U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Announces Briefing on the Impact of Criminal Background Checks and the EEOC's Conviction Records Policy on the Employment of Black And Hispanic Workers

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Nov 28, 2012, 06:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Commission on Civil Rights announces that it will hold a briefing on the impact of criminal background checks and the EEOC's conviction records policy on employment of black and Hispanic workers. The briefing will take place at the new headquarters offices of the Commission on Friday, December 7, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. ET, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20425. The offices are accessed using the F Street NW entrance. Interested members of the public are invited to attend.

The Commission has initiated this investigation to determine whether the new EEOC Guidance policy or other prohibitions or limitations on the use of criminal background checks encourage or discourage re-entry by former offenders into the job market. From an employer's perspective, the use of criminal history checks may help ensure a safe environment for customers and employees, reduce legal liability for negligent hiring, reduce or prevent theft, embezzlement or other criminal activity, comply with state laws requiring background checks, and assess overall applicant trustworthiness. From the EEOC's point of view, the increased use of criminal background checks indicates possible disparate impact discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Experts scheduled to appear before the Commission include Carol Miaskoff, EEOC Office of Legal Counsel; Don Livingston, Akin Gump LLP and former EEOC General Counsel; Harry Holzer, Georgetown Univ. and former Chief Economist, Dept. of Labor; Alfred Blumstein, Carnegie Mellon Univ.; Jeffrey Sedgwick, Keswick Advisors and former Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics; Roberta Meyers, Dir., HIRE Network; Glenn Martin, VP, Fortune Society; Lucia Bone, Founder, Sue Weaver CAUSE; Julie Payne, General Counsel, G4S Secure Solutions USA, Inc.; Richard Larson, WinningWorkTeams and former VP, HR, Universal Studios Resort; Garen Dodge, Jackson Lewis LLP and Council for Employment Law Equity; Nick Fishman, Co-founder, EmployeeScreenIQ; Montserrat Miller, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP and Washington Counsel, Nat'l Assoc. of Prof. Background Screeners; William Dombi, VP, Nat'l Assn. for Home Care; Todd McCracken, Pres., Nat'l Small Business Ass'n.; Jonathan Segal, Duane Miller LLP and Soc. for Human Resource Management; and Rich Mellor, VP, Nat'l Retail Federation.

Deaf or hearing-impaired persons who will attend the meeting and require the services of a sign language interpreter should contact Pam Dunston at (202) 376-8105 at least seven business days prior to the briefing.

Contact:
Lenore Ostrowsky
Acting Chief, Public Affairs Unit
202-376-8591

SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights