Man Can't Land Job After Criminal Record Mix-Up

Man Can't Land Job After Criminal Record Mix-Up

Man Told To Get Lawyer

FRANKLIN, Mass. -- A local man said he cannot get a job because a mandatory background check incorrectly said he has a lengthy criminal record.
Man Says State Mixed Up Record

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that Jim Marchand, of Franklin, said no one will believe that his mandatory criminal record check, or CORI record, is wrong.

Marchard, who worked at the same job for 18 years until his employer died, admitted he has two alcohol-related convictions on his record from a decade ago. When he had a CORI check for a new job, he found out that his record was littered with additional charges and convictions.
"Thirty-eight charges that aren't even mine and I've never even heard of," Marchard said.
The CORI results are several pages long and include charges of assault, breaking and entering and disturbing the peace.

He and another James Marchand both live in Franklin and were both born in June 1962, though on different days.

A state Web site tells residents in Marchand's position that they must go to each court mentioned to clear their names, in his case more than a half dozen. It's happened so often that legal experts call it identity entanglement.

"Absolutely, it's a terrible process. Here you have the criminal history system's board that is in charge of criminal records and how they are dealt with, and they are just sort of shucking the responsibility. They have taken it on now," said Ernest Windsor, of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.

Following a lawsuit, the state agreed to improve the system. But for now, the recommendation is the same -- fix your own problem by appearing in court.
"I went to Dedham, I went to Milford, I went to Wrentham, and they all told me the same thing -- get a lawyer," he said.

Still out of work, Marchand said he can't afford a lawyer.
"I've never even been to these towns (of the offenses). No one believes me," Marchard said.
New regulations overhauling the state's criminal records system could go into effect as early as July.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/15797022/detail.html