When you send your child to summer camp, you expect a fun and exciting experience. Summer camps are expected to hire responsible, trustworthy individuals to care for their campers. However, when camps skip background checks or ignore red flags, they are risking the lives of the children under their care. If a camp hires someone with a criminal history and a child gets hurt, the camp can be held legally responsible for negligent hiring.

The Importance of Background Checks

In Georgia, childcare workers must pass state and national fingerprint-based background checks before being hired. Camps and daycare centers cannot employ people with serious criminal convictions, including sex offenses and violent crimes.

The problem is that many summer camps don’t follow these same rules. Some only check state records, which means an applicant with a criminal history in another state could slip through. With no national database for summer camp hiring, many camps operate with little oversight.

When Can Camps Be Held Liable?

If a staff member who wasn’t carefully screened harms a child, the camp can be sued for negligence. Camps are expected to take reasonable steps to protect children from preventable dangers.

A camp may be legally responsible if:

  • They failed to conduct a proper background check before hiring a staff member.
  • There were warning signs in the employee’s past, but the camp ignored them.
  • The injury or harm was directly linked to the camp’s failure to screen or supervise the employee.

The American Camp Association (ACA) sets national accreditation standards, including strict hiring guidelines. If a camp didn’t follow ACA recommendations, it can be sued for negligence.

How to Prove Negligence in a Camp Injury Case

To build a strong legal case, you need evidence. A lawyer may:

  • Request hiring records to see if the camp did a background check.
  • Investigate past complaints or warning signs about the employee.
  • Compare the camp’s hiring practices to ACA standards to show where they failed.

If your child was harmed because a camp failed to screen its employees, you may have a legal case. Contact The Williams Litigation Group today to fight for justice and protect other children from harm.