Legislators slam Patrick's criminal records bill

Christopher Loh

http://www.bostonnow.com/news/local/2008/03/19/legislators-slam-patrick039s-criminal-records-bill

Beacon Hill legislators slammed Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed changes to the state's Criminal Offender Records Information law during a committee hearing yesterday, saying they fall short of what's needed.

If passed, the bill would reduce the amount of time it would take for records to be sealed from potential employers to 10 years for a felony offense and five years for a misdemeanor.
Patrick said CORI reform is vital to helping ex-offenders to successfully re-enter and become a working part of society.

"They turn to crime because they do not develop life skills and cannot get work for which they are prepared," Patrick said. "This reality makes it imperative that we remove unnecessary barriers to employment for rehabilitated individuals who have criminal records."
While she agreed with Patrick, state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson said she could not support the bill, which she called a "repair" and not "reform."

"I'm talking about getting to the heart of the reason why employers have been reticent to hire people with criminal records," Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson said often employers would misinterpret an ex-offenders CORI check and not hire them.

"[Employers] opt on the side of caution," Wilkerson said. "And who can blame them?"
State Representatives Willie Mae Allen, Gloria Fox and Linda Dorcena Forry, also said they wanted a stronger bill.