Background Investigations for Public Sector Employers

Sept. 2-3, 2026

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Sourcewell

Learn how agencies can properly background its prospective employees prior to employment to avoid facing serious liability under theories of negligent hiring and deliberate indifference to the risk of harm to third parties.

Date: Sept. 2-3, 2026

Time:

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Location:

Sourcewell

Cost:

$300 per participant, lunch provided

Prerequisites: None

CEUs: POST credits: 16

Description:

Day one, we discuss the legal and liability issues inherent to this subject, including negligent hiring, discrimination issues under state and federal law, Minnesota statutes, and related topics.

Day two focuses on use of the background questionnaire, releases and authorizations, writing the report and using the data practices act and other sources to conduct a sound and legally defensible background process.

This course is designed for any person who hires, manages, or supports law enforcement personnel, whether, full-time, part-time or volunteer. This class is very appropriate for LE, HR, County Administration, or County Attorneys.

About the leader:

Long time legal counsel and nationally recognized public employment law attorney Rick Hodsdon will lead this training.

Rick covers all of the danger points and provides practical techniques and sources for background materials from a person who himself has personally conducted several dozen such investigations. Rick has spent all of his professional life representing and defending state and local officials, conducting criminal prosecutions, training and advising criminal justice and government officials.

Event Registration

Check-in: 8 a.m.

Questions: community@sourcewell-mn.gov