Turning the other cheek
A letter to the editor in the New York Times today laments job discrimination against... ex-cons. Evelyn Malavé of the Legal Action Center points (rightly) to the reduced rate of recidivism among ex-cons who have a job. However, should private citizens and businesses be forced to turn the other cheek, forgive and forget, and put themselves and their families at risk? Even if a company were willing to take such a risk, and let's be fair, it is a risk, what of Evelyn's colleagues in the legal profession?
I'm not sure how many "who knew what when" investigations I've seen of school bus drivers with a DUI in their past. The public goes ballistic. What happens when a business knowingly employs someone with a criminal record, and something goes seriously bad? They would be sued to within an inch of their livelihood.
One definition of discrimination is "The ability or power to see or make fine distinctions; discernment." Certainly discrimination in this sense should not be discouraged, never mind outlawed as the state of New York has done. For those who are willing to take such risks, doubtless they will get their reward, either in this life or the next. But forcing people to place themselves in danger to give known criminals the benefit of the doubt is hardly sound policy to advocate -- or enforce.
I'm not sure how many "who knew what when" investigations I've seen of school bus drivers with a DUI in their past. The public goes ballistic. What happens when a business knowingly employs someone with a criminal record, and something goes seriously bad? They would be sued to within an inch of their livelihood.
One definition of discrimination is "The ability or power to see or make fine distinctions; discernment." Certainly discrimination in this sense should not be discouraged, never mind outlawed as the state of New York has done. For those who are willing to take such risks, doubtless they will get their reward, either in this life or the next. But forcing people to place themselves in danger to give known criminals the benefit of the doubt is hardly sound policy to advocate -- or enforce.
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