A Mandatory Background Check for Foster Parents is a Very Good Idea

Have you heard? A high-ranking Washington State border patrol official has been charged with three counts of third-degree child rape. Joseph Giuliano, 55-year-old deputy chief of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a 20-year veteran, admitted to having an ongoing sexual relationship with his 14-year-old foster child. Mr. and Mrs. Giuliano took the girl in when her parents separated and were unable to care for her. As if this poor kid hasn't been through enough already, she had to tolerate months and months of the dirty old man's disgusting advances. It seems upstanding citizens may also have dark skeletons lurking in their closet.

It was an anonymous phone call from someone in Bellingham High School that alerted the Sheriff's Office. Apparently, the victim complained to her friends about her new "father's" ongoing abuse. Reportedly, Mrs. Giuliano was not aware of her husband's deviant behavior toward their foster daughter. The Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor has recommended Giuliano serve one year in jail on work release and undergo three years of sexual deviancy treatment.

And what of the child? Who will put her life back together? It seems incredibly unlikely that a man with a tendency to take advantage of a child's vulnerability has lived to be 55 and has never done it before in his life. Chances are, he's been caught, too. In that case, there may just be a record of that in his criminal history. Did the Child Protection Agency do a background check on Giuliano before entrusting him with this child's welfare?

They do thorough background checks on people who want to adopt a child, but it seems foster care is different. We certainly seem to hear about the abuse and deaths of foster children a lot more often. So, just about anyone can take them in because no one else wants them? Clearly, every potential foster parent should undergo a thorough background check. And shouldn't border patrol officials and agents undergo background checks as well?

The above account is based on a true story. Background Checks protect peaceful citizens from being deceived and/or harmed by a cunning criminal.