diff --git a/cogs/admin.py b/cogs/admin.py
index 2f6b16e..6eded7e 100644
--- a/cogs/admin.py
+++ b/cogs/admin.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from discord.ext import commands
 import traceback
 import inspect
 import re
-import config
+from cogs.checks import check_if_bot_manager
 
 
 class AdminCog:
@@ -12,22 +12,12 @@ class AdminCog:
         self.last_eval_result = None
         self.previous_eval_code = None
 
-    def check_if_staff(ctx):
-        if not ctx.guild:
-            return False
-        return any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in ctx.author.roles)
-
-    def check_if_bot_manager(ctx):
-        if not ctx.guild:
-            return False
-        return any(r.id == config.bot_manager_role_id for r in ctx.author.roles)
-
     @commands.guild_only()
     @commands.check(check_if_bot_manager)
     @commands.command(name='exit', hidden=True)
     async def _exit(self, ctx):
         """Shuts down the bot, bot manager only."""
-        await ctx.send(":wave: Exiting bot, goodbye!")
+        await ctx.send(":wave: Goodbye!")
         await self.bot.logout()
 
     @commands.guild_only()
diff --git a/cogs/checks.py b/cogs/checks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bed73c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cogs/checks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import config
+
+
+def check_if_staff(ctx):
+    if not ctx.guild:
+        return False
+    return any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in ctx.author.roles)
+
+
+def check_if_bot_manager(ctx):
+    if not ctx.guild:
+        return False
+    return any(r.id == config.bot_manager_role_id for r in ctx.author.roles)
+
+
+def check_if_staff_or_ot(ctx):
+    if not ctx.guild:
+        return True
+    is_ot = (ctx.channel.name == "off-topic")
+    is_staff = any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in ctx.author.roles)
+    return (is_ot or is_staff)
diff --git a/cogs/lockdown.py b/cogs/lockdown.py
index 9ce5ce5..eb29c7c 100644
--- a/cogs/lockdown.py
+++ b/cogs/lockdown.py
@@ -1,17 +1,13 @@
 from discord.ext import commands
 import config
 import discord
+from cogs.checks import check_if_staff
 
 
 class Lockdown:
     def __init__(self, bot):
         self.bot = bot
 
-    def check_if_staff(ctx):
-        if not ctx.guild:
-            return False
-        return any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in ctx.author.roles)
-
     @commands.guild_only()
     @commands.check(check_if_staff)
     @commands.command()
diff --git a/cogs/logs.py b/cogs/logs.py
index 3c02916..be31b12 100644
--- a/cogs/logs.py
+++ b/cogs/logs.py
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 import discord
 import json
-from discord.ext import commands
-from sys import argv
-from datetime import datetime
 import config
 
 
diff --git a/cogs/meme.py b/cogs/meme.py
index 9694aae..7c9f774 100644
--- a/cogs/meme.py
+++ b/cogs/meme.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import random
-import config
 import discord
 from discord.ext import commands
 import math
+from cogs.checks import check_if_staff_or_ot
 
 
 class Meme:
@@ -13,13 +13,6 @@ class Meme:
     def __init__(self, bot):
         self.bot = bot
 
-    def check_if_staff_or_ot(ctx):
-        if not ctx.guild:
-            return True
-        is_ot = (ctx.channel.name == "off-topic")
-        is_staff = any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in ctx.author.roles)
-        return (is_ot or is_staff)
-
     def c_to_f(self, c):
         """this is where we take memes too far"""
         return math.floor(9.0 / 5.0 * c + 32)
diff --git a/cogs/mod.py b/cogs/mod.py
index 852d72e..e30469f 100644
--- a/cogs/mod.py
+++ b/cogs/mod.py
@@ -3,20 +3,14 @@ from discord.ext import commands
 import config
 import json
 import time
+from cogs.checks import check_if_staff
 
 
 class ModCog:
     def __init__(self, bot):
         self.bot = bot
 
-    def check_if_staff(ctx):
-        if not ctx.guild:
-            return False
-        return any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in ctx.author.roles)
-
     def check_if_target_is_staff(self, target):
-        if not ctx.guild:
-            return False
         return any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in target.roles)
 
     async def add_restriction(self, member, rst):
diff --git a/cogs/verification.py b/cogs/verification.py
index da2200e..43096f7 100644
--- a/cogs/verification.py
+++ b/cogs/verification.py
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import asyncio
 import config
 import random
 from inspect import cleandoc
-import config
 import hashlib
+from cogs.checks import check_if_staff
 
 
 welcome_header = """
@@ -103,11 +103,6 @@ class Verification:
     def __init__(self, bot):
         self.bot = bot
 
-    def check_if_staff(ctx):
-        if not ctx.guild:
-            return False
-        return any(r.id in config.staff_role_ids for r in ctx.author.roles)
-
     @commands.check(check_if_staff)
     @commands.command()
     async def reset(self, ctx, limit: int = 100, force: bool = False):