Thread: 65 MILLION Americans have a criminal record (1 in 4)

Help wanted — sixty-five million need not apply

By Zachary Roth
Mar 23, 1:17 pm ET

In 2008, Johnny Magee, who is developmentally disabled, was laid off from his landscaping job in Livermore, California, thanks to government budget cuts. He applied for a new position as a garden center attendant at a nearby Lowe's Home Improvement store. Despite his prior experience, Magee wasn't hired. Why? A background check had turned up a 1999 misdemeanor conviction, stemming from an incident in which he unknowingly picked up a package for his uncle that contained drugs. Later that year, Magee's conviction was dismissed—but that was too late for him to get the job at Lowe's.

Sixty-five million Americans—or one in four adults—have a criminal record.

But employers—including major companies like Bank of America, Omni Hotel, and Domino's Pizza—routinely post job ads on Craigslist that explicitly exclude such applicants, according to a new report conducted by the National Employment Law Center (NELP), a labor-affiliated advocacy group.

The practice appears in some cases to be against the law, and at a time of record long-term joblessness, advocates for the poor say it places yet another obstacle in front of people like Magee, who are working to get their life back on track. In addition, there's widespread agreement that helping those with criminal records to find stable employment is crucial for preventing recidivism and preventing future crime. Indeed, that's the reason that the government runs programs designed to make it easier for ex-offenders to find work.

Perhaps most important, effectively making more than one quarter of the American workforce unemployable may be an unsustainable policy for the economy as whole.

"Candidates must be able to pass: background check (no felonies or misdemeanors)," reads one ad placed by the bailed-out banking giant Bank of America. "Do not apply with any misdemeanors/felonies," warns another. And one study last year found that 92 percent of employers said they screen some or all applicants for criminal records.

Many employers use outside companies that specialize in background checks—a fast-growing industry—to help screen out applicants with criminal records. A 2009 investigation by the state of New York found that RadioShack, working with the background check firm ChoicePoint, created a system that asked applicants "Have you been convicted of a felony in the past 7 years?" and automatically rejected anyone who answered "yes."

Because discriminating against those with criminal records disproportionately hurts African Americans, the practice may violate the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race-based hiring discrimination. Indeed, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has said that although considering an applicant's criminal record may be acceptable on a case-by-case basis, an "absolute bar to employment" for such people is illegal.

Last year, plaintiffs brought at least five major civil rights lawsuits against large employers on the issue, but the National Employment Law Project wants the EEOC to enforce the law more vigorously. A spokeswoman for the agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Lookout.

Still, the practice looks likely to grow only more common: Thanks to the tight labor market—there are currently five unemployed workers for every job opening—employers can be especially choosy about who they hire. Indeed, as we've reported, the EEOC is currently looking into another problem with similar roots: hiring discrimination against the unemployed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookou ... -not-apply

THAT'S really scary....also type in neighborhoodscan.com and see how many outright weirdos are in YOUR neck of the woods!!

It's a vicious circle. Illegals undercut Americans for entry level jobs, then Americans commit crimes - many drug related - and end up in jail and with a criminal record. That makes it even easier for illegals to undercut Americans. Of course, illegals aren't declaring their own criminal records and I'm guessing it's difficult to check on that. So people who are in this country illegally and may themselves have criminal records at home can sneak in here and get jobs which should be goinf to our own people.

Universal E-Verify and a congressional clarification of the original intent of the 14th Amendment are absolutely necessary. Then we've got to find a way to get Americans who've paid their dues on track to get jobs. If we don't do all of these things, the jobs lure will guarantee an unending stream of illegals.
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American jobs for American workers

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Some of the "Criminals" are over 65 and still paying for a crime they committed before they were 25.

My neighbor is in his late 60s and recently asked me to be a character reference for him in a Pardon Hearing. This guy had one fellony conviction before he was 25 and hasn't had another one since.

He did a crime, served his time and moved to another state to start over with a fresh start.

I told the Parole Board that I've know him for more than 30 years and I don't know one person who has anything bad to say about him.

I told them that almost anyone who goes 40 years without a second offense has proven their character and should get an almost automatic pardon. We won't know for weeks or months if he gets it.

Good for him for persisting and good for you for supporting him.\