M&K Record Researchers, Inc.

Are drug screens legal? Recently, I overheard a conversation at a meeting where two people were discussing the legality of pre-employment drug screens. Are they legal? Yes. Are they necessary? Absolutely. Pre-screening or background checks are necessary to make sure that employers make the right decision for their businesses.

This week’s headlines about sex offenders and other criminals having been authorized by the state to provide child care between 2003 and 2006 rightly has caused public concern and criticism.

DENVER, Colorado — Beaver Creek’s human resources director testified Friday regarding a criminal background check on a former ski instructor being sued by a woman he was acquitted of raping.

Beaver Creek Ski Resort’s HR Director Lynne Rossman told a jury in federal court in Denver that she did not know the lengthy criminal past of former ski instructor David Lorenzen, 45, until after he was charged with raping his then 17-year-old skiing student.

“(Lorenzen) was an employee for 17 years and had not a blemish on his records,” said Rossman.

Rossman said she was solely responsible for doing background checks on the resort’s employee.

Edwin Aro, an attorney for Vail Resorts, said in an e-mail Sunday that Rossman testified earlier that she ran a background check in December 2004. A printed copy of that report was admitted in evidence, which showed DUI convictions in 2002 and 2003, but not earlier incidents from 1989, 1994 and 1995. Aro said such background checks typically only show incidents from the previous seven years.

The client, now 19, and her mother are seeking $2 million to $5 million in damages from Vail Resorts in a federal court case that began last Monday in Denver.

The plaintiff’s attorneys maintain that girl was raped in January 2006 when she willingly went to Lorenzen’s apartment during a ski lesson. He was found not guilty of the rape by an Eagle County jury last year but given probation for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Lorenzen has an arrest record dating back to 1989 for possession of marijuana, criminal mischief, trespassing, vehicle theft and contempt of court, as well as DUIs in 1994, 1995, 2000 and 2002.

The woman’s attorney, John Pineau, claims that Vail should have known Lorenzen was a danger to the resort’s clients, but continually rehired him.

Michigan put thousands of children at risk by authorizing people with serious criminal records to provide day care. An auditor general report released Tuesday says 1,900 convicts passed background checks from 2003 to 2006 that failed to flag them as unsuitable child care providers. Those numbers are frightening and inexcusable.

The state, appropriately, has beefed up its background check process. Auditors should go back and test those changes to make sure they are working. Putting even one child in the care of a convicted criminal, who might do them harm, is unacceptable.

The audit found that the Department of Human Services (DHS) placed about 4,600 children in day care with unsuitable criminal providers. The audit did not look at all licensed day care operators, just those who participate in the state’s Child Development and Care Program. The program provides financial assistance to parents enrolled in education and job training class.