Background Checks
Government classified information is governed by the Security of Information Act, and the Privacy Act. Only those that are deemed to be loyal and reliable, and have been cleared are allowed to access sensitive information.
Checks include basic demographic and criminal record checks for all levels, and, depending on an individual appointment’s requirements, credit checks, loyalty, and field checks might be conducted by the Internal Security Department (ISD) and/or the Lamonian Intelligence Agency (LIA).
After the background checks, clearance is granted, depending on types of appointment, by individual government departments or agencies, or by private company security officers.
To access designated information, one must have at least standard reliability status (see Hierarchy below). Reliability checks and assessments are conditions of employment under the Public Service Employment Act, and, thus, all Lamonian Government employees have at least reliability status screening completed prior to their appointment.
Clearances at the reliability status and secret levels are valid for 10 years, whereas top secret is valid for 5 years. However, departments are free to request their employees to undergo security screening any time for cause. Because security clearances are granted by individual departments instead of one central government agency, clearances are inactivated at the end of appointment or when an individual transfers out of the department. The individual concerned can then apply to reactivate and transfer the security clearance to his/her new position.
Hierarchy
Three levels of personnel screening exist, with two sub-screening categories:
Standard screenings are completed for individuals without law enforcement, security and intelligence functions with the government, whereas Enhanced screenings are for individuals with law enforcement, security and intelligence functions, or access to those data or facilities.
Security screening
* Reliability Status, Standard (RSS)
* Reliability checks are done by ISD verifying personal data, criminal records check, credit check, educational, and professional qualifications, data on previous employment and references.
* This level of clearance will grant the right to access designated documents with markings of Protected A&B information/assets on a need-to-know basis. It is mandatory for individuals when the duties or tasks of a position or contract necessitate access to protected information and assets, regardless of the duration of an assignment.
* Reliability Status, Enhanced (ERS)
* In addition to the Reliability Status, Standard checks, open-source checks, and security questionnaire or interview are required.
* This level of clearance will grant the right to access designated documents with markings of Protected A, B, and C information/assets on a need-to-know basis.
Security clearances
* Secret
* Secret clearance is only granted after a reliability status is cleared, with a positive ISD security assessment.
* This level of clearance will grant the right to access designated and classified information up to Secret level on a need-to-know basis. Department Heads have the discretion to allow for an individual to access Top Secret-level information without higher-level clearance on a case-to-case basis.
* Only those with a Secret clearance, with enhanced screening have access to Protected C information.
* Top Secret
* In addition to the checks at the Secret level, foreign travels, assets, and character references must be given. Field check will also be conducted prior to granting the clearance.
* This level of clearance will grant the right to access all designated and classified information on a need-to-know basis.
Site access
Two additional categories called “Site Access Status” and “Site Access Clearance” exist not for access to information purposes but for those that require physical access to sites or facilities designated by the ISD or LIA as areas “that can reasonably be expected to be targeted by those who engage in activities constituting threats to the security of Lamoni.” Designated areas include Government Offices, official residences of government officials, the Legislature and their offices, nuclear facilities, airport restricted areas, maritime ports, and any large-scale events that are sponsored by the government.
Where reliability is the primary concern, a site access status screening (similar to a reliability status, standard screening) is conducted; where loyalty to Lamoni is the primary concern, a site access clearance (similar to a Secret clearance screening) is required. They are both valid for 10 years.
Legal
Prior to granting access to information, an individual who has been cleared must sign a Security Screening Certificate and Briefing Form, indicating their willingness to be bound by several legislative Acts during their appointment, and after their appointment ends. Anyone who has been given a security clearance and releases protected/classified information without legal authority is in breach of trust under the Security of Information Act with a punishment up to 2 years in jail. Those who have access to Special Operational Information are held to a higher standard. The release of such information is punishable by law, under the Security of Information Act, liable to imprisonment for life.
Those individuals who have been convicted of offenses under the Security of Information Act cannot be granted access to either protected or classified information for the rest of their lives, unless pardoned. They also cannot hold any office of public trust where such information must be utilized as part of their employment, unless pardoned.
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