Background Checks staff and determined that the history does not present a risk to DFPS clients or resources.
7320 Ineligible/Absolute Bars
Background Checks June 2026
The Background Checks staff member notifies the Faith-Based and Community Engagement (FBCE) staff member that the person is ineligible/barred from being a volunteer or intern with DFPS if the person has any of the following:
- A criminal conviction that is an absolute bar (see Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff).
- A criminal offense, if both of the following apply:
- The final disposition is not available at the time of the background check.
- A conviction for the offense is an absolute bar (see Appendix 3: Criminal History Bars for DFPS Volunteers, Interns, and Non-DFPS Staff).
- A requirement to register as a sex offender (see 7321 Sex Offender Registration.
- A history of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or reportable conduct that is an absolute bar (see Appendix 1: Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Reportable Conduct Check History Bars for DFPS Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, and Interns, Non-DFPS Staff, and CASA Employees, Volunteers, and Board Members).
- Criminal, reportable conduct, or DFPS history that was reviewed by DFPS staff and determined to present a risk to DFPS clients or resources.
7321 Sex Offender Registration
Background Checks June 2026
The Background Checks staff member receives information about sex offender registration as part of a criminal history background check.
A person who is currently required to register as a sex offender in Texas or any other state is ineligible/barred from volunteering or interning with DFPS.
7330 Risk Assessment
Background Checks June 2026
The Background Checks staff member does a risk assessment before making a decision if the subject is eligible/cleared or ineligible/barred, under the following circumstances:
- The person has criminal, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or reportable conduct history that requires review.
- The person has a pattern of criminal or reportable conduct history that might put DFPS clients or resources at risk.
Background Checks staff also conduct a risk assessment on juvenile criminal history obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety or the FBI. If a Background Checks staff member assesses that there is risk of immediate harm if access is allowed, he or she consults with the DFPS Office of General Counsel (Legal Division) to make a final determination.
The person may not volunteer or intern with DFPS until both of the following occur:
- The risk assessment is complete.
- The Background Checks staff member determines the person is eligible/clear to volunteer or intern with DFPS.
7340 Ineligible/Bar for Incomplete Background Checks
Background Checks June 2026
A background check is considered incomplete for any of the following reasons:
- There is not enough information to determine whether the criminal or reportable conduct history belongs to the person, and the Background Checks staff member determines that the person would put DFPS clients or resources at risk based on the possible history.
- The person does not communicate with the FBCE staff member within 10 calendar days.
- The Background Checks staff member is not able to obtain all required information to complete the background check within 30 calendar days of the request date.
If a background check is not successfully completed, it is closed and recorded as ineligible/barred for failure to comply, and the person may not volunteer or intern with DFPS.
The FBCE staff member may contact the Background Checks staff member to request an extension of the 30-day deadline, if the person provides proof that he or she has taken reasonable steps to meet all requirements.
The FBCE staff member submits a new background check request through the Automated Background Check System (ABCS), if all the following apply:
- The Background Checks staff member closed the background check and made the person ineligible/barred under the circumstances described in this section.
- The person still wishes to volunteer or intern with DFPS.
- Information is available to resolve the incomplete or inconclusive criminal or reportable conduct history.
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