The Investigative Team at WBZ TV in Boston has turned up an interesting fact. It seems you can become a Notary Public in Massachusetts no matter what kind of background you’ve got. Nobody apparently reads the applications and there are no background checks, even if you admit to convictions for using false documents and writing bad checks.
In case you’ve forgotten your civics, “a notary public is an officer who can administer oaths and statutory declarations, witness and authenticate documents and perform certain other acts depending on the jurisdiction.” Here’s what that means in most places in the US.
Let’s say that you have a legal document that needs signing. You visit a local notary. He or she asks you for proof that you’re who you say you are. That can include information like your driver’s license number, social security number, date of birth, and more.
Notaries often make copies of documents for their records. Nobody thinks much about it. That’s why the WBZ story ought to make you stop and think.
The station reports on a woman who received her state license as a Notary even though she had a criminal history including stealing mail, using fake ID, and writing bad checks. In other words, she’s precisely the person you don’t want to have access to people’s personal information.
Evidently the woman checked the box on her application that indicated a criminal conviction and filled in the information about what it was. The application was approved. No one seemed to care about the criminal history. No background check was done.
Clearly, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has an issue here. Lt. Governor Tim Murray, however doesn’t seem to understand what the issue is. He said, “Certainly with identity theft, making sure people are truthful and accurate in their applications is something we want to make sure happens.”
Note to the Lt. Governor: the applicant was truthful. It didn’t matter. Here are some take-aways for you.
Read the application. If your applicant raises his or her hand and says, “I’m a convicted felon,” check further.
Pay special attention to relevant convictions. A felony DUI conviction should have different impact if you’re hiring a delivery driver or a records clerk.
The bottom line, as I’ve said many times here is this: have a good system to review applicants that includes background checks. Use it. Every time.