Mumbles and the Deval Looking to Give a Second Chance

The geeQWyphe sent this one along. Rather entertaining bit of worry with regards to Comrades Menino and Patrick.

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.

No doubt there should be some reforms, since at present errors aren't addressed and the information isn't limited to just convictions. If they haven't been convicted, then the record should be off limits to the public. I don't agree with relevance to the job though. That comes down to an opinion, and with the Massachusetts record, I would say that they shouldn't be given that out.

I like this:

Patrick's support of CORI changes became a heated issue in the gubernatorial campaign, seized on by Democratic rival Thomas F. Reilly and Republican Kerry Healey to paint him as soft on crime.

During a televised debate, Reilly accused Patrick of backing a sweeping CORI bill that would have made it easier for offenders to have their records sealed and allowed drug dealers to cut time off their sentences.

For five months, Patrick was listed as a supporter of that bill on the website of one of the groups pushing the legislation, the Massachusetts Alliance to Reform CORI. After Reilly's comments, a leader of the group removed Patrick's name, saying it was a mistake.

Patrick said at the time that he did not support that legislation, but he never specified what changes he would embrace. He said only that he wants to revise the law so that people with records can make a fresh start and "CORI doesn't defeat their every second chance."

How convenient. Can't wait to see where he takes this now that political results are now off the table.

Then there's ole mumbles:

"The governor is trying to get a policy in place so that CORI is not a life sentence," said Menino, who has implemented a "second chance" policy that dispenses with criminal background checks for many city job applicants. "We need someone at the helm who is supportive. I believe we will make headway this legislative session."

Nice. Just what you'd expect. Can't have anyone defending themselves in Boston or anywhere else with a gun, but can't let anyone know of a criminal's history either. I'm surprised that they don't eliminate the sex-offender lists based on this level of sympathy.

Nice to note that the BoGlobe at least puts Mumbles' position in perspective.

In Boston last week, the Globe reported that a public works employee who was suspended after allegedly running down a 64-year-old woman with a city snowplow had a long history of drug violations and driving infractions when the city hired him.

The city did not check the record of the worker, Joseph M. MacDonald, because of Menino's new employment policy.

Asked whether he was rethinking the policy in light of the revelations, Menino said: "It hasn't changed my mind."

Hasn't changed his mind? What a bloody idiot. Wouldn't it be a sign of diligence to ensure that the person driving very large vehicles in bad conditions in densely populated areas had a decent driving record and no history of drug abuse? I wonder if a history of DUI gets you a position driving trucks for the city of Boston. Of course, he's just thinking about the criminals, while ignoring the citizen's safety.

Wonder what's next.