As Corra Group, we conduct a fair amount of background checks for colleges and universities around the country. We conduct these background checks on faculties and administrative personnel as well as some of the students. More often than not the background checks we conduct on students are for grad students or those entering medical school or law school. We also conduct these background searches to vet students who will be working for businesses as part of the college or university extended learning program.
So I must say I find it interesting that the University of Virginia has elected to conduct background checks on all of its students. According to an article posted in the Huffington Post,this decision to conduct background checks comes in the wake of the alleged murder of a coed at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, a fellow student. The accused murderer apparently had previous altercations with the police, and reportedly in 2008 he was reported to have threatened the life of a police officer.
On one hand the University’s decision to conduct background checks is a good one and may help prevent any future murders. We can see where the school is intent on doing its utmost to protect its students. However, conducting background checks on students poses certain difficulties. Lower classmen have barely reached majority or the age where any criminal convictions would be reported. Those criminal convictions that took place while they were minors would not be reported. And then there is the fact that some kids never did anything wrong before, but then they get to school, and in the freer environment where they encounter drugs, alcohol, and stimulus that may change their behavior. There is no tracking this kind of thing.
However, in some circumstances there are prior police reports and even minor violations that may show behavior patterns that may be red flags. While most kids may act out incorrectly, it is extremely rare that any student will resort to violence, yet alone murder. But it does happen. With all the kids trying to get into college, vetting potentially problematic students is at least one more way to perform due diligence. Whether it is a case like this, where the alleged murder previously threatened the lives of police officers, or cases where there are charges and convictions for sex offenses, it may well pay to conduct these background searches.
The University of Virginia has suffered a grievous loss with the murder of a student. It is testimony to its concerns that the University is taking steps to see that something this doesn’t happen again.
