What would we do without the EEOC? To be fair, I think employers are stupid to issue blanket prohibitions on hiring ex-cons--but, I think this decision should be at their discretion. Employers who act stupidly tend not to do well in business.
I especially liked this bit:
There is no federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with criminal records. But the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has set guidelines on how employers can use such records. Because African-Americans, Hispanics and other minorities have higher rates of criminal convictions, a blanket policy that screens out anyone with a criminal history will discriminate against these groups, the commission says, and is unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.The E.E.O.C. has been a plaintiff in several lawsuits over background checks, and the guidelines have led to a raft of lawsuits against companies under Title VII — at least seven are working their way through the courts.
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