While the side effects of the technology driven transparency of criminal (and all other) records even decades old can be onerous, the fact remains that complete transparency of all criminal records is a reality—just as it is a reality for virtually anyone who is being screened for past behavior, including politicians; as this current election cycle reminds us once again.
Transparency is a good thing, and it is incumbent upon those of us who work in the field of criminal transformation to be supportive of it, as the public—including all employers—certainly have the right to know who they are hiring.
On the other hand, one hopes that in the egregious cases noted in this recent article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, unions and public interest lawyers arise to protect the rights of individuals who have truly transformed their lives and are now being caught up in the revelatory aspects of our technology.
An excerpt.
“Sweeping changes in state laws intended to keep students safe have uncovered criminal offenses -- some decades old -- that are costing school employees their jobs.
“The impact has been especially evident among nonteaching employees who, until this year, did not have to undergo the kind of comprehensive background checks done for teachers.
“Now, staffers such as custodians, secretaries and cafeteria workers may face dismissal for newly unearthed offenses committed years ago.
“John Reccord, a night supervisor for the Orange school district, has worked there for nearly two decades. But he stands to lose his job for an offense to which he pleaded guilty 35 years ago and was sentenced to probation.
"I have been at the school for 19 years without any problems," Reccord said. "This is going to affect people who did something when they were young. Why should they lose their jobs now?"
“He is one of a handful of Orange school employees facing an uncertain future as a result of the background checks.
“Statewide, it's unclear how many school employees are in a similar predicament. The Ohio Department of Education doesn't keep track of nonlicensed employees, and a union representing such nonteaching staff also had no tallies available.
“Shaker Heights is among the area school districts grappling with the issue.
"We absolutely need to protect children by checking the background of school employees. The problem we're struggling with is that schools are being forced to let some exemplary employees go," said Robert P. Kreiner, business administrator for the Shaker Heights school district.”
Lampstand Foundation website, http://www.lampstandfoundation.org/
"The sinner is at the very heart of Christianity. Nobody is so competent as the sinner in matters of Christianity. Nobody, except the saint." Charles Peguy (1873-1914)
About
- David H. Lukenbill
- I am a California native, married, we have one daughter and live close to the American River with two cats and all the wild critters we can feed. I am a management consultant to nonprofit organizations and have an Associates of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from Sacramento City College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Public Administration degree, also from the University of San Francisco.