Background Checks

NJSIAA Background Check & Reinstatement Information

New Jersey FCRA Summary of Rights

NJSIAA Adjudication Matrix

NJSIAA prohibits a person from officiating high school sports when the official has been charged with or convicted of:

  1. A criminal offense (Indictable or felony), or
  2. Any offense (Indictable, felony, misdemeanor, or disorderly person) involving:
    • Drugs
    • A sex offense
    • An offense against a minor

NJSIAA Reinstatement Policy

NJSIAA allows a convicted person to be reinstated:

  1. One year after completion of the sentence, including parole or probation.
  2. Five years after completion of the sentence, including parole or probation, for a drug offense.

NJSIAA prohibits a convicted person from being reinstated if that person has been convicted of any offense (Indictable, felony, misdemeanor, or disorderly person) involving:

  1. A sex offense
  2. An offense against a minor

Background Check Procedure

  • All officials must consent to a background check each year during the registration process. 
  • Once you have consented, paid the fee and filled out all the required information, it will automatically be sent to PeopleTrail.  The background check usually only takes a few days.
  • Once the background check is complete, PeopleTrail will send all flagged results to the NJSIAA.
  • All officials flagged by PeopleTrail will receive a pre-adverse letter and a copy of the report to the email that was entered at the time of registration. 

Flagged Background Check Procedure

Any official that has received a pre-adverse letter because they have been flagged by PeopleTrail based on the NJSIAA adjudication matrix will be temporally suspended by the NJSIAA and the official’s chapter.  All officials that have been flagged by PeopleTrail must follow the following procedure if they wish to officiate any NJSIAA governed contests:

  1. Contact PeopleTrail (801.307.4100) if you disagree with the report or there is an error.  If there was an error in the report, PeopleTrail will fix the error and clear the officials background check.
  2. If the report is correct, the official must contact all chapters they belong to regarding the report.
  3. The official must follow all guidelines stipulated in the chapter bylaws regarding background checks.
  4. All Chapters must have a reinstatement procedure for their officials to follow in the event of a violation of the NJSIAA Guidelines, Policies & Procedures for registration of officials.
  5. The chapters reinstatement procedure must meet the minimum standards covered in the NJSIAA Guidelines, Policies & Procedures for registration of officials.
  6. Chapters will decide if the reinstatement will be approved or denied.
  7. The chapter will notify the NJSIAA via a letter or email of their decision in a timely manner.
  8. If the official is approved for reinstatement, the NJSIAA will verify that the official’s violations fall within the minimum standards covered in the NJSIAA Guidelines, Policies & Procedures. 
  9. If it is determined that the official satisfies the reinstatement standards, the NJSIAA will notify the official and chapter/s of the reinstatement.
  10. If the official is denied reinstatement by the chapter/s, the official will receive an adverse letter and will be suspended indefinitely by the NJSIAA.    

Flagged Levels

The NJSIAA will review all flagged reports and determine appropriate level. 

  • Level 1 Flag - The official will be reinstated immediately upon notification from the official’s chapter/s stating that the official is a current member in good standing of said chapter.
  • Level 2 Flag - The official will be reinstated on a date set by the NJSIAA based on the NJSIAA Constitution and Bylaws.  Upon reaching that date, the official will be reinstated immediately upon notification from the official’s chapter/s stating that the official is a current member in good standing of said chapter.  Level 2 flags may be appealed to the NJSIAA controversies committee if the official chooses.  The official in this case must notify the NJSIAA in writing of their intentions ASAP.  Appeals may not be heard in cases where the official is challenging the NJSIAA constitution and bylaws regarding the reinstatement procedure.   
  • Level 3 Flag - The official will be suspended indefinitely with no reinstatement possible based on the NJSIAA Constitution and Bylaws.  Level 3 flags may be appealed to the NJSIAA controversies committee if the official chooses.  The official in this case must notify the NJSIAA in writing of their intentions ASAP.  Appeals may not be heard in cases where the official is challenging the NJSIAA constitution and bylaws regarding the reinstatement procedure.  

NJSIAA official’s reinstatement policy as stated in the NJSIAA Guidelines, Policies & Procedures for registration of officials.

Chapter Registration

  1. Candidates must provide at least two references attesting to his/her character.
  2. Registration by the chapter will not be issued or renewed for any adult (an adult is defined as any person 18 years of age or older):
    • Convicted, or adjudicated with a finding of fault, guilt or violation, in regard to an offense against a minor or any sexual offense unless/until such offense has been reversed by proper authority with jurisdiction over the matter; or,
    • Convicted, or adjudicated with a finding of fault, guilt or violation, in regard to an offense involving any illegal/illicit drug or controlled substance as prescribed by federal or state law or regulation, prior to five (5) years following the completion of any sentence, parole, or probation period imposed for the offense.
  3. Currently Registered Officials
    • When a currently registered official is indicted or charged with any indictable criminal offense or charged with a violation of any statute pertaining to minors, drugs or a controlled substance, such license will automatically be suspended, pending resolution of the indictment or charge. Conviction or adjudication of fault, guilt or a violation under any such indictment or charge shall result in immediate and automatic forfeiture of the officiating license.
    • Currently registered officials must inform the local chapter of any such indictment or indictable criminal charge immediately upon receipt of or upon having knowledge of such indictment or charge. Failure to notify the chapter shall itself be a basis for immediate and automatic forfeiture of the officiating license.
  4. Reinstatement/Reapplication for Registration. An official whose registration has been forfeited, suspended or revoked or an applicant who is denied registration, under the provisions of this policy, may petition the chapter for reinstatement/reapplication based on the following:
    • If suspension, revocation or forfeiture of registration is based upon conviction, adjudication or finding of guilt as a result of an indictable offense: The official/applicant may petition the chapter for registration one (1) year after the completion of the parole/probation period; other than conviction of illegal/illicit drugs, controlled substance where a five (5) year probation period is used, or immediately upon dismissal or reversal of the charge or conviction (provided the offense was NOT involving a minor or a sexual offense.
    • If suspension, revocation, forfeiture or denial of registration is based upon any conviction, adjudication or finding of guilt involving a minor or sexual offense, reinstatement/reapplication will not be permitted, unless/until such offense has been reversed by proper authority having jurisdiction over the matter.