February 12, 2007 11:04 AM

Limits to employer background checks?
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 11:04 AM

The Globe reports today that newly installed Bay State Governor Deval Patrick is revisiting the issue of background checks by employers:

Governor Deval Patrick, returning to one of the more contentious issues of his campaign, has begun quietly putting together a plan to limit employers' access to the criminal records of potential employees.

Aides have been meeting with lawmakers and advocates working to limit the scope of the Criminal Offender Record Information law, which gives many employers broad access to criminal records. Activists argue that many applicants are rejected for jobs based on minor criminal convictions, crimes unrelated to the post, or records that contain errors.
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Patrick has not yet settled on specific legislation, an aide said, but wants to give employers access only to criminal information that is relevant to the job being sought. Under current law, employers approved by the state's Criminal History Records Board can review an applicant's entire record.

Read the whole article here. Then join the conversation on this controversial topic on the Boston.com message board.