NOT RELATED TO THE JOB SOUGHT
First I must state that there is so much incorrect information in this and other articles/comments due to the lack
of responsibility people take in keeping themselves informed.
There are over 16 protected classes under the DC Human Rights Act including source of income, personal
appearance, marital status (last time I checked that was a choice and not a characteristic you were born with),
matriculation status (same for that), religion, sexual preference, etc. The list goes on and on. Those classes are
all afforded the same level of protection although they are not, arguably some are, traits you have at birth.
Secondly, as far as child molesters...the bill includes an exception for those convicted of sexual offenses as well
as those working in facilities that will allow them to have contact with children and the elderly.
The bill's main goal is to prevent discrimination based SOLELY on a conviction record where the conviction is
NOT RELATED TO THE JOB SOUGHT. So if Sally the Bank Robber wanted to get a job at a bank an employer
will have the ability to determine that her conviction is obviously related to the job and not employ her. Further,
there is an exception for violent crimes all-together.
This bill has been reintroduced and will hopefully pass again this council session (as it did last session 10-2 with
a very conservative council). This bill has good intentions of protecting the members of society who have
convictions but have paid their debt to society and are trying to successfully reintegrate and NOT recidivate.
Which is what we demand and expect of them, but they cannot if they are not being hired for jobs because they
are ex-offenders. IT becomes a never-ending cycle. And instead of saying, "it's not my problem, they committed
the crime" why not create solutions so that Sally the bank robber doesn't keep robbing the bank instead of getting
a paying job!
Lastly, an individual must be qualified to obtain a job. If an ex-offender is not qualified for the position, that
should be the reason he or she is denied, not because they have a past record that is not related to the job
sought.
10. Posted by CDuRant | January 30, 2007 12:48 AM