Arrest Records

My mom once said if you have never been arrested then you haven’t lived your life on the edge. She is not crazy. In fact she is a prestigious college professor. She is a woman who stands up for what she believes in. The war in the 60’s and 70’s was a time when she had her own red file a mile long. She brought home this file filled with her arrest records once.

Since my mom works at a university her arrest records never kept her from getting employment. She was arrested for every political crime out there including incendiary speech to resisting arrest. She also has charges for encouraging people to burn their draft cards. You can search for anyone’s arrest record by why bother? My mom is very well respected and if her colleagues found out about her record they wouldn’t care.

Having an arrest record can kept you from getting a job though. It is a huge issue that arrest records are available on the internet. The reality of our society is that you should do your time and put the crime behind you, then you can regain your place in society. Yet in practice this doesn’t happen. Employers will check your criminal background and if you have been convicted of anything they won’t hire you in most cases.

 My cousin is an attorney who specializes in criminal cases. Arrest records, credit history, health records and other public information are too easily accessible. While it is good that government officials can’t hide behind their secrets should everyone have their issues out for the public to know about? Many lose more than they gain with such services so accessible.