All SoCal League staff, core race staff, coaches, and other SoCal League community members functioning in managerial roles OR interacting with youth must consent to, and complete, an annual criminal background check.

Background checks are initiated within the CCN registration platform and should be completed roughly one month in advance of your intended start time as a coach or volunteer. Many county courts and state justice departments have significant delays impacting background check turn-around times. While the vast majority of background checks are turned-around within only a few days the remaining checks can take 1 – 6 months depending on the counties and/or states where an applicant has lived. If you are still waiting for a background check after 1 month please contact coachlicensing@socalyouthcycling.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The fee to a coach is: Year 1 – $38, Years 2-6 – $11, Year 7 – $38.

  • Typically, background checks take a few business days, but sometimes the may take 14 days or more depending on the jurisdictions being searched. Due to the length of time it takes to complete a background check, we recommend initiating the background check process as soon as possible once you have access to CCN. You will receive an email directly from Sterling Volunteers confirming when your background check is complete.

  • The SoCal League does not allow for appeals as we can not be more objective than the courts system in assessing the circumstances of a given crime or disposition. However, coach license applicants may dispute the accuracy of their background check results with Sterling Volunteers directly via theadvocates@sterlingvolunteers.com.

  • No. Your background check applies to the SoCal League as an organization.

  • The SoCal League uses an established and annually reviewed table of crimes (sample below). The table includes which crimes disqualify a persons for a given amounts of time or indefinitely.

  • The Sterling Volunteers background check is based on searches using an applicants name, date of birth, address history and, if applicable, social security number (not collected/required on years 2-6). The search consists of a Social Security Number and Trace, National Criminal Database search, National Sex Offender Registry database search, and International Essential Report.

  • The SoCal League considers the following dispositions and statuses when considering the contents of a background check:

    1. In the process of being resolved by the courts: Withheld Adjudication, Disposition Pending, Pending Adjudication, Deferred Adjudication; AND/OR

    2. With a final disposition of: Conviction, Guilty, No Contest, Nolo Contender, Dismissed without prejudice, Nolle Prosequi (IF Guilty Plea attached), Nolle Prossed-standalone (IF Guilty Plea attached), Dismissed without prejudice IF: related to Domestic Charges, Sex-related crimes or Charges involving Children, Failure to File, Plea In Abeyance, Unknown; AND/OR

    3. Other disposition equivalent to any of the prior dispositions

  • Yes, if you have passed a Sterling Volunteer “Complete” background check one year or less prior to your CCN registration, we will accept this as a year 1 background check. Please contact coachlicensing@socalyouthcycling.org to have your profile updated.

Disqualifying Criminal Offenses

The SoCal Leagues objective is to provide a safe, fair, and fun community for all community members. The background check review process flags criminal offenses inappropriate for an adult leader in a youth development organization. The predefined time required to have passed since a criminal offense occurred is based on the type, severity, and victim of the crime (see table below).

  • • Bigamy
    • Child Pornography
    • Criminal Sexual Abuse
    • Criminal Sexual Assault
    • Criminal Transmission of HIV
    • Distribution/Sale of Pornography to a Minor
    • Indecent Exposure
    • Indecent Solicitation of a Child
    • Keeping a Place of Prostitution
    • Lewd and Lascivious Behavior
    • Obscene Phone Calls
    • Obscenity
    • Pandering
    • Incest
    • Pimping
    • Prostitution
    • Public Indecency
    • Sex with a Minor
    • Sexual Exploitation of a Child
    • Solicitation of a Sexual Act


SEX OFFENSES

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for sex offenses at any time will be permanently disqualified from the SoCal League. These crimes include, but are not limited to the following:

VIOLENT CRIMES AND SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST A PERSON

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for crimes of violence or other serious crimes against a person will be disqualified from the SoCal League for the 20 years after being charged with the following:

  • • Bigamy
    • Child Pornography
    • Criminal Sexual Abuse
    • Criminal Sexual Assault
    • Criminal Transmission of HIV
    • Distribution/Sale of Pornography to a Minor
    • Indecent Exposure
    • Indecent Solicitation of a Child
    • Keeping a Place of Prostitution
    • Lewd and Lascivious Behavior
    • Obscene Phone Calls
    • Obscenity
    • Pandering
    • Incest
    • Pimping
    • Prostitution
    • Public Indecency
    • Sex with a Minor
    • Sexual Exploitation of a Child
    • Solicitation of a Sexual Act

VIOLENT CRIMES AND SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST A PERSON

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for crimes of violence or other serious crimes against a person will be disqualified from the SoCal League for the 10 years after being charged with the following:

  • • Negligent Homicide
    • Battery (misdemeanor)
    • Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated

LESS SERIOUS CRIMES AGAINST A PERSON

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for less serious crimes against a person will be disqualified from the SoCal League for the 5 years after being charged with the following:

  • • Criminal Threats of Death/Bodily Harm
    • Harassment
    • Harassment of Jurors or Witnesses
    • Intimidation
    • Simple Assault
    • Violation of Restraining Order

SERIOUS SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRIMES

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for crimes of serious substance abuse or other miscellaneous crimes will be disqualified from the SoCal League for the 10 years after being charged with the following:

  • • Abuse of Prescription Medicines
    • Criminal Drug Conspiracy
    • Distribution of Alcohol to Minors
    • Illegal Transportation of Controlled Substances
    • Possession of Marijuana, more than one ounce
    • Possession of Illegal Substances
    • Sale or Manufacture of Illegal Substances

MISCELLANEOUS SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRIMES

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for crimes of substance abuse or other miscellaneous crimes will be disqualified from the SoCal League for the 5 years after being charged with the following:

  • • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
    • Sale of Alcohol to a Minor
    • Felony possession of a controlled substance

MISCELLANEOUS CRIMES

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for serious miscellaneous crimes will be disqualified from the SoCal League for the 5 years after being charged with the following:

TRAFFIC/CONDUCT CRIMES

Persons receiving dispositions of “convicted” or equivalent for serious traffic or conduct-related crimes will be disqualified from the SoCal League for the 3 years after being charged with the following crimes:

  • • Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm
    • Concealing or Aiding a Fugitive
    • Criminal Damage to Property
    • Criminal Trespass
    • Discrimination in Sale of Real Estate
    • Environmental Crimes
    • Gunrunning
    • Hit and Run with Damage
    • Identity Switching
    • Illegal Gambling
    • Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer
    • Unlawful Sale of Firearms
    • Interference with Judicial Proceedings
    • Obstructing Justice
    • Legislative Misconduct
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Perjury
    • Tampering with Public Records
    • Unlawful Possession of Weapons
    • Unlawful Use of Body Armor
    • Unlawful Use, Sale, or Discharge of a Metal Piercing Bullet
    • Vandalism
    *Generally speaking, any aggravated offense or weapons offense could also be lumped into a serious crime category, even if it’s the 5 year restriction.

  • • Disorderly Conduct
    • Disturbing the Peace
    • Driving Under the Influence
    • Drunk in Public
    • Driving without a License/Insurance
    • Operating Under the Influence
    • Reckless Conduct
    • Reckless Driving
    • Repeated Traffic Offenses in a short window
    • Wet and Reckless Driving
    • Indecent Exposure*
    • Public Indecency*
    • Driving While Ability Impaired
    • Misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance
    *If determined by courts NOT related to a sex offense.
    Persons convicted of traffic or other conduct crimes within the preceding 3 years may be accepted for other non-coaching and non-management volunteer positions that do not require a background check.

Additional Information

All SoCal League staff, core race staff, coaches and other SoCal League community members with either management positions OR direct interaction with youth must consent to, and complete, a background check. Consent shall be in the form applicable to all state and federal laws. To conduct volunteer background checks, the SoCal League Background Check Committee will be outsourcing to a national Consumer Reporting Agency. Adherence to the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) will be followed. Under the FCRA, each volunteer will be provided a disclosure and authority to release information in a document that consists solely of the disclosure. A copy of the FCRA Summary of Rights will also be provided to every volunteer. If the SoCal League Background Check Committee makes a decision not to accept a volunteer based wholly or partially on information contained in the background check report, the committee will follow the Pre-Adverse and Adverse action steps as outlined in the FCRA.  All requested information must be provided by the applicant, including Social Security number, driver license number (or other government issued photo I.D. if the applicant does not drive) and date of birth.

Criminal background checks are performed on an ongoing basis throughout the year. To ensure compliance with all applicable laws, the SoCal League Background Check Committee members are the only people authorized to initiate, review or have access to criminal background. In all cases, the results of any criminal background check must be kept strictly confidential.

The Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record process is initiated by the SoCal League Background Check Committee. When a negative determination is made, a copy of the criminal conviction report received by the SoCal League Background Check Committee is sent by Sterling Volunteers.

Any application form that does not contain honest answers or that misrepresents the number, type or gravity of any such conviction(s) will not be approved irrespective of the nature of the offense or the time that has transpired since the conviction.

Any person convicted of a crime against or otherwise involving a minor at any time in the past will not be approved to be a volunteer.

Evidence of multiple convictions, either felony or misdemeanor, are likely to also result in a negative determination. Where a conviction is remote in time or where the applicant’s conduct since the conviction(s) indicates rehabilitation or lack of risk to the organization and the program, some leeway may be provided, but only with the concurrence of the SoCal League Background Check Committee.

When a negative determination is made, or if there are issues related to an application SoCal League staff will notify the team director at the same time.

The specific results leading to a negative determination must remain confidential unless the applicant is willing to reveal the results to the team director.