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Saturday, May 07, 2016

Obama Orders Fed Agencies to Stop Asking Job Applicants about Criminal History

To make public-sector jobs more accessible to convicts, President Obama has issued a new order prohibiting federal agencies from asking candidates about criminal history when applying for positions. It’s part of the commander-in-chief’s mission to reduce barriers to reentry and employment for incarcerated individuals once they leave jail. The new measure, announced in a Friday media dump, will affect tens of thousands of federal government positions funded with taxpayer dollars.

Government often tries to escape fallout by burying controversial or bad news right before the weekend, but it’s difficult to keep this outrageous development below the radar. At the president’s order the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is publishing a proposed rule that would prohibit federal agencies from asking those applying for competitive service and career senior executive service positions about criminal and credit history. People with criminal records are already eligible to compete for the vast majority of federal jobs, a White House announcement states, and the proposed rule ensures that hiring managers are making selection decisions based solely on qualifications. “Early inquiries into an applicant’s criminal history may discourage motivated, well-qualified individuals who have served their time from applying for a federal job,” the announcement says, adding that “early inquiries could also lead to the disqualification of otherwise eligible candidates.”

The administration refers to criminal background checks as “barriers to employment” that “unnecessarily narrow the pool of eligible and qualified candidates for federal employment while also limiting opportunities for those with criminal histories to obtain the means to support themselves and their families.” If a candidate’s criminal record becomes known, they’re not be eliminated but rather evaluated via a “suitability determination” that considers character and conduct as well as the following factors; “relevance of any past criminal conduct to the job; the nature, seriousness, recency, and circumstances of any criminal conduct; the age of the individual at the time of the conduct; contributing societal conditions; and whether any efforts have been made toward rehabilitation.” This can easily be interpreted as a mandate to look the other way when evidence of a criminal record surfaces in the federal workforce.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Contributing societal conditions"...in other words, a black criminal gets a pass because, you know..."institutional racism".

It's a matter of time before some newly hired criminal uses his unearned position to commit a heinous crime.

Anonymous said...

...and just when you thought the fed gov couldnt get any more corrupt!!
tadaaaaa!!!! lmao

Anonymous said...

So now we can let a pedophile work in day care centers or in schools. And don't forget that convicted rapists can work in schools, libraries, colleges, and wherever they want. The rights of convicted sex felons are more important than law abiding citizens. American is upside down.

Anonymous said...

Great so now customers will not know the person working in their homes wasn't vetted by the employer placing us all at risk.

Anonymous said...

all so BO can get himself another job other than in one of his UNICOR prison factories producing the free solar panels the special people can obtain for free

lmclain said...

TYPICAL liberal BS.
HE doesn't get CLOSE to people (ANY people) that haven't been through a metal detector (or two, maybe three), checked out by the Secret Service and probably searched. NO ONE works within his circle that hasn't been completely vetted. They don't want some unbalanced psycho losing it on the President.
However, as long as it's you or me taking that chance, well, some serfs gotta die to prove how diverse and inclusive we are; that's just life. You don't think the Secret Service has asked EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the White House THAT and many other important, but sensitive issues??
After the paroled rapist notices that your wife goes to the supply room early in the morning, pray she calls in sick on the day he just can't control himself.
THAT is the only notice you'll get, by the way.
Your "leaders". They ALMOST cry -- every day, by God -- because they just can't seem to do enough to keep us safe.
Keep cheering.

Anonymous said...

He is simply a piece of human garbage. I would agree with this policy as long as it applies to the secret service as well.