Criminal Background Checks are Stigmatizing
Jenny Triplett Analyzes the Pros and Cons of Background Checks
We are living in a world where over 65 million Americans have criminal records. Whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, American citizens are functioning daily with previous infractions of the law. This is a sign of the times in which we are living. Every day we turn on the news and see multiple acts of violent and non-violent crimes. Google has become the friend of those who are cautious and more so to those who are curious. It has also become the pre-background check for numerous who are dating.
Background Checks can be useful in the employment world where companies are trying to get to the bottom line of what is real and what is fake as reported for work history, education, references, etc. Even the great former President George W. Bush was accused, and found guilty, of embellishing his resume and telling a number of untruths in regards to his college records and military service. The pro to this type of fact checking is to make sure people are who they say they are especially if they are going to be providing a service for a mass community.
On the other side of the fax, there are background checks that hinder thousands of people from becoming productive citizens again. A criminal background check is one of the most stigmatizing reports of the free world. The re-entry process is challenging enough without the benefit of being re-judged by employers. In some situations they are necessary such as for state and federal government jobs, civil service and public safety positions and jobs where children are involved. Here comes the con.
Just as with a credit report, there can be things on a criminal background check that are incorrect. Just as with a credit report wrong information can cause you to get denied for housing, government funds and jobs for which you are qualified. Just as with a credit report a criminal background check does not give a true reflection of the character of the person because there is no explanation for the circumstances.
Did you know former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has an arrest record? Romney was arrested in 1981 for disorderly conduct after he defied a police officer’s order not to launch his motorboat because his license appeared to have been painted over (via truthdig.com) Reports of his arrest surfaced when Romney ran for Senate against Ted Kennedy in 1994. But there’s a new twist on the story. Apparently, Romney wasn’t completely honest about the incident. A recently discovered copy of a 1981 police blotter report reveals that Romney did not divulge that the boat he was operating was unregistered. Romney also claimed he had been released without bail, but that’s also not true according to the report. Should he be denied the office of the President due to this background check?
A criminal background check can be discriminatory and also can be considered as profiling if not done on a consistent basis or results from such reports are not applied on a non-discriminatory basis. The pros, cons and convictions are clear. The only thing that is not is the guidelines for who gets a pass.
Jenny Triplett
Jenny Triplett is a requested speaker for correctional facilities, non-profit organizations, schools, radio and TV shows and print magazines. For more information on interviews contact Jenny Triplett 678-233-8286 or [email protected].
