I agree,,, they did the time debt is paid,,, if a record of any kind should be private w/in the files of police and FBI only ,,, not public at least,,,,

But,, with all that is going on in the US now days,,,nothing is private anymore ,,, for even the civilians whom have never been inside,,, Big Gov is into everthing and everyones business,,, how free are we as a whole anymore really????????????????????

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I thought you could have records sealed in America after a certain amount of time, like here in Australia. Is this not the case?

My personal opinion from what i understand, is like peanut said, nothing is kept private in America, all is on file somewhere. Now that to me is a scary thought. No, not because you may have something to hide, but the many people that have access.
I think a simple Police clearance, that has to be renewed every few years where a check is run on a person for select jobs in the community, would surely be enough. Like child care, hospitals, carers, bank employees and those that work with the elderly or need to carry a fire arm like guards etc. The employee does not get to see the persons record as such, but does get to know if that employee passes a simple test. Like here in Australia. You pay a small fee and receive a certificate, no big deal if you are not in the "at risk" group.

"At Risk Group" that's an interesting term......sounds a bit more friendly better than offender.

Just brainstorming here:

how would you handle a situation where:

someone committed a robbery...they have served their time and are now applying for a job as a bank teller or a job that entails the handling of large sums of money?

Would the employer have a right to know these kinds of details?

If you were the employer, would you want to know?

Which crimes don't fall into the "at risk" group?

Maybe there is a way these people could get bonded??? Like a life insurance policy? Only a policy where you as an employer are protected against any losses.....???

CET,
I know I should be the last person to say this but, no I don't think police records should be sealed. When I got out I knew what I could and couldn't do so I found a good ( for me ) job a couple days after I started looking. I say that records shouldn't be sealed because as long as an employer can keep a ex-con from getting a job that might entice him/her into doing something dumb then the ex-con has a better chance of staying an EX. Also, there are too many places guys with certain crimes should not work and this list gets longer as these type of guys figure out a new angle. Once someone has been out and has built up a good work history, most past mistakes are mute anyway. Just be sure that whoever you are worried about knows what they can and can't do. No politician is going to appear soft on criminals these days. It would be political suicide. This is America. We were founded by crooks. A person can find a job if their stomach starts aching more than their pride. Peace.

Gumby,,,,

Employers here have hired ex inmates,,, the top mgr is the only who knows of
what circumstances the man hiring was in for or even been in,,, and watches and places him on a job,, that is not connected to the crime,,,, ,no one is to be told a written contract,, with some clause's ,,,,

They also agree to get them to take the ex inmate that the state will pay half of what the employer pays the person for the job,,, gives the employer a break as well as that person,, to get started,,,, and prove themselves,,,,
If the crime was robbery,,,no they would not be given a job handling money or access to important infor,,,, a job disconnected to the offense,,,,or temptation,,,not sure about other states but,,, it has been done here,,, not sure how many employers go with it though,,,,

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Max, I don't have a criminal mind, but if I had spent X-amount of years in prison. there is no way in hell that I would put my self in the position to go back in. Are you saying that people come out, no better prepaired in terms of self control and the ability to make choices than when they went in. If so, there is no point in prisons, other than taking them off the street for a while. I know there is no "correction" taking place other than on a personal level that an inmate does of his own initiative. This would infer that prison is not a deterrant and once a thief always a thief. It seems to me this lack of trust would erode a persons confidence in himself and turn them into a self-fullfiling prophesy. I find human nature is about the same in and out of prison. The major difference is that those out here haven't been caught. I guess my point is, if they can do the job. hire them. and don't use their past as a criteria for hiring. Hopefully, we learn by our mistakes and if we don't then we are subject to arrest.~ ex-con or not. Once we know that someone has a record, paranoia sets in and we never see that person in the same light again. We say that we are non-judgmental, but are we really?

cet i guess i differ from the norm as a landlord or an employer i'd want to know who im dealing with i'd of course give them their chance but i thnk you have the right to know if someone spent time in prison after all a lot of PO's will come to your job or your home to check up on you i think if the truth is known upfrount it saves a lot of explaining later...not to be brodcast of course but for the superviser or landlord to know

I am a Landlord as you put it dragon, and for me honestly i don't believe it serves any purpose for me to know if you have spent time behind bars say 7 years ago. Why would i need to know that? for what purpose? Just like i do not need to know that your rent was over due 7 years ago. Now if it was relevant to last week, then i would need to know. Hope you understand what i mean. Also the trouble is from what i understand people are not given what us Aussies call a "fair go" when it comes to housing and jobs after release from Prison.

I think their should be a time frame on released and public information. Meaning what you did 7 years ago or more should not effect what you do today, or the chances you are given. Much like bad debt i guess. Once the time is served on record, the slate should be wiped clean for the public records, but kept on private files, meaning for those with convictions it would be Police records, not public.
Then again i am also against the public records of sex offenders. Only because i truly believe it serves no purpose, it lulls one into a false sense of security, and the term "sex offender" in the States has many meanings, some as simple as one sleeping with their under age girlfriend/boyfriend, or getting oral at a party while you are drunk from a 15 year old girl that is sober and not only willing, but wanting, when you are only 17 years young yourself. I do not think these type of offence's should leave one with the title and be classified as sex offender.

I wish my criminal record was sealed.. because I get tired of people looking up my mugshots and such. I have also been passed over on jobs because I have a criminal record. I feel I have paid my debt and deserve the chance to better my life.

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"Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up"